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NINETY-ONE

Derrick stepped aside to issue the Amber alert and a BOLO for a white van traveling north with a male driver, a female and child inside.

Ellie thanked Hilda, then slipped her business card in the woman’s hand. “If you think of anything else that might be helpful, please give me a call. I promise you I won’t give up until I find Mazie.”

Derrick nudged her as she headed toward the security guard stationed near Santa’s workshop. “Ellie, you shouldn’t make promises you might not be able to keep.”

Anger hardened her tone. “I fully intend to keep that promise.”

A tense second stretched between them. “I’ll talk to the security guard,” Derrick said. “And have them help canvass the town in case someone got a better look at the van.”

“I’ll check the alley,” Ellie said.

They divided up and Ellie checked the booths and food trucks that were closing up as she crossed the street, showing photos of Mazie, Rosalyn, Barbara and the Woodstons. One of the elves recognized Mazie and said she’d seen her with Santa at one point. She was also spotted at the petting zoo. The ice cream truck vendor had also noticed Barbara.

Ellie moved on and as she neared the alley, saw people exiting the Italian restaurant. None of them were Rosalyn though.

Frustration knotting her stomach, she pulled her flashlight and entered the alley. The scent of garlic and marinara sauce wafted from the restaurant. As she took a few steps in, the rancid odor of dumpster garbage stung her nose.

She exhaled and covered her mouth with a handkerchief, then shined the light up and down the alley. A blanket on the ground three feet away caught her eye, and she moved closer before realizing it was covering a lump. Hilda mentioned she suspected Rosalyn was homeless and that she was sick.

Dear God. Had she been sleeping out here in the cold?

Holding her breath, she edged the blanket aside and saw Rosalyn lying beneath it on her side, eyes closed, body so still she didn’t know if the woman was breathing. She brushed her fingers across the woman’s cheek and realized Rosalyn was cold to the touch.

Derrick suddenly appeared behind her. “Ellie?”

“It’s Rosalyn. Call an ambulance. I can’t find a pulse.”