Page 55 of The Graveyard Girls (Detective Ellie Reeves #11)

FIFTY-FOUR

Deer Run Lake

Derrick’s research on the former sheriff Chester indicated he’d retired six years ago and after a quick election, his son Clint assumed office.

He and Ellie needed to canvass locals for their opinions of Chester, and when he spoke with Ruth’s parents, get their thoughts on how he’d handled the investigation.

He scanned the property, which was almost cheery compared to the parched land by the graveyard.

Although it was winter, evergreens added color and the lake offered an inviting view.

Derrick wound around the curvy drive, which led to an older red brick ranch house.

The yard was well maintained, shrubs neatly trimmed, and four rustic Adirondack chairs provided seating around a stone firepit.

Derrick parked and strode toward the front door, but footsteps crunched gravel and he swung his head to the side.

Chester Wallace, dressed in a flannel shirt and worn jeans appeared, scowling.

It was obvious from the square jaw, stature and deep brown eyes that his son was his spitting image.

Except Chester had a good thirty pounds on his son and gray streaks threaded his brown hair.

Derrick introduced himself as the man approached.

“I figured you’d show up at my door sometime,” Chester said. “This about the Higgins girl?”

“And the body found at the graveyard,” Derrick said.

“Why do you think they’re related? Ruth could have just run off, you know.”

“That’s possible,” Derrick agreed. “But there are reasons we suspect the cases are connected.”

Wallace walked to the porch and Derrick followed, both seating themselves in the chairs facing the lake. “What reasons?”

“Ruth’s sister, Tilly, admitted Ruth snuck out of the house. I also know that one of her shoes was found.”

“So?” Chester shrugged. “Maybe she lost it running away.”

“But wouldn’t she have realized it right away and retrieved it?”

Wallace shrugged. “Who knows how a teenage girl’s mind works?”

“I think she lost it in a struggle or running from someone she was afraid of.”

An irritated sigh rasped from Wallace. “I guess that’s possible.

But I did my diligence and questioned all the teens she knew, Ida and Hetty Bramble and their daddy who I thought and still think killed her.

I also talked to Ruth’s father and brother who were persons of interest. But I never could find evidence to make charges stick.

” He wheezed a breath. “Then Bramble ran off which suggested I was right about him.”

“That seems logical,” Derrick agreed. “I’m sure you questioned his daughters about his whereabouts.”

“Course I did,” Wallace said. “They claimed they had no idea where he was.” He pulled a hand down his chin.

“But I can tell you this. Neither one of them seemed upset or worried that he left. Instead, I think they were relieved because it was a shitshow with the media and he was known as a mean asshole.”

“Did you suspect he abused them?” Derrick asked.

“Sure did. But neither admitted it to me.”

“How about your son Clint?” Derrick asked. “He and Ruth broke up shortly before she disappeared. Was he upset about it?”

“Maybe but he went out with his friends that night.” He gripped the edge of the desk, temper flaring in his tone.

“Besides my son was on the road to a football scholarship and he sure as hell wouldn’t have killed Ruth over a breakup and destroy his chances.

He also could have any girl he wanted at that time. ”

“Yet he never married,” Derrick pointed out.

“His choice,” Chester said. “He likes the single life.”

“What happened to the scholarship?”

Chester’s jaw tightened. “Blew his knee out in training. And after the ordeal with Ruth, all the questions and negativity, his head wasn’t into sports anymore. In fact, that’s one reason he got into law enforcement. He wanted justice.”

“Did he? Or did he want to keep the case buried?”

Wallace shot up from his seat, knocking his chair backward, his eyes flaring with rage. “We’re done here, Agent Fox.”

“I’m not done until that case and the current one are solved.” Derrick stood, his body just as rigid at the former sheriff’s. “Was the shoe the only thing you found in the vicinity of where Ruth disappeared?”

Wallace narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Did you find any clothing? Jewelry? A backpack or phone?”

“No, none of those things.” Wallace scratched his head. “Come to think of it though, we did find a red scarf in the woods but the family said it didn’t belong to Ruth.”

Derrick’s pulse jumped. There was another connection. “I need that scarf to check it for DNA and prints.” The other scarves that had been found lacked DNA or prints, but if Ruth was the unsub’s first kill, maybe he’d been sloppy and left evidence behind.