Page 51

FIFTY

CROOKED CREEK POLICE STATION

Ellie found Derrick in her office studying the file on Barbara Thacker for more information. “Find anything?”

“No arrest record, no black marks on her work history and no complaints from neighbors or coworkers.”

“So far, nothing makes sense.”

He frowned, making Ellie aware of the dark circles beneath her eyes.

“You have to get some rest, Ellie.”

She gave a quick nod, then offered him coffee and he accepted. Barbara’s laptop sat open on the table.

“According to one of Barbara’s coworkers, she suffered from depression, especially around this time of year because it was the anniversary of when she had the stillborn. Apparently, she met with a group of friends yearly who served as her support group. See if you can find out who they are.”

“On it. I’ve pulled her phone records but so far found nothing suspicious.”

Ellie nibbled on her lower lip. “I’ll search her personal and teacher planners for contacts.”

He sipped the dark brew, then opened the laptop and began to try different combinations of passwords, using Barbara’s birthday and address. He’d also found a phone number for her through the DMV database and tried it along with her wedding and divorce dates.

Deputy Eastwood knocked, and Ellie motioned her in. She was carrying a thumb drive. “ERT dropped this off. Said they found it hidden inside a Bible in Barbara’s house.”

“People hide things for a reason,” Derrick commented.

“Did you look at it?” Ellie asked.

“Not yet. Captain wanted me and Landrum to go to Coal Mountain for extra security during Winterfest.”

“Considering there’s a murderer on the loose, that’s a good idea.” Ellie smiled at Shondra. “Keep on the lookout in case our missing Barbara shows up.”

“Copy that,” Shondra said, then left.

Ellie flipped through the teacher’s planning book, noting lesson plans and field trips, special programs, units of study for her class. She found a section with a list of students and little notes about each one. Nothing suspicious, just comments like Jo Jo needs work with sequencing , Harry with counting to twenty , etc. There were also comments about behavior and concerns about development which were worded with love, supporting the other teachers’ portrayal of the woman.

She tackled Barbara’s personal planner next and found dates for appointments with her doctor, hairdresser, and dentist. Another held schedules for special school programs. As Ellie flipped the pages, she focused on the month of November since Tessa mentioned this was the time of year Barbara fell into a depression.

The date November 26, Thanksgiving, had been circled. Was that the anniversary of when Barbara lost her child?

“So far, I haven’t been able to access her accounts,” Derrick said with a wrinkled brow.

“Try November 26,” Ellie said. “I think that may be the day she lost her child.” Sympathy for the woman warred with questions about why she’d disappeared.

Derrick entered the date as a password then smiled. “That’s it. I’m in.”

Ellie continued to search the planning book and found a notation about Winterfest. Her mind raced with the possibilities. Tessa said Barbara met her friends around this time of year. Had they planned to get together in Emerald Falls?

If so, her friends would be in town. But if that was the case and they were such good friends and they’d seen the news that the police were looking for Barbara, wouldn’t they be worried? Wouldn’t they have called the police?