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TWENTY-ONE

COAL MOUNTAIN HOSPITAL

Derrick wound around the curvy mountain road as he climbed toward the hospital. The weather, patches of black ice, downed trees and stalled cars slowed him down and made driving dangerous.

His phone buzzed and he connected to Ellie.

“Derrick, Cord just phoned and is on his way back to the station. He found a mine not far from the falls where someone had been inside but no indication of who it was. He also found a hunting knife, partially buried in the dirt. He bagged it and is bringing it in.”

“Sounds promising.”

“Are you at the hospital yet?”

“No, still ten minutes away. It’s been slow going. Roads are pretty icy.”

“Be careful,” Ellie said. “Listen, I got a hit when I searched for prisoners with a history of murdering children. A man named Larry Modelle was convicted of murdering his nine-year-old daughter but was released on a technicality. His last known address was north of Coal Mountain. He transports animals to petting zoos for children and there’s currently one in Emerald Falls. I’m headed that way.”

“Ellie, that could be dangerous. Wait for me and we’ll go together.”

“I’ll text you when I get there,” she said, ignoring him. “If you’re finished at the hospital, you can meet me there.

Stubborn ass woman. He knew she wouldn’t listen. “Copy that.” His throat thickened with fear. He’d almost lost her on their last case. He wasn’t sure how many times he could do that and not react. “But listen to me, if he’s there, do not go in alone. Wait for back-up, do you hear me?”

A tense second passed. “I hear you,” Ellie said.

He wished he could believe her, but she was a hothead who occasionally went rogue. “I’ll be looking for your text.”

“Okay,” she said, then hung up.

Dammit, he admired her tenacity. But he still wanted to throttle her. To tie her up and kiss her and keep her safe.

A sarcastic chuckle rumbled in his chest. That would surely make her run and he’d be off the task force in no time. The best thing he could do was find out if the woman in the hospital was the twins’ mother. Then he’d meet Ellie and make sure she didn’t confront a murderer on her own.

Fifteen minutes later, he reached the hospital and parked. Icy sludge crunched beneath his boots as he trudged to the entrance and entered through the main lobby. He stopped at the front desk and asked about the woman who’d been brought in, but she had no identification. He flashed his credentials and explained he was working the case of the missing girls on the morning news segment and she checked the computer. “Room two-ten, second floor.”

He thanked her, then rode the elevator to the second floor and stopped at the front desk to inquire about the woman’s condition. The nurse hesitated so he showed her his credentials then called the attending doctor. Minutes later, a young man in his thirties appeared and introduced himself.

“Can you tell me about the woman who was brought in?” Derrick asked. “What’s her condition?”

“She suffered contusions and has a concussion but should heal. We’ll keep her overnight for observation. Hopefully her family will come forward to identify her.”

“Is she still unconscious?”

“She woke up for a minute then drifted back off.”

“I’d like to talk to her,” Derrick said then explained about the twins.

“You think this might be related?” the doctor asked.

Derrick shrugged. “Just exploring every possibility.”

“All right, but don’t take long. She needs her rest.”

As Derrick walked down the hall, he considered the doctor’s question.

It seemed too coincidental to have two dead unidentified girls and now an unidentified woman in a car accident so close together in timing.

He didn’t like unanswered questions or coincidences.