“She and her daughter disappeared last night. We believe the same person who killed Minnie and took her little girl abducted Dana Jo and her daughter.” Derrick paused. “Two other teenagers were also murdered by the same man.”
Whittaker’s eyes widened slightly. “You think you’re dealing with a serial killer?”
“Yes,” Derrick said. “If there’s anything you can tell me that would help, please do.”
Whittaker exhaled loudly, his attorney persona in full mode. “I certainly hope you’re not implying that Claude was involved. He’s a clever attorney and an asset to this firm, certainly not a killer.” He shot up from his chair, sending it rocking backward. “Now, if you need to speak to me again, you can go throughmyattorney.”
Of course Whittaker would lawyer up. Derrick strongly suspected Benton was involved somehow in all this mess.
Would his senior partner cover for him to protect the firm’s reputation?
SEVENTY-EIGHT
Dalton
While Cord searched the Glasser house from top to bottom and the medics treated Rhonda, Ellie slipped inside Lou Lou’s room. Baby dolls and stuffed animals covered the pink comforter on the single bed. Children’s books filled a bookcase against the wall and an open book about a snowy day lay on the bed. Another shelf held other children’s toys including blocks, puzzles, crayons and paper. A bright pink and purple unicorn painting hung on the wall.
Although Dana Jo had suffered a trauma, the child’s room told the story of a well-loved little girl.
Only now the toddler was in danger and her mother might be dead.
Sick at the thought, Ellie swallowed hard. She had to focus. Every minute counted.
Wrangling control of her emotions, Ellie hurried to the bathroom.
Cord poked his head inside the doorway. “House is clear. The little girl is definitely not here. I’ll look around outside now.”
“Thanks, Cord.”
He rushed down the steps, and Ellie pulled evidence bags from inside her jacket and collected Dana Jo’s and Lou Lou’s toothbrushes. She found a small pink hairbrush with an L engraved on it and placed it in another bag.
Two of the ERT members came up the stairs, and Ellie filled them in, then instructed them to focus on the stairs, hallway where Rhonda had fallen and Lou Lou’s room, although it was possible the killer might have touched the stairs or wall or left some forensics downstairs when he broke in.
After addressing them, she phoned her captain and asked him to arrange a press conference as soon as possible. “We need this story on the news ASAP and to circulate photos of Dana Jo and Lou Lou.”
“Copy. I’ll get the sheriff to send deputies to Midnight Ridge in case the killer takes Dana Jo there?”
“Good. I’ll call Derrick and after Cord finishes here, send Cord with a search team. I have a couple of Lou Lou’s toys for his SAR dog to use.”
“Good work, Detective.”
“We have to save these two,” she said. Terror clogged her throat. She couldn’t lose another young mother, much less another child.
SEVENTY-NINE
Lookout Mountain
Faith glanced at Ester who was driving them to the Bentons to deliver the casseroles they’d been cooking all day, her eyes trained on the road. With Ester’s eyes slipping, she silently prayed they’d make it safely.
Faith trusted her best friend with her life. Years ago, Ester and her strong belief in God had saved Faith. They’d been best friends since Faith was five. At that time she’d been a scrawny, scraggly-haired, freckled kid who couldn’t get her words out.
Although her mama had named her Faith, she’d had none as a child.
She’d grown up poor as dirt, had lived on pinto beans and cornbread and when her daddy was in a pissy mood at her, he made her eat out of a dog bowl. When she stuttered, he forced her to sleep in the doghouse outside as punishment.
Then one night, for whatever reason, Ester, the little girl next door, slipped through the hole in the fence and tiptoed over to her with a cup of milk, some warm cookies and a soft blanket with rainbows on it.
Ester hadn’t asked questions. She’d just crawled inside with Faith and told her stories about the mountains, the folklore her granny had passed onto her, then held her hand and said a prayer for her.
