As soon as he opened the door, she jumped from the floor and leaped at him with claws bared like a feral cat. The screech that erupted from her boomeranged off the dusty walls then she spit at him.
“Where’s my daughter?”
“In a better place.” Thankfully he’d arranged that in advance, and it had taken no time to hand her off.
He strode toward her, pulling the syringe from his pocket. She reached out to attack him but he shoved her backward, throwing her to the floor on her back. Then he pounced on top of her, staring at her through the eyeholes of his mask.
He remembered the first time he’d seen her. Her sweet innocence. How she’d trusted him. How she’d believed everything he said.
He’d perfected the voice. The comforting tone. The authority.
For a second, her eyes flickered with something like recognition. Was she finally remembering?
A smile lifted his lips. He wanted her to… at least before she died.
But not today. She had to suffer first.
EIGHTY-THREE
Bright Horizons
Ellie parked at the red farmhouse outside of Mystic, a classic structure with a large front porch and rocking chairs that had obviously been converted into a family-based counseling center, not a live-in shelter. From the information she’d gathered, they focused on planned parenthood, counseling women and young girls through their pregnancies and postpartum, coordinating adoptions and long-term mental health care including guidance for employment, housing and parenting classes.
Wind tore at Ellie’s hair as she hopped from her Jeep, and she wrapped her scarf around her neck to ward off the chill. The temperature was dropping fast with warnings of a possible snowstorm, which would make her job even more difficult.
She shook off the leaves that had fallen in her hair and finger-combed the windswept strands as she entered the community counseling center. The entryway was just as inviting as the outside, with a front desk, seating areas with cozy couches and two fireplaces in the gathering rooms. Another room was set up with tables, books, crayons, paper and children’s toys.
She stopped at the receptionist’s desk and introduced herself. “I’m here to see Mabel Putnam.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No, but it’s urgent. If she’s with a client, I’ll wait.”
The pretty young woman checked the appointment calendar. “Okay. She should be finishing up with her appointment in about five minutes.”
Ellie nodded, then walked over to one of the sitting areas. She removed her gloves and stuffed them in her pocket then warmed her hands by the fire. Her gaze soaked in the room, and she noted pamphlets on the table with information on each of the programs and classes offered at the center.
Voices echoed and she looked up to see Clara and a thirty-something attractive woman with a neat bob leaving an office and chatting with Clara. Interesting. She understood that Hazel required the girls to participate in counseling but had no idea Clara came to this facility. Mabel Putnam had also counseled Dana Jo Glasser. Maybe Minnie, too.
The counselor might be the connection they’d been searching for.
She walked into the main lobby and Clara glanced up and saw her. Her eyes flared with surprise. Ellie offered her a tentative smile. “Nice to see you again, Clara.”
Clara nodded, twisting the buttons on her coat. “Any news on Iris?”
“I’m afraid not,” Ellie said. “But I haven’t given up.”
“See you next week,” the counselor said then squeezed Clara’s arm. “Call me if you need to talk before then. My door’s always open.”
Clara nodded then hurried out the door. Ms. Putnam turned to Ellie with a curious look. “My receptionist texted that you needed to speak to me, Detective. Let’s go inside my office.”
“Thanks, Ms. Putnam.”
“Please call me Mabel,” the woman said softly.
“Thanks, Mabel.” Ellie followed her, noting that the interior of her office was cheerful, decorated in eclectic artwork in a combination of farmhouse décor with cozy seating and encouraging quotes framed on the wall. Mabel gestured for Ellie to seat herself on the dark blue couch and Ellie did while the therapist settled into the club chair facing her.
“I saw the press conference about Minnie Benton and Iris,” Mabel said directly. “And now another young woman and her daughter are missing. That’s awful.”
