Page 112

ONE HUNDRED ELEVEN

Modelle cursed and struggled against the handcuffs as Ellie arrested him while Derrick met the ERT and filled them in. Cord expanded his search team to cover Modelle’s property and the trail into the woods for a ten-mile area. If they didn’t find the girls, they’d expand it further. But Modelle seemed to think he’d slipped under the radar. Damn bastard, thought he was safe from scrutiny and had gotten sloppy.

“I want a lawyer, you bitch,” he growled.

She jerked his handcuffed hands and shoved him toward the sheriff’s car. Bryce had taken no time to rush onto the scene.

“You’re not going to beat the charges this time,” she said coldly. “We caught you in the act of burying a body. And there will be evidence inside your wall that should help fry your ass, at least for this murder.”

Then he’d be locked up until he died and the world would be a safer place.

“Someone set me up,” he said as she glared down at him.

“Right.” Sarcasm dripped from Ellie’s tone. “And that person told you about the body inside the wall of your own house. You arrogant prick.” She smiled. “Face it, you’re going to prison. Your only chance now is to tell us where the abducted girls are.”

His beady eyes narrowed to menacing slits, and the timbre of his voice turned ice cold. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Ellie wanted to slap him but refrained. “Where are they?” She gestured toward the house then the woods. “Are they in one of the walls or somewhere on your land?”

“I didn’t kill those brats.”

“Their names are Taylor and Heidi. And now Mazie and Ivy are gone. You wanted revenge against Barbara for reporting you to DFACS so you went after her children.”

A strange look darkened his eyes. Almost as if he was confused. Then the evil returned. “I told you, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Ellie breathed out fire. “Stop lying. If Mazie and Ivy are still alive and you want any chance of avoiding the death penalty, you’d damn well better tell me where they are.”

His lips pressed into a straight hard line. “Lawyer.”

It took every ounce of restraint Ellie possessed not to shove her gun in his mouth and blow his brains out.