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There was nothingDerrick could do for Radcliff. The fall was at least a hundred feet. His body lay twisted and broken, blood seeping onto the rocks. The SOB had taken the coward’s way out.
But he had others to find. Ones he could save. The victims. McClain. And Ellie.
He ran back through the trees and down the hill then rushed into the lower level where he’d left the others.
By the time he reached the room where Radcliff and Pockley had been, the sheriff was cuffing Pockley. The man looked shell-shocked as if he couldn’t believe they’d finally been caught.
“Let’s find the victims,” Derrick told Landrum. “Waters, do you see keys to the rooms?”
The sheriff searched Pockley and found a key ring at the man’s belt. He tossed them to Derrick then pushed Pockley to the door to escort him to his squad car.
Derrick and Landrum hurried down the hall. He came to three doors and heard crying inside. He unlocked the first door and raced in to find Beverly Hooper sobbing.
“Check next door,” he told Landrum.
Landrum disappeared and Derrick rushed to Beverly. “Hey, it’s okay,” he said gently as he knelt to untie her. “You’re safe now.”
Tears choked her voice. “He was going to kill me,” she wailed.
“I know, but you’re safe now.” He finished untying her ankles and helped her stand. She staggered and held onto him, and he scooped her up and ran outside to the ambulance.
The medic took over, and he ran back inside just as Landrum carried a weeping Janie Huggins out the door. One more room. Sarah Turner was here, too.
He checked another room, but no one was inside. In the fourth room, he found Sarah. She’d lost blood and was unconscious. He checked for a pulse. Low but she had one. He quickly lifted her and carried her down the hall and outside.
Another ambulance had arrived and he rushed her to them. They immediately helped her onto a stretcher and began checking her vitals.
His heart thundered.
The women were safe. Pockley was in custody. Radcliff, Wahlburg and Harvey dead.
Time to find McClain and Ellie.
ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE
Derrick left the sheriff with Pockley who’d totally clammed up in the backseat of the squad car. Deputy Eastwood was working to comfort Lorna Bea and the other victims.
“Landrum, get ERT, the ME and a recovery team to bring up Radcliff’s body from the ridge where he jumped,” Derrick said. “I think there might be more bodies in the basement. I’m going in for McClain and Ellie.”
“Copy that. Let me know if you need back-up.”
Derrick nodded and hurried back inside. He searched the same area where he’d found the victims but found empty rooms. Fear driving him, he turned and jogged down another corridor, combing the downstairs halls. Finally, he heard a banging sound. Then shouting.
Ellie. “Help!”
Even with his raging heart, he forced himself to stand still. To focus on the direction of the sound.
“Ellie!” he shouted. “I’m on my way. Where are you?”
Her voice again. “In here!” she cried. “We’re locked inside.”
He raced down the hall, following the sound until he made a turn and reached what looked like a dead end. Then he heard coughing.
Pulling a handkerchief from his pocket, he covered his mouth and nose as he jiggled the doorknob. It was heavy and secure but three more tries, pushing all his weight against it, and he managed to open it.
The door screeched and Ellie fell forward at his feet, gasping for air.
“Come on, I’ve got you.” He stooped down to help her up.
