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FIFTY-SIX

Derrick checked the master bedroom and two kids’ rooms then a small office. No one else was in the house and there was no evidence of blood or footprints indicating the killer had been inside the bedrooms.

The master was a tasteful blend of blue and yellow and the kids’ rooms was full of teenage décor, desks, movie and music posters. The boy’s room held a gaming center, the girl a small makeup vanity.

He combed through the master looking for anything that might lead to the killer but found nothing but clothing, cosmetics and personal items.

Next, he moved to the office and searched the desk. Delilah worked at a counseling center, but he saw no signs that she brought her work home. It was probably against the rules to take confidential material from the office. But considering her murder, hopefully someone at the counseling center could shed light on whether or not she had enemies.

Her ex-husband might know and so might Delilah’s children, although questioning them while they were in shock was not high on his list. But every minute in an investigation counted.

He confiscated her laptop to take back to the office then headed back to Ellie. Dr. Whitefeather entered the front door along with two medics and Williams, the head of the ERT team.

They briefly acknowledged each other in greeting, then Ellie explained what they’d found.

“Our vic’s name is Delilah Short. She’s a therapist at a local counseling center. Divorced. Ex-husband and two children outside. Husband was dropping off the kids after a day in town and found the body. It looks like she was stabbed in the back. Judging from the position of the body, she was running from her attacker in an attempt to escape,” Ellie continued.

“Let me take a look,” Dr. Whitefeather said.

“One more thing,” Ellie said as her gaze met Williams’. “I think this case is related to our person of interest Barbara Thacker and to the two dead little girls. The flash drive you found at Ms. Thacker’s house contains pictures of the twins, Barbara and three other women. Delilah Short was also in one of the photos.”

Realization dawned. “The murders have to be related,” Derrick said.

“Dr. Whitefeather, look for DNA from the killer,” Ellie said.

“Will do.” She gripped her kit and carefully made her way to the body.

Williams assigned the ERT their tasks and Derrick sidled up to Ellie. “What do you think is going on?”

Ellie clamped her teeth over her lower lip then showed him the picture of the women and children together.

“The women look chummy,” Ellie added. “With Barbara’s grief and depression issues, it makes sense Barbara might have sought help from Delilah.”

“True,” Derrick murmured.

“As a friend and perhaps her counselor, Barbara would have confided her private thoughts and deepest secrets to Delilah and the others.” Ellie paused then cleared her throat. “Secrets that may have gotten Delilah killed.”