Page 7 of The Girl in the River

Pixie sniffled and clung tight as Ellie carried her from the bathroom. Georgia stood at the doorway to the bridal room, watching in distress. “What happened?”

“I don’t know. But call your security team and ask them to start searching the property.”

NINE

“Stay here and make sure no one goes inside, too,” Ellie told Georgia. “If Mia or Tori return, call me. I’m going to take Pixie to Mark and then I’ll be back.”

Worry creased Georgia’s forehead but she nodded.

Ellie continued to soothe Pixie while she hurried back to the wedding site. Mark and Liam were both pacing, the guests were whispering and shuffling in their seats.

When Mark and Liam spotted her with Pixie, they hurried down the center aisle. Mark took one look at Pixie’s tears and panic flickered across his face. “What’s going on? I called Mia a dozen times and she’s not answering.”

“Neither is Tori,” Liam said.

“Mia and Tori weren’t in the bride’s room.” Ellie spoke softly, struggling not to let her own rising anxiety filter into her voice. “I need someone to watch Pixie so I can look around.”

“I’ll look, too,” Mark said.

“No. You two stay here in case they call or show up,” Ellie said. “Maybe they just went for a walk. I’ll keep you posted.”

Mark looked reluctant, but he agreed, then reached for Pixie. “Come here, sweetie. You can hang with me while Ms. Ellie finds your mommy.”

Pixie sniffled but allowed him to take her, and Ellie’s gaze caught Cord’s. He read her well; he stood and walked over to join her, Lola on his heels.

Ellie steered them to the side while Mark’s parents joined him. “Something’s not right,” Ellie told Cord. “It’s possible the bride ran off, but I think there might be foul play. Come with me, Cord.”

“What can I do to help?” Lola asked.

“Watch out for Pixie. She’s upset. She thinks she heard a man in the room with her mother. But I haven’t shared that with Mark yet so don’t mention it.”

Sympathy softened Lola’s eyes. “I’ll see if I can distract her.”

“Thanks,” Ellie said. “I want the men to stay here until I figure out what’s going on.” She glanced at Cord. “Follow me.”

Lola walked over to talk to Pixie and Ellie led Cord back to the bridal dressing room.

“What are you thinking?” Cord asked.

“The room is a mess, as if there was an altercation. The security team has been alerted to search the property. But I want to look around here in case there’s some sign that Mia planned to leave.”

“Any indication Mia would run out on her wedding?” Cord asked.

“Not that I know of, but I’ll ask.” Her stomach twisted.

“I met her a couple of times at the café with Pixie,” Cord said. “She seemed devoted to her daughter.”

“She was. Which is why I don’t think she’d voluntarily leave without her. It doesn’t make sense,” Ellie murmured. “Let’s examine the bride’s room first. If someone took the women, we can’t waste any time. For now, we treat it as a crime scene.” If she determined there was foul play and not simply a runaway bride, she’d need a forensic team to go over the room.

She handed Cord a pair of latex gloves and headed inside. Using her phone, she snapped close ups of the disheveled room. Except for the overturned items, they found nothing. No note from Mia. Her suitcase and toiletry bag were still in the closet in preparation for her honeymoon.

“Pixie mentioned she heard a man’s voice in here. Any sign of that?” Ellie asked.

Cord shook his head as she photographed the bathroom doorway.

“This chair was jammed against the door when I came in and Pixie was locked inside. I wonder if Mia or the man closed it.”

“It doesn’t sound good,” Cord muttered.

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