“She certainly seemed trustworthy,” Ellie said softly. “So don’t blame yourself, Hazel. You’re doing great work at Sanctuary House. The teens you take in need you.”
“But I let Minnie down.”
“You gave her love and support when she needed it. The best way to honor her now is to continue to run Sanctuary House so young girls in trouble have a safe place to go.”
Hazel sniffed. “I do love those kids.”
“And that’s what they need the most,” Ellie said sincerely.
“Detective Reeves is right,” Derrick interjected. “And if it helps, I believe Mabel didn’t know what she was getting into with Whittaker. I think she was just a woman who desperately wanted a child.”
Hazel frowned. “If she would cheat someone out of their baby, she didn’t deserve one.”
Ellie couldn’t argue with that.
Hazel straightened and lifted her chin as if pulling herself together. “Now, you said you found Minnie’s directive.”
“It was in Mabel’s files,” Derrick said.
“So she stole it from me?” More disappointment lined Hazel’s face.
“Either she did or Whittaker did.” Derrick handed Hazel the envelope. “Do you want to open it?”
A sad look passed through Hazel’s eyes, but she opened the envelope, then narrowed her eyes. A smile slowly appeared on her face.
“What does it say?” Ellie asked.
“She wants her sister, Beth Ann, to raise Iris.” Hazel looked up at her. “Do you think she’ll agree?”
Ellie nodded, her own mouth tilting into a smile. “Beth Ann called me and said that when we find Iris she wants custody.”
A knock interrupted them and Landrum poked his head into the door. “There’s a caller on the tip line who says she has both Iris and Lou Lou.”
ONE HUNDRED SIXTEEN
Critter Crossing
Ellie and Derrick debated the decision to take Hazel with them to retrieve the little girls, but Iris knew her and if the child was frightened, which most likely she was, they needed her. Hazel could connect with Iris and offer her comfort. They decided to wait to inform Dana Jo and her mother until they verified that the lead was not a fake or a trap. They couldn’t chance too many civilians being on the scene in case things turned south or take a traumatized Dana Jo to see her daughter if she wasn’t safe.
“Thank you for letting me come with you,” Hazel said from the back seat, where she’d been fidgeting ever since they’d gotten in the car.
“Just remember that you have to stay in the vehicle until we make certain this call is legit,” Ellie said.
“But why would someone call and say they had the girls if they didn’t?” Hazel asked.
Ellie had to bite her tongue. “You’d be surprised at what people would do.” Although if this caller wanted money, she hadn’t asked for it.
“Just let us check out the situation,” Derrick said. “If Iris is in there, we’ll come and get you.”
“The medics are meeting us there, too,” Ellie said. “If the kids are with this person, we need to have them physically checked out.”
Hazel folded her hands. “Lord, please let them children be safe and unharmed.”
Ellie admired the power of faith the people in this area had, especially in light of the deaths at Midnight Ridge.
Thankfully the storm had ceased, although she had to maneuver black ice on the deserted road that led from Mystic to Critter Crossing, an area set so remote that she wondered how the woman who lived out here survived. Where she got her food and necessities. Or had health checkups.
The hairs on her neck prickled. Was this a set-up?
