Page 20 of The Girl in the River

Ellie sighed. “Thanks for coordinating, Cord.” Although they both knew that every hour that passed decreased their chances of finding Mia, much less finding her alive.

Even if she had escaped Tori’s killer, if Mia was in the river, she couldn’t survive the strong current and frigid temperature.

Abraham Williams, the chief of the ERT reported next. “There were drag marks on the riverbank and we got a partial footprint. Looks like the shoe was a loafer.”

Ellie frowned. A loafer meant the killer might have been dressed up, that he could have been a guest at the resort or wedding or even an employee. And it definitely pointed to a male.

One who might have hidden in plain sight.

“What about the bullet casing?” Ellie asked.

“We found one in a patch of weeds. It looks like it came from a thirty-five-millimeter. We collected a button that appears to have come from a man’s shirt. A few feet away, we found a diamond ring. Silver heels were tossed in the bushes as well.”

He held up the evidence bag, and Ellie’s stomach knotted. “That’s Mia’s engagement ring. And most likely her shoes.”

“We did a thorough search in both the bride’s and groom’s dressing rooms and dusted everything for prints,” Williams said.

Ellie’s mind flashed to the bride’s room. What if the perpetrator had sent the champagne and drugged it with something to subdue the women? “Did you collect the champagne and glasses?”

“We did. Everything is on its way to the lab.”

“Thank you. Be sure and have them test the champagne for drugs.”

“It’s already on the list.”

Ellie turned to the ME. “Dr. Whitefeather?”

“I scraped beneath Tori’s nails and will send it to the lab. The victim sustained bruises on her wrists and arms that are consistent with a struggle. The gash on her head was deep and wide, but I’m not sure it was severe enough for her to lose consciousness.”

“Is it possible it was made by the butt of the gun?” Ellie asked.

“It’s possible. I can tell more when we get her on my table.”

“He shot her in the back. Was she dead before she went into the water?” Ellie asked.

“I can’t say until we check her lungs,” Laney answered. “And I’ll run a full tox screen as usual.”

“Thanks. Please keep me posted on the forensics and autopsy results.” She dismissed the ERT and Laney, then turned to the others. “Tell me what you learned from the wedding guests.” She desperately wanted a suspect, someone besides Mark and Liam.

“Not much,” Shondra said. “Mark’s mother gave me the impression she wasn’t thrilled about the marriage, but I also sensed she’s the type who wouldn’t be pleased with anyone taking her son from her.” Shondra lifted a finger to make a point. “The wedding coordinator mentioned some tension between Tori and her husband last night. But said it’s not abnormal for tensions to run high during a wedding.”

Ellie would have to ask Liam about that.

“Maybe Mia was a Godzilla bride?” Bryce asked.

Ellie glared at him. Bryce would go for the negative about the woman. “Mia was not like that.”

“I obtained a list of the staff,” Deputy Landrum said. “No one claims to have seen anything suspicious. The caterer said the couple appeared to be happy and agreed on all the details. Although the wedding coordinator did mention a moment when Mia got teary and said she wished her family could be there.”

“That’s understandable since all her family was gone,” Ellie said. “Anything else?”

“Nothing that stood out,” Landrum answered.

Bryce made a low sound in his throat. “I issued a missing persons report on Mia and am circulating her photo. Gomez is doing the same. When can we report the James woman’s murder?”

“After Liam notifies Tori’s mother,” Ellie said. “Let’s give them the night before they see the harsh reality on TV. What about security cameras?”

“Footage was mostly of the guests arriving,” Bryce replied. “Photographer taking pictures on the lawn and by the river.”

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