Page 47 of The Sleeping Girls

Maybe from sneakers, not work boots?

Crushed weeds and drag marks caught his eye. Carefully, he maneuvered around the tracks, not wanting to destroy any evidence. He tracked them to the edge of the woods by the creek. A bracelet like the teens wore had snagged on a rock. A few feet in, the drag marks ceased, but he saw what appeared to be tire marks from some kind of ATV.

If Ruby had been abducted, no telling where she was now.

FIFTY

Ellie approached Ruby’s mother at the table, her hands circling the tumbler of whiskey.

“Billy Jean,” Ellie said. “I can call you that, can’t I?”

The woman’s bloodshot eyes stared at Ellie, her pale skin blotchy from tears or lack of sleep. Or both. She nodded, then pushed her phone toward Ellie.

Ellie’s pulse clamored at the sight of the picture. Just like Kelsey, Ruby lay on a bed of white sheets, hair fanned across the pillow, a white teddy bear in her arms. She looked almost angelic, as if she was sleeping.

Ellie had a bad feeling that was not the case.

“Who… would do this?” Billy Jean asked in a voice that warbled.

“I don’t know but we will find out,” Ellie said.

Anger sharpened the woman’s tone. “You probably promised Kelsey’s mama that but you haven’t found her.”

Ellie’s lungs squeezed for air. “We’re still looking for Kelsey.” And now they’d have to add Ruby to the missing persons database. “I understand this is a difficult, terrifying time. But I need to ask you some questions.” Ellie strived to be gentle. “When did you last see or talk to Ruby?”

The ice in the tumbler clinked as Billy Jean took a sip of the whiskey. Then she ran her fingers through her tangled hair.

“Yesterday before I went to work.”

Her accusatory look made Ellie’s stomach churn with guilt. She understood the woman’s silent message. If she’d found Kelsey and her abductor, Ruby would have been safe.

“Did you talk to her on the phone while you were at work?”

She shook her head. “No, we were too busy.”

“What is it you do?” Ellie asked.

“I’m a waitress at The Hungry Wolf.” Her eyes cut to Ellie, daring her to comment on the fact that the place was a seedy bar known for strippers.

“What time did you get off work?”

Annoyance flashed in the woman’s eyes. “What does that matter?”

“I’m trying to establish a timeline for when your daughter disappeared,” Ellie explained.

Billy Jean’s finger released the strand of hair she was twisting then began the nervous gesture all over again.

“I worked late, that’s the way to make tips.”

“And you got home about what time?” Ellie continued.

She glanced at the clock on the wall, then heaved a sigh. “About three.”

Ellie nodded. “Did you check on Ruby when you got here?”

Her tone was defensive. “No, I figured she was in bed. She’s used to me working late and takes care of herself.”

Ruby was a defenseless fifteen-year-old girl who couldn’t weigh more than a hundred pounds.

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