Page 59

FIFTY-EIGHT

Ellie watched with a heavy heart as Laney performed a preliminary exam on Delilah Short. Her heart ached for the teenagers outside who now had to grow up without a mother.

“The poor woman was definitely stabbed in the back,” Laney said as she examined her injuries. “The size and shape of the wounds are consistent with a sharp instrument like a kitchen or hunting knife.”

Ellie remembered the hunting knife Cord had found in that cave. But the MO of the twins’ murder was different. He’d pushed them over a ridge, not stabbed them.

“If you find DNA from the killer, that would be helpful.”

Laney turned back to the body. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“TOD?”

Laney checked the woman’s liver temperature. “Judging from the state of rigor and liver temp, I’d say she died early today.”

“Any other injuries?” Ellie asked.

“Some bruising around her wrists and neck as if he grabbed her and she tried to run away.”

Derrick returned and joined them. “COD?”

“Bled out from stab wounds,” Laney said.

“Your take on the father?” Ellie asked Derrick.

“I think we can clear him,” Derrick said. “Divorce was amicable. They shared custody. And he’s been with the kids all day.”

“What about the twins or Barbara?”

“He didn’t know them, but the daughter claims her mother was upset about the news of the twins’ death. She also overheard her mother talking to a woman named Barbara a couple of days ago.”

Ellie’s mind ticked over the possibilities. “We know they’re all connected.”

Derrick clenched his jaw. “Tomorrow, we track down those other women and see what they have to say.”

“Maybe Delilah knew secrets Barbara didn’t want exposed,” Ellie said, thinking out loud.

“What secret was big enough to kill for?” Derrick asked.

“Good question.”

“It was obvious in those photographs that Barbara loved the children just like she loved her students,” Ellie said.

The other teachers’ descriptions echoed in Ellie’s head. They’d painted Barbara as a loving, caring person. Ellie couldn’t make herself believe that she was a killer.