Page 40 of The Sleeping Girls

Although Ellie hated press conferences, they were a necessary evil. People needed to know facts, not spread gossip or speculation that stirred panic. Sometimes posting a tip line brought out the crazies, but other times they received valuable information.

At the moment, they needed all the help they could get.

She inhaled a calming breath as she joined Angelica Gomez and her cameraman, Tom, in the press room. In spite of the grave situation, Angelica looked flawless as always, her long, dark brown hair pulled back in a pearl clasp, accentuating her sharp cheekbones. The black pencil skirt and lacy white blouse were professional, just as her demeanor was.

“Are you ready?” Angelica asked.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Ellie said wryly.

Angelica knew how much Ellie hated to be in front of the camera and had been confrontational when they’d first met, but over the last few cases they’d settled into a working understanding of each other. During one case, they’d also discovered they were half sisters.

Ellie took her place by the reporter and signaled to Tom that they were ready to begin.

“Angelica Gomez, Channel Five News, here with Detective Ellie Reeves at the Crooked Creek Police Department,” Angelica said. “Yesterday an Amber Alert was issued for fifteen-year-old Kelsey Tiller, who disappeared from her home in Whispering Pines.” She tilted the microphone toward Ellie. “You have an update for us, Detective Reeves?”

“Yes,” Ellie said. “Unfortunately, Kelsey has not yet been found. But we have reason to believe she was kidnapped. At this point, we are conducting a statewide search for her and are pleading with the public for information that might lead us to the person responsible for her disappearance.” Ellie swallowed hard as the image in the photo played through her mind.

“Do you have any persons of interest?” Angelica asked.

Ellie wished to hell they did. “I’m not at liberty to discuss details at this point. But again, please help us find Kelsey and bring her home.”

She silently indicated that she was done, and Angelica wrapped up the segment with phone numbers for the police and a tip line. Tom took his cue and left Ellie with Angelica while he carried his equipment out to the news van.

“Now, tell all,” Angelica murmured.

Ellie sighed and shook her head. “There’s not much to tell.” Ellie showed Angelica the picture the Tillers received.

“Oh my God. I feel for that couple,” Angelica said.

“I know,” Ellie said. “The sheriff, his deputies and Ranger McClain are searching abandoned properties for her body now.”

Angelica narrowed her eyes as she studied the photo again. “Something about the way she’s posed seems familiar.”

“How do you mean?” Ellie asked.

Angelica smoothed a strand of her chignon that had escaped the clasp. “I don’t know. I just feel like I’ve seen it before.”

Ellie’s pulse jumped. “As in another murder?”

Angelica shrugged. “Maybe.”

Ellie breathed out as a seed of an idea sparked. “Thanks, Angelica. If this bastard has done this before, the MO might show up in the system.”

FORTY-TWO

LAST CHANCE MOTEL

The ding of his phone jarred Digger from a frenetic sleep. He growled, rolled over and checked the clock. Ten a.m.

Damn. Again, he’d had a nightmarish night and hadn’t fallen asleep until dawn.

The ding sounded again, and he checked the number. Caitlin O’Connor.

Hell, he had to answer. She was his ticket to keeping his freedom. And now he’d had a taste of the fresh mountain air, he never wanted to leave it, especially to return to that hellhole prison. The animals there were more dangerous than the bears, wild hogs and snakes on the trail.

Rubbing his hand over his eyes, he sat up, grabbed the phone and connected. “Hello.”

“Digger, it’s Caitlin O’Connor. Where are you?”

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