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ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN

It took Derrick no time to arrange for a professional to administer the polygraph test which would analyze physiological indicators to indicate if Modelle was lying. Although Modelle’s lawyer had advised against it, Modelle insisted.

Ellie rubbed her hands up and down her arms as she paced the room adjacent to the interrogation room where Modelle was sitting.

“He’s as guilty as they come,” Ellie muttered. “That bastard thinks he can get away with blaming all this on his wife, he’s got another think coming.”

“I don’t believe him either,” Derrick said. “Although I am wondering how he discovered the girls were Barbara’s biological children.”

Ellie paused in her pacing to look at him with a frown. “I don’t know, but he must have. Maybe when he killed that counselor.”

“The twins were already dead when Delilah was murdered.”

Ellie rubbed her temple. Derrick was right. Voices from the polygraph administrator jarred them both to the window where they claimed seats to watch.

The administrator hooked Modelle to the monitor then began with a series of questions to establish a baseline.

“Is your name Larry Modelle?”

“Yes,” Modelle replied.

“Do you have green eyes?

“No,” Modelle asked with a twitch of a smile. True—his eyes were brown. A few more basic questions, then the analyst deftly moved onto the questions Ellie and Derrick had supplied.

“You were married to a woman named Bernice?”

“Yes,” Modelle said, still smug.

“And you had a daughter together?”

“We did,” Modelle said.

“Please stick to yes or no,” the polygraph administrator instructed.

“You were accused of abusing her?”

Modelle stiffened slightly. “Yes. But I didn’t do it. My wife did.”

“Just answer yes or no,” the administrator repeated firmly. “Did you kill your daughter?”

“No,” Modelle said.

Ellie gripped the edge of her seat. Modelle was sticking to the story he used in his trial.

“Did you know a woman named Barbara Thacker?”

Modelle’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Yes. That bitch made false claims about me to DFACS and they wanted to take my kid away.”

“Again, yes and no answers only,” the administrator said curtly. “Did you kill your wife?”

Modelle inhaled as if trying to control his breathing. “No.”

“Did you kill your daughter?”

Modelle glared at him. “I already answered that.”

The administrator showed no reaction. “Did you kill Taylor and Heidi Woodston?”

“No,” Modelle said his voice rising an octave.

“Did you abduct Mazie Birmingham?”

“No.” This time Modelle’s look was dead pan.

“Did you abduct Ivy Stuart?”

Modelle shook his head.

“Please answer with a verbal response.”

“No, I didn’t abduct those kids.”

“He’s getting agitated,” Ellie said. “Is it because he’s lying or telling the truth?”