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ONE HUNDRED ONE

The call from Shondra taunted Ellie as she and Derrick raced to Emerald Falls. Ivy Stuart had been abducted. Shondra had called security and an ambulance for Barbara who was hurt. She’d also asked Deputy Landrum to canvass the crowd.

“What happened?” Derrick asked as Ellie parked.

“A man dressed as Santa took Ivy Stuart and hurt Barbara. Deputy Eastwood is containing the scene and an ambulance is on scene.”

She and Derrick hit the pavement running. The festive atmosphere had morphed into a panicked chaos. A security guard stood by clearing the crowd. Another combed the people at the scene in an attempt to calm them. Several other Santas had been contained in another area.

They found Shondra with the Stuarts who looked terrified and in shock. The medics were working on a woman in a Mrs. Claus outfit.

As they drew closer, Ellie realized the woman was Barbara.

“I’ll question Barbara if you want to talk to the Stuarts,” Derrick said.

Ellie nodded and approached the couple. “Detective Ellie Reeves,” she said. “I’m so sorry but I understand someone abducted your daughter.”

Loretta wiped at tears but was so upset she couldn’t talk.

“Yes, you have to help us.” Her husband Michael heaved for a breath. “I ran after them but couldn’t find him.”

“What happened?” Ellie asked.

“We were here enjoying the day. Ivy wanted to do the photo booth and ran over there. We watched from the side.” His voice cracked. “When she came off the stage, a man dressed as Santa snatched her.”

“I tried to save her,” Loretta cried, “but he knocked me down.”

“What about Barbara?” Ellie asked.

Michael frowned. “Who’s Barbara?”

“A friend of mine,” Loretta said. “She was with him,” Loretta screeched.

“Your friend helped abduct our daughter?” Michael asked, shock on his face.

“I’ll tell you about her later,” Loretta said brokenly.

“Does Barbara know where he’s holding Mazie or taking Ivy?” Ellie asked.

Loretta gulped back a sob. “She passed out before she could tell me.”

“Did you see where he went?” Ellie asked.

Loretta shook her head.

Her husband’s breathing was labored. “No, I lost him in the crowd. You have to help us.”

“I promise we’re going to do that,” Ellie said, but twinges of guilt and fear ripped through her. So far she’d failed.

Loretta swayed, but Michael caught her and she leaned into him, her body trembling.

“Loretta, I want you and your husband to meet us at the hospital.”

Michael nodded, then Ellie crossed to Barbara where Derrick stood. “How is she?”

“Unconscious. Head injury. They’re going to transport her to the hospital.”

“I’ll ride with her in the ambulance in case she regains consciousness,” Ellie said. “The Stuarts are in shock. They’re meeting us at the hospital. Maybe they know something that will lead us to this bastard.”