Page 27

TWENTY-SIX

CROOKED CREEK POLICE STATION

Derrick phoned the judge for a warrant for Modelle’s house.

“Sorry, Agent Fox, but you need evidence for me to grant that. At this point, all you have is his former arrest record and you know that’s not enough.”

Derrick silently cursed. He’d known it was a long shot and wasn’t surprised at the judge’s response.

He and Ellie would have to find something concrete or Modelle would accuse them of harassment. Modelle probably had his attorney on speed dial. “We still haven’t received a missing person’s report on the twins Detective Reeves found dead.”

“Any other persons of interest?” the judge asked.

“An unidentified woman was brought into the hospital with injuries caused by a car accident. We think she might be the girls’ mother.”

“You questioned her?”

“Yes,” Derrick said. “She said she had no children then clammed up. But I sensed she was hiding something. If we can look at her medical records, we’ll know if she’s given birth.”

The judge released a long-winded sigh. “Agent Fox, you aren’t a rookie. You know good and well that sensing a person is hiding something is not sufficient to subpoena medical records. Now, I suggest you and Detective Reeves do your jobs. Find out the woman’s identity and then do some research on her. And don’t come back to me unless you have credible evidence to justify invading that woman’s privacy or Mr. Modelle’s constitutional rights.”

Derrick gritted his teeth as the judge ended the call. Dammit. The judge was right, but the image of those little girls’ faces haunted him. Someone should have reported them missing by now.

Unless they were murdered by one or both of their parents.

He pulled a hand down his chin then decided to talk to the medics who’d transported the woman to the hospital. Maybe she’d stirred in the ambulance and spoken to them.

He phoned the hospital for names of the medics. It was a female pair named Janet and Paula. Paula answered his call and he explained the reason for the call.

“She was bruised and had a cut above his eye, but no one else was in the car or at the scene,” Paula replied.

Interesting.

“Was she inebriated?” Derrick asked.

“We didn’t detect alcohol in her system.”

“Did she say anything?”

A beat passed. “No, she was unconscious and remained so in the ambulance.”

“I spoke with her for just a moment, and she claims she doesn’t remember her name. Did you find any ID on her or in the car?”

“No, we thought that was odd, too.”

“No purse or wallet or phone or car registration?”

“No, nothing.”

The hair on the back of Derrick’s neck prickled. “What did the police have to say?”

“They thought it was odd, too. Said they’d impound the vehicle and file a report.”

“Do you recall the officer’s name?” Derrick asked.

“Lanko,” she replied. “He’s with Coal Mountain Police Department.”

“Thanks. I’ll call them. If you think of anything else, please give me a call.”

She agreed, and he hung up then called the police department.

“This is Officer Lanko,” the man said.

Derrick explained the reason for his call. “I spoke with the woman in the accident you handled. She claimed she doesn’t know her name and the medics said she was unconscious when they found her.”

“Yeah, I searched the car but there was no ID inside, not even a vehicle registration. Struck me as odd.”

“Where’s the car now?” Derrick asked.

“We brought it to the police lot until the woman comes to and explains.”

Derrick ran a hand over his chin. “I’m sending a forensic team to process it for fingerprints and blood.”

“What’s going on, Agent Fox?”

“I can’t say for sure, but the driver might be related to the case I’m working and have information on the victims we found near Emerald Falls. Did you trace the license plate?”

“Yes. The vehicle is a 2004 black Pathfinder, license number RTZ 659. According to records, it was bought at a used car lot in Dahlonega by a man named Thomas Thacker. I tried calling him but got no answer.”

“His address?”

“I’ll text it to you.”

“Thanks. I’m sending that forensic team out there now.”

Derrick ended the call, put in a request for the forensic team, then grabbed his keys.

He’d confront Thacker. There had to be a reason the car registration was not inside the vehicle. Why didn’t the woman have her ID or a phone with her?

Two possibilities came to mind. She was running from something… or someone. Or there had been someone else at the scene who’d taken her ID and phone.