Page 103

ONE HUNDRED TWO

COAL MOUNTAIN HOSPITAL

Ellie and Derrick left Shondra and Deputy Landrum working the crowd. Ellie climbed into the ambulance, while Derrick drove her Jeep and followed the Stuarts who insisted on bringing their own vehicle. The medics had applied blood stoppers and hooked Barbara up to an IV. One was monitoring her vitals while the EMT raced toward the hospital.

Ellie’s phone buzzed and she snapped it up. “Shondra, tell me you have something.”

“Everyone we interviewed said Barbara didn’t appear to be in distress before the confrontation. All they saw was the kidnapper in a Santa outfit. They said he tried to take the little girl and Barbara, dressed as Mrs. Claus, was with him.”

Ellie glanced at Barbara, willing her to regain consciousness and explain. “The question is, was she his accomplice or was she trying to save Ivy?”

“What can I do?” Shondra asked.

Ellie’s stomach clenched. “Ask Deputy Landrum to find security and review the footage.”

“Copy that.”

She hung up and phoned Cord to alert him in case they found an address where Mazie might be being held. But the phone went straight to voicemail. Anxious to talk to him, she phoned Lola at the Corner Café. Lola sounded winded when she answered.

“Lola, it’s Ellie.”

“What do you want?” Lola asked tersely.

She must be busy. “Sorry, didn’t mean to bother you, but is Cord there?”

Lola’s sigh echoed back. “No. Why would you think he was here?”

Frustration mounted inside Ellie. “Because he’s there a lot,” she said.

“Not anymore.” Lola heaved a breath. “I have to go.”

The phone cut off, and Ellie frowned. What was going on with her? And what did she mean not anymore ? She’d assumed they were planning their wedding…

The ambulance veered into the hospital parking lot with the Stuarts and Derrick following. Doors flew open and the medics rolled Barb into the hospital ER. Derrick escorted the Stuarts to a private waiting room so they could talk while Ellie trailed the nurse with Barbara.

“Miss, let us treat her and then you can see her.”

Ellie inhaled. “She was involved in the abduction of a little girl earlier, and at the moment is in police custody. I’ll arrange for security to guard her. I also need to speak with her the minute she regains consciousness.”

“Understood.”

The nurse rolled an unconscious Barbara into an ER room and requested a security guard for Barbara. When he was in place, she hurried back to find Derrick and the Stuarts. Derrick met her at the door.

“Where’s Loretta?” Ellie asked.

“Restroom,” Derrick replied. “Medics said she’s physically okay, just in shock and her blood pressure is high. They gave her something to stabilize her.”

Ellie took a deep breath then she and Derrick entered the room. Michael sat ramrod straight, his jaw clenched.

He looked up, wild-eyed. “Did you find her?”

Ellie’s heart tugged. More than anything she wanted to tell him yes, that their daughter was safe and sound. But she couldn’t lie.

“I’m sorry but not yet. I promise though that we’ll do everything possible to find her and bring her home safely.”

“Like you found the monster who killed those other little girls,” Michael snapped.

Ellie swallowed hard, her guilt compounded by the fact that he was right.