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NINETY-THREE

CROOKED CREEK POLICE STATION

Monday, November 30

Ellie rolled her aching shoulders as she entered the conference room the next morning. She’d finally managed to grab a few winks on the loveseat in the hospital waiting room, but the case and late nights were wearing on her.

When she had slept, she’d had nightmares of finding Mazie dead just as she had Taylor and Heidi. Delilah Short’s ghostly images taunted her as well. Was Claire dead? Had Barbara helped the twins’ killer take Mazie? And why?

Derrick, her boss, Deputies Landrum and Eastwood, the sheriff, Cord and Dr. Whitefeather filed in. The bag of pastries, donuts and biscuits from the Corner Café was missing from Cord’s hands, making her wonder if he hadn’t had time to stop by or if something else was going on.

She took her place at the head of the table, gesturing toward the whiteboard. “We had another kidnapping last night in Emerald Falls. Agent Fox and I spoke with a woman name Hilda who runs Crazy Tacos. She witnessed Mazie Birmingham being abducted by a man dressed as Santa Claus.”

She hesitated. “Hilda also saw Barbara Thacker with him and the little girl. We found Mazie’s mother in an alley suffering from hypothermia, pneumonia and malnutrition. Apparently, she and her daughter were living on the streets. She was transported to the hospital and was still unconscious when I left her this morning.”

“You said Barbara helped kidnap the little girl?” Shondra asked. “I thought she was the mother of the twins and was missing.”

“All true, and a question that needs answering,” Ellie said.

Shondra waved her hand. “So what does Barbara have to do with Mazie?”

“I haven’t confirmed the connection, but it’s possible she is Barbara’s biological child.” Ellie explained about the in vitro and the women’s friendships. “I tried to contact Loretta and Rosalyn, but they haven’t answered my calls. We suspect that all of the women and their daughters may be targets.”

“Then Mazie is in danger,” Shondra said worriedly.

Ellie nodded. “Loretta also has a daughter named Ivy so it’s important we locate and warn her that she and Ivy may be in danger as well.”

Deputy Landrum spoke, “You think our killer is a nutcase with contempt for artificial insemination?”

“That’s a possibility although typically killers with an agenda like that usually leave a message.” She inhaled then continued, “This feels more personal.”

“Suspects?” Landrum asked.

“With Joel Woodston’s death and another kidnapping, he’s off our list.” She crossed his name off on the whiteboard. “Thomas Thacker was also on our list of persons of interest but he was here at the station for questioning yesterday during the time of Mazie’s abduction.”

A tense silence followed while each of the team members absorbed the information.

“Then there’s Larry Modelle. Anything new to report on him, Cord?”

His gaze met hers, eyes dark with emotion. “In town yesterday, I saw him watching a little girl in the petting zoo. He picked up a ribbon from her hair that had fallen out and made contact with her.” Cord worked his mouth from side to side as he studied the whiteboard. “I think that little girl was Loretta Stuart’s daughter Ivy.”

Ellie’s pulse jumped. “What happened?”

“Her mother called her name and the little girl ran to her. Modelle looked disappointed but if he was going to abduct her, he was smart enough not to do it with her mother right there.”

Ellie clenched her jaw. “Shondra, keep trying to reach Loretta Stuart. She may be in Emerald Falls so head there and look for her. Also find her husband’s phone number and call him. Captain, get Angelica on the phone and ask her to come over. We need to circulate Loretta and Ivy’s pictures on the news.”