Page 52 of The Sleeping Girls

“I’ll send one of my officers over ASAP,” Bryce agreed.

“Thanks. Expand your search, too. If we find the girls, we may be able to get forensics from the bodies.”

He agreed, and she hung up then slid into the driver’s seat. June’s ashen face stared back at her, a taunting reminder Ellie needed to work faster. Clenching the steering wheel in a white-knuckled grip, Ellie silently vowed to keep her safe, even if it killed her.

“Why is someone doing this to us?” June asked as Ellie started the engine and pulled down the drive.

“I don’t know, sweetie, but I promise to catch whoever it is.”

June gave a slight bob of her head and wiped her damp cheeks with the back of her hand.

Ellie’s anxiety mounted with every mile she drove. As a kid, she’d thought Kudzu Holler was a jungle, even scarier than the woods. She’d imagined the vines twisting around her ankles, like a life-eating plant, and dragging her beneath the mountain of suffocating leaves. Sometimes she’d imagined the devil lived below with his fiery fangs ready to snatch her and take her with him.

The people who lived here were often poor and uneducated and bred generations of the same, repeating the cycle.

Maybe June would break it.

One clapboard house after another flew past, the older small houses decaying and in need of repair. Yards were overgrown with weeds and shutters hung askew as if damaged in the last storm.

June’s gaze darted toward the driveway. “Oh, no, my grandma’s already back. She’s gonna be mad.”

Ellie parked and they got out, Ellie’s arm curved around the girl’s shoulder.

June’s grandmother raced out, her eyes widening. “Oh, my word. Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick.”

Ellie offered her a smile. “June is fine,” she said, although that wasn’t exactly true. “But there’s been a new development in the case.”

Louise folded her chubby arms around June and pulled her close, her gaze frightened. “What kind of development?”

“It’s best we talk inside.” Ellie gestured she would follow, and June and her grandmother led the way.

Although the house was older, unlike Ruby’s trailer, it was clean and smelled of blueberries and bacon.

“June, are you really alright?” Louise asked.

June’s face crumpled. “No… Ruby’s gone.”

Alarmed, her grandmother pulled her to the couch. June sank onto it and leaned into the older woman’s bulk.

“Please tell me what’s going on,” Louise said, her voice breaking.

Ellie relayed what had happened.

Terror streaked the woman’s hazel eyes. “I told you to stay put,” Louise said. “It’s too dangerous for you to go out alone right now.”

“I agree,” Ellie said. “Sheriff Waters is sending over one of his officers to stand guard until we catch this man.” She addressed June. “You have to stay here, June. No more running through the woods or neighborhoods on your own.”

“Don’t you worry,” Louise said. “I’ll make sure she stays here with me.”

Ellie stood to leave. Knowing the girls were safe meant she could focus on finding this bastard.

FIFTY-FIVE

CROOKED CREEK POLICE STATION

Angelica Gomez was waiting for Ellie when she arrived at the station. Derrick was still supervising the ERT at Ruby’s while Landrum was supposed to be searching Ruby’s computer.

“I heard another girl is missing,” Angelica said.

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