Page 101 of The Sleeping Girls

“He’s married to a woman named Judy. Let’s see what she has to say about the past.”

As Ellie reached the house, she noticed a Ford SUV in the drive and a riding lawn mower parked beneath an open shed.

The rain finally eased up, and she and Derrick followed the walkway to the front door. The wraparound porch looked inviting with rocking chairs and a porch swing. Derrick rang the doorbell and Ellie watched rain drip from the awning as they waited.

“You know it’s possible that even if Jason Jones learned Anna Marie was his, his wife might not know,” Ellie said.

“True,” Derrick agreed. “But it also gives her motive for murder.”

The door opened, and a tall, thin, dark-haired woman who looked to be in her early fifties answered, a flowered apron around her waist.

“Judy Jones?” Ellie asked.

She wiped her hands on her apron. “Yes. How can I help you?”

Ellie identified herself and Derrick. “We need to ask you some questions about a current case we’re working.”

Frown lines fanned beside her eyes, and her knuckles reddened as she clenched the door jamb. “What case is that?”

“The murder of two teens who disappeared in Crooked Creek,” Ellie explained. “We think they may be related to the murder of Anna Marie Landrum fifteen years ago.”

The color drained from the woman’s face, but she stepped aside and waved them in.

They followed her through a foyer to a cozy kitchen. The scent of cinnamon and sugar filled the room, and Ellie spotted the freshly baked cinnamon rolls that looked as if they’d just been pulled from the oven.

“You like to bake,” she said, gesturing to the oven.

The woman nodded. “It’s a hobby. Would you like one?”

Ellie’s mouth was watering, but she declined. “Thank you, we just want to talk.”

Judy sank into a kitchen chair, and they joined her. A second later, she looked up at them with disbelief. “I don’t understand. I thought that girl’s brother was in prison for killing her.”

“You must not have seen the news,” Derrick said. “He was released through the Innocence Project and new evidence has come to light. He may be innocent.”

Her hand trembled as she ran her fingers over the table edge. “What’s this got to do with me?”

Ellie studied her, wondering if she knew the truth. The only way to find out was to ask. “Mrs. Jones, were you aware your husband was Anna Marie’s biological father?”

Her eyes widened then she bit her lower lip and gave a small nod. “He found out a couple of weeks before she died. Mary Landrum came to see him. She said Anna Marie was sick and needed a kidney transplant. Jason was shocked. He never knew anything about the girl.”

“How did he react?” Ellie asked.

Mrs. Jones twisted her apron between her fingers. “At first, he was angry that she’d kept his daughter from him. But then it settled in, and he wanted to get to know her.”

“And he told you about her at the time?” Derrick asked.

She nodded. “Yes. We… had that kind of marriage. We didn’t keep secrets.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yes, and before you ask, he hadn’t seen Mary in years. They had a one-night stand before we got together. She met her husband after they broke up and they hadn’t communicated in years.”

“How did you feel about the revelation?” Ellie asked.

Another rock of her head. “Naturally I was surprised. But Jason was hurting and the girl needed help. I told him if he wanted her in our lives, we’d make it work.” She exhaled.

“How did he take the news that she needed the kidney transplant?” Ellie asked.

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