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One Hundred Forty-Six
White Lilies Cemetery
Ellie met the ME, Dr.Whitefeather, and the ERT at the edge of the graveyard and led them over to where Gayle lay in the crimson-stained snow. She and Derrick had already taken photos, but the ERT would conduct a formal investigation to confirm suicide. Although judging from Gayle’s mental state, the blood spatter, position of the body and the gun residue on Gayle’s hands, she didn’t think it would take long for them to conclude the obvious.
“She was so distraught and grief-stricken over losing her daughter two years ago that she never recovered,” Ellie explained. “We found the children she abducted, but she pulled a gun. Agent Fox gave chase and lost her. Her husband thought she would be here.”
“That is so sad,” Laney said. “I can’t imagine the pain of losing a child.” Laney stooped down to examine the body then gently rolled Gayle to the side. Blood spattered her jacket and clothing and hands and a gaping bloody hole had opened in her chest.
“Looks like the bullet pierced her heart,” Laney said.
Laney examined Gayle’s face, arms and hands. “No bruising or scratches to suggest anyone else was here or that she fought with an attacker.”
“The gun is the same one she brought with her,” Ellie said.
The forensic team began searching the area for footprints and evidence that someone else could have been here, but Ellie knew it was simply protocol. More ominous snow clouds rolled in, the temperature dropping as the forensic team worked and Laney arranged for Gayle’s body to be transported to the morgue. The church bells struck one, the air shifting, and Ellie knew it was time she and Derrick went to talk to Silas again.
Derrick’s phone jangled as they got in her Jeep.
“It’s my partner at the Bureau,” he said, then connected and put it on speaker.
“Fox, we busted MWC wide open. It wasn’t as big an operation as we feared. Serena Morino was definitely running the show. We found three children at the headquarters and have them in foster care until we can locate their families. Two of the boys said they were living on the streets and the third said his parents were dead. That he’d lived with his grandmother but she became ill and couldn’t get out of bed so he went out searching for food in the dumpsters near his house. Autumn Juniper saw him and took him. She’s facing charges now, just as Ms.Moreno and everyone involved in the organization is.”
“Great work,” Derrick said. “Hopefully the kids can be adopted through legal means now and be placed with loving stable families.”
Ellie’s heart ached for the children, and she hoped Derrick was right, that they didn’t get lost in a broken system. Thick snowflakes fell in waves as they drove to the hospital again, the cloud of white glowing against the headlights.
“What are you doing for Christmas?” Derrick asked.
“Going to my folks,” Ellie said, a tense second passing. She would love to invite Derrick but the tight set of his jaw indicated that would never happen. “How about you?”
“My mother called. She sounded lonely. I’ll spend it with her.”
Another reminder of the fact his family had suffered because of hers, that they might never be able to cross the divide between them.
Her heart was heavy as she parked, and she and Derrick walked inside. The halls were quiet tonight, the holiday decorations meant to add cheer to the sick and their families, yet Ellie had no good news for Silas. When they reached his room, Ellie knocked and eased open the door.
Derrick squeezed her arm for comfort, and they slipped quietly inside.
Silas jerked his eyes open, searching their faces, and Ellie gave a sad shake of her head. “I’m sorry, Mr.Gooding. We didn’t make it in time.”
“Where…”
“You were right. She was at White Lilies with Piper.”
Pain and sorrow wrenched his eyes, then he squeezed them shut and made a low keening sound.
Ellie’s heart broke for him. He’d blamed himself for his daughter’s death and ruined his career to try and atone to his wife. But nothing could bring Piper back.
And now he’d lost it all.
One Hundred Forty-Seven
Crooked Creek
Wednesday, December 25
Ellie woke to sunlight streaming through the window and a blanket of white on the ground outside. She imagined all the children in Bluff County rushing to the Christmas tree, excited and squealing as they found toys left by Santa.
