Page 61 of The Sleeping Girls

Ellie rapped her knuckles on her desk to get Derrick’s attention then put the phone on speaker. “What? Where?”

“It’s a long story.”

Anger threatened to make Ellie lose her temper. She didn’t want to play games. And she would put him through the ringer when she saw him. “What about Ruby?”

“She’s not here.” His voice cracked. “I’ll text you the address. Send the ME and an ERT…” He paused, another breath wheezing back as if the call was costing him.

“Landrum—”

“Not now,” he said. “I’ll explain when you get here.”

The phone went silent, and Ellie stood, snagging her keys. A second later, the text came through and she and Derrick hurried to the door.

Battling grief and guilt, Ellie peeled from the parking lot and headed toward Red Clay Mountain and the address the deputy had sent. Derrick phoned for an ERT and the ME, Dr. Laney Whitefeather, to meet them at the scene, then she called Cord and put him on speaker.

“We found Kelsey Tiller’s body.”

“Aww hell, I’m sorry, El.”

“Me, too. We’re meeting Deputy Landrum at the scene. Can you meet us to search the property in case the killer left Ruby in the woods nearby?”

“Of course. Text me the address.”

“Derrick is sending it now.”

She ended the call, her stomach churning at the thought of having to notify the Tillers of their daughter’s death.

Tension stretched painfully long as the Jeep ate the miles around the mountain. By the time they reached the house, Ellie had wrangled her emotions under control. She couldn’t bring Kelsey back, but she would find her killer.

She and Derrick scanned the property as they got out. Other than Landrum’s squad car, no other cars were in sight. The house was set far off the road, the forest backing it. The house looked small and crumbling, as if it had been vacant for over a decade.

Landrum sat hunched inside his car as they approached it, his face ashen, the door ajar. He looked up and her breath caught at the pure anguish in his eyes. The news photo of him after Digger’s arrest taunted her. He’d only been a kid when that happened.

“The minute you saw the photo of Kelsey posed with the teddy bear, you suspected your half brother, didn’t you?”

He gave a nod and cleared his throat. “You know about him?”

“Yes,” Ellie said. “When Ruby was taken, I suspected we might be dealing with a repeat offender. I did some research and it led me to your sister’s murder.”

Landrum groaned. “It was a long time ago, but I still remember that night.”

Compassion for him flooded Ellie. “I’m sorry, that must have been awful.”

Derrick swallowed hard. “I know what it’s like to lose a sister. You never get over it.”

Landrum’s eyes swam with emotions. “I know Digger looks right for this, but I don’t see how he’d be so stupid to kill right after he was released from prison.” His voice sounded like he’d swallowed gravel.

“We need to ask him. Do you know how to reach him?”

“I’ve been calling Caitlin O’Connor, the woman who helped arrange his release, but she hasn’t answered.”

“Try her again while we take a look at Kelsey.”

He wiped his hand over his mouth then clutched his phone while Ellie and Derrick started toward the house. With each step, her anxiety mounted. The porch creaked as they crossed it and entered. The stench made her cover her mouth, growing stronger as they walked down the hall.

They found Kelsey in the first bedroom. “Poor baby,” Ellie murmured as she pulled on gloves.

Footsteps and voices sounded from the front of the house then in the hall, and Dr. Whitefeather appeared, her kit in hand.

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