Page 48 of The Graveyard Girls (Detective Ellie Reeves #11)

FORTY-SEVEN

Crooked Creek Police Station

Given their tasks, the team disbanded from the conference room to their own offices and cubicles, except for Cord who remained to study a topical map of Brambletown, the graveyard and No Man’s Land.

A call had come in about Earl Bramble, someone who claimed they’d seen him in Helen, Georgia, so Sheriff Waters left to check it out. If they found him, maybe they could end this killing spree of his and finally locate Ruth Higgins.

Ellie retreated to her office and called the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper office to inquire about Tilly while Derrick used the corner area in her office to work on locating Ruth’s brother.

A receptionist answered, “ AJC . Jennifer speaking.”

Ellie identified herself. “I need to speak to Tilly Higgins. I understand she works there.”

“Yes, she freelances for us. But she’s currently on assignment in Brambletown.”

Tilly was in Brambletown. “Can you give me her contact information? I need to talk to her.”

“Sure.”

Ellie jotted down Tilly’s phone number as the woman rattled off the numbers, then thanked her, hung up and phoned the number. The call went straight to voicemail so she left a message asking Tilly to return the call.

Tilly being back in Brambletown was no coincidence.

Was she trying to connect the dots between Bonnie’s murder and Ruth’s disappearance?