Page 14 of Shamed

“Did he say anything?”

“I…” She takes the lollipop out of her mouth. Her eyes fill with tears. “I got scared and ran.”

“What about Elsie?” I ask. “Did she say anything?”

“All she did was scream.”

CHAPTER 3

One hour missing

The Schattenbaum place is teeming with activity when I pull into the driveway. I see a Holmes County Sheriff’s Department vehicle. An Ohio State Highway Patrol Dodge Charger. Two Painters Mill cruisers tell me my own department has arrived on scene. While I want all available law enforcement looking for the little girl, I’m cognizant that any evidence left behind needs to be protected and preserved. Not an easy feat when there are a dozen cops tromping all over it.

An hour has passed since Mary Yoder was killed and Elsie Helmuth disappeared, and already the hounds of desperation are nipping at my heels. I park behind Tomasetti’s Tahoe and call my dispatcher.

“I need you to get me the names and addresses of all registered sex offenders in Painters Mill and all of Holmes County,” I say. “If the offender has an Amish-sounding name, flag it. Let me know if any of them live in close proximity to the Schattenbaum place. Start with a five-mile radius and expand from there.”

I hear her typing in the background, noting everything. “Got it.”

“Run Ivan and Miriam Helmuth through LEADS. Run Mary Yoder as well as her deceased husband. Check Edward Graber, too. See if anything comes back.” LEADS is the acronym for the Law Enforcement Automated Data System, which is operated by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and stores information such as criminal records and outstanding warrants.

“Okay.”

“Did you call Doc Coblentz?” I ask, referring to the Holmes County coroner.

“He’s on his way.”

“Any media inquiries?”

“Steve Ressler called ten minutes ago.”

Not for the first time, I’m astounded by how quickly word travels in a small town. Ressler is the publisher of Painters Mill’s weekly newspaper, The Advocate. “Do not confirm anything at this point. Nothing is for public consumption.”

“Sure.”

“Lois, I need an aerial map with topography of the Schattenbaum property and the surrounding area. Call the Holmes County auditor. Ask them to fax it to you. Tell them it’s an emergency and I need it yesterday.”

I end the call and hit my shoulder mike as I slide out of the Explorer. “Mona, what’s your twenty?”

“Glock and Skid and I just cleared the barn and the smaller outbuilding.”

“Anything?”

“Negative.”

“I need you to ten-fifty-eight,” I tell her, using the ten code for direct traffic. “I want the road in front of the Schattenbaum place blocked off at both Ts, flares and cones. No one comes in or goes out. I’ll get County out there to help you.”

“Roger that.”

“Tell Glock and Skid to search the back of the property. It’s a big spread. Grab some deputies, set up a grid, and get it done.”

“Ten-four.”

“Pickles? What’s your twenty?”

“T.J. and I are talking to neighbors, Chief. We split up to cover more ground. He’s south. I’m north.”

“Anything?”