Page 15 of The Sleeping Girls

“Police will probably be asking questions. Delete any texts between you and her and you and the team,” Justin said.

Sweat exploded on Mitch’s forehead. Justin was right. If the police saw the texts, it wouldn’t look good for him or the others.

FOURTEEN

Ellie was anxious to talk to Kelsey’s girlfriends and find the boy. But first she had to finish up with the parents. “Mr. and Mrs. Tiller, is there anyone who’d want to hurt you by taking your daughter? How about your work, sir? Any problems with a coworker? Did you owe anyone money?”

Mr. Tiller ran a hand through his short hair. “No. My financials are solid.”

“How solid? Do you have a substantial portfolio?”

“No, nothing like that. Just a few thousand in savings.” He pulled a hand down his chin. “Are you suggesting someone kidnapped Kelsey for ransom?”

Ellie breathed in. “Just covering all the bases. You said you were in pharmaceutical sales. Were there problems with any of the drugs you handled? A lawsuit or something like that?”

“No,” he said, his voice defensive. “Nothing.”

“Keep your phone charged and turned on in case you receive a call.” Ellie explained about the neighbor seeing a boy visiting. The couple both looked shocked.

“That can’t be right,” Mr. Tiller said.

“If she had a boyfriend, why wouldn’t she tell us?” Mrs. Tiller asked.

Ellie shrugged. “Perhaps it was nothing,” Ellie said. “But I’m going to talk to him.”

“I’m going with you,” Mr. Tiller said.

Ellie shook her head. “No, sir, stay here in case Kelsey comes home. And let me do my job. I’ll also talk to Kelsey’s friends. Deputy Eastwood will stay with you.”

Ellie and Shondra exchanged a silent look. Considering that both parents had had an affair, she still hadn’t dismissed the idea that one of them might know more about their daughter’s disappearance than they’d let on. Or that the husband of Mr. Tiller’s lover or the coach’s wife might have discovered the affair and decided to punish the family. Hurting the daughter would be a strange attempt at revenge, but people had killed for less.

She stepped outside and saw Cord walking back toward the house along with Deputy Landrum, both grim-faced.

“I found a phone in the woods,” Cord said then handed it to her. “It’s been smashed.”

Ellie’s stomach twisted at the broken screen. The neon purple case bore the initials KT. “That means Kelsey was in the woods sometime during the night or early this morning.”

“There were also flattened brush and weeds, indicating footsteps, surrounding where I found it,” Cord said darkly. “Looks like there was an altercation.”

Fear clogged Ellie’s throat. “Organize a search team and have them comb the woods, Cord.” She gestured to the deputy. “Landrum, take the phone and Kelsey’s computer to the station and look at her communications and social media.”

He nodded and accepted the computer while Cord phoned for a SAR team.

Dread seized Ellie as she stepped back into the house to tell the parents. They looked up, surprised to see her back so soon.

“Ranger McClain found your daughter’s cell phone in the woods,” Ellie said.

“What?” Jean gasped. “Why would it be there?”

“I was hoping you could tell me.”

Tears filled Jean’s eyes as she realized this was not good news. “You find that boy, Detective. If he had something to do with this, make him talk.”

Anger reddened the father’s face and he stood, hands fisted by his sides. “I want to talk to him myself.”

Ellie stopped him with her hand as he tried to pass her. “No, sir, like I said, you and your wife are going to stay here in case Kelsey comes home. Just let me do my job.”

She just prayed that when she found the girl, she was alive.

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