Page 115 of The Sleeping Girls

Ellie squared her shoulders. “I’m happy to report that the two missing teens, Ruby Pruitt and Bianca Copenhagen have been found alive. They have been reunited with their families and are undergoing medical evaluations now.” She paused to gather her thoughts. “We now know that Arthur Jones, the computer science and technology teacher at Red Clay MountainHigh, was behind the teen abductions, the death of Kelsey Tiller and the attempted murder of Caitlin O’Connor, who identified him to Sheriff Waters. Thankfully, Ms. O’Connor should make a full recovery.” She paused, grateful for that. “Ms. O’Connor works with the Innocence Project and coordinated the release of Darnell Woodruff, who was falsely accused of the murder of his sister Anna Marie Landrum fifteen years ago. Mr. Jones was responsible for Anna Marie’s death as well and Darnell Woodruff is being exonerated.”

“Can you share the motive behind these crimes?” Angelica asked.

Heath tensed as he stood watching, his anguished look making Ellie’s gut twist. “I’m afraid I can’t reveal details at this time.” And maybe never would. Sometimes the public didn’t need to know all the sordid details.

Although Caitlin would probably explain in her podcast series.

She gestured to Angelica that the interview was over. Exhausted and grateful that the families could sleep better tonight, she headed out the door. The rain had slacked off, but the dark gloomy sky mirrored her mood, and her despair over Kelsey’s death felt like a heavy blanket smothering her.

Maybe it was the emotional letdown from working the case, but she felt very much alone. Guilt over her failures made her even more exhausted.

“I’m heading back to Atlanta for a few days,” Derrick said.

Ellie nodded, knowing he had responsibilities there. Still, she felt as if she should say more. But at the moment she was too rung out to.

“I’ll see you later,” Cord said, his gaze lingering on her for an awkward second.

Another nod because she was too tired to talk, and Cord left.

“You look exhausted, Detective,” Captain Hale said. “Why don’t you take some time off?”

Ellie had been thinking she might do that. Take a hike in the woods to clear her head.

“Thanks. I think I will.”

She grabbed her keys from her office and rushed outside to her Jeep.

She imagined Cord going home to Lola, the two of them on the verge of becoming a family. And for the first time in her life, she realized she wanted more than her badge.

But once she got some rest, she knew guilt over her failures would drive her to hunt down more killers instead.

ONE HUNDRED THIRTY

THE CORNER CAFÉ

Ellie drove back to her house to pack, but her stomach was growling so she turned into the Corner Café.

The parking lot was filled with the early morning crowd although she didn’t see Cord’s truck in the lot. Probably better she not see him again this morning when her feelings were raw. As she entered, Maude and her hens paused in their chatter to look at her, then quickly turned their heads away. Maude was obviously still smarting from Ellie’s chastising.

Tourists and families gobbled down Lola’s blueberry pancakes, waffles, omelets and pastries. Lola was behind the counter, bustling to speak to her customers, her hand fluttering to her belly as if guarding her unborn child.

Ellie lifted her chin and started toward the breakfast counter when she heard Lola talking to Shondra, who sat with her girlfriend, sharing mimosas.

“Congratulations on your engagement,” Lola told Shondra and her fiancée.

“We’re excited,” Shondra said.

“That’s fabulous,” Lola chirped. “Cord and I are getting married, too!”

Ellie froze, her breath catching in her throat. Cord and Lola were getting married?

Of course they are. They want to create a stable family for their child.

Lola looked up and spotted her then she smiled. “Your usual, Ellie?”

Ellie nodded, although her appetite vanished and she didn’t know if she could eat. But she slid onto the stool and waited, forcing herself to remain composed. Lola returned with coffee and a to-go bag and Ellie paid for it then took the bag and left.

Outside, she tossed the food into the trash, then walked blindly to her Jeep, started the engine and sped from the parking lot.

---