Page 36 of The Sleeping Girls

Actually, his family life had blown up even before that when his mother deserted them. Just left one day and never came back. Not a single damn word in years, not birthdays or holidays or even Heath’s graduation.

After their mama left, Anna Marie had cried for a week then had become sullen and refused to talk. Digger was just plain pissed off. He and Heath’s father had butted heads something bad. His father accused Digger of being just like Digger’s real old man, a sadist who liked to hurt people.

Turned out he was right.

Heath had not seen it coming.

Guilt for not protecting Anna Marie haunted him.

She was around the same age as Kelsey Tiller. And now Kelsey was missing.

He poured himself an IPA. This damn day had felt like a hundred rolled into one. Sympathy for the Tillers filled him. They must be suffering not knowing where their daughter was, just like he’d suffered not knowing where his mama had gone or why she’d left him and his siblings behind.

He stepped outside on the back deck of his cabin, gazing out over Red Hawk Ridge. He’d moved here to escape the scandal of his past and was drawn to the red-tailed hawks known to hover and soar over the ridges on this side of the mountain.

His phone rang, cutting into the silence. He was tempted to ignore it. But what if it was work? Or what if the O’Connor woman had given Digger his number and Digger was calling?

Now he was free, would he come looking for Heath? Did he expect forgiveness?

Instead of the O’Connor woman, Detective Reeves’s name appeared on his screen.

Hopefully they’d caught a break in the case, and this girl would be saved.

He took a sip of beer then connected. “Landrum.”

“The Tillers received a picture of their daughter,” Ellie said, her tone grim. “I’m forwarding it to you now, Landrum. I can’t tell where it was taken. Special Agent Fox is sending it to his cyber team as well.”

Heath inhaled a deep breath, bracing himself for whatever he was about to see.

His pulse hammered when the photo came through.

Kelsey was lying on a bed of white sheets, a white teddy bear tucked in her arms. Eyes closed. Mouth slack. She looked as if she was sleeping.

Or… dead.

Just as Anna Marie had been. Anna Marie with her hair fanned across the pillow. Anna Marie and the white teddy bear…

Dear God, Digger. What have you done?

THIRTY-EIGHT

BACKWATER’S EDGE

Ruby’sheart thumped wildly. Was Kelsey alive and out here on the playground where they used to meet? The muffled voice—was that Kelsey calling to her to sneak out and meet her?

Wind whipped her hair around her face and she tucked the tangled strands behind her ear, turning in a wide arc. The streetlight for the entrance to the trailer park was broken, the sky dark and stormy, making it hard to see. Wet leaves swirled to the ground. The sound of twigs snapping set her teeth on edge. A dog’s howl echoed from old man Huddie’s yard. The swing moved back and forth but there was nobody in it.

A chill rippled through her and she turned to search the jungle gym. Her feet skidded over pine straw and wet leaves. Mud sucked at her shoes.

No one on the jungle gym.

“Kelsey, where are you?” she whispered.

A noise sounded from behind her. Then the sound of breathing. She started to turn around but someone grabbed her from behind, then shoved her so hard she fell into the mud.

She clawed at the ground to get up and spit out debris as she fought to get away. Hands snatched at her, yanking her backward. She struggled and screamed for help, but her attackergripped her around the neck, pressed his hand over her mouth and dragged her into the woods.

The acrid odor of garbage and her own fear swirled around her, making her dizzy. He was holding her so tight, she felt her windpipe being shut off, felt her lungs straining for air and the darkness sucking at her.

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