Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
Mama T’s, Chattanooga, TN
“Let’s stop at that pizza place we passed on the drive here,” Ellie said. “I’ll ask Deputy Landrum to verify that I have the most current address for Beth Ann.”
Cord’s keys jangled as he pulled them from his pocket. “Meet you there.”
As Ellie settled in the Jeep, she phoned Deputy Landrum and filled him in.
He promised to call or text as soon as he verified the address for Beth Ann.
Still, Ellie’s conversation with Cord echoed in her head.
She started the engine, sick to her stomach at the thought of a missing little girl in the hands of a ruthless killer.
Determined to find Iris, she took several breaths and reminded herself that she couldn’t jump to conclusions.
She wanted to initiate an Amber Alert but at this point didn’t know the exact age of the child, simply an estimate based on the fact that Minnie might have been pregnant when she left home.
Although she couldn’t discount the possibility that Minnie became pregnant after she left home.
Considering that she’d carried the baby for nine months, Iris would be anywhere from a few weeks to over a year. There were a lot of variables to consider.
Add to that fact, they had no photo or idea what the little girl looked like.
The very reason they needed to speak to Beth Ann. Maybe she had some answers.
Ellie wove through the downtown streets of Chattanooga, admiring the charming town, although today was not about sightseeing or the festivals the beautiful town offered. It was an information-gathering day and the skies were as gray as Ellie felt herself.
A prayer that Iris was safe and sound at her sister’s house echoed through her mind.
That Minnie had had some kind of support and that her sister could lead them to someone who could fill them in on her mindset and whether she was actually suicidal, suffered from an addiction problem or had garnered enemies.
She veered into the parking lot for Mama T’s, an eclectic-looking restaurant with outdoor seating, a red and white awning, and a mural of two chefs tossing pizza dough on the front window.
A gust of wind rattled the windows but as she and Cord entered, the decadent scent of garlic, basil and marina sauce filled the air.
They grabbed a booth, which would have felt intimate if she and Cord hadn’t been so tense. Mama T’s offered calzones, homemade spaghetti, chicken parm and original pies baked in a stone-fired oven. The pizzas came in several choices, along with build-your-own pizza as a feature.
“Pizza?” Ellie asked Cord.
He gave her a wry look. “Meat lovers, of course.”
Ellie laughed. They knew each other so well. “Add peppers and onions.”
“Garlic knots?” he asked.
“Would love them, but I don’t want to knock Minnie’s sister over with garlic breath.”
Cord chuckled. “Good point.” He waved the waitress over then ordered.
Fifteen minutes later, they dove into the thick meaty dish, the silence thickening with worry and anticipation of what lay ahead in their day.
Just as they finished eating and were paying, Deputy Landrum texted:
Beth Ann Benton lives in a condo in downtown Chattanooga. She’s twenty-three, a real estate agent, never been married and lives alone. Texting you the address.
Ellie responded:
Thanks, Landrum. Heading there now.
She wiped her mouth with a napkin, guzzled her water and pulled her keys. “I have her address.”
Cord checked a text on his phone. “Sorry, I can’t come with. Have a work call to answer. Lost child at Point Park.”
Ellie’s pulse jumped. “It could be Iris. Maybe I should come with you.”
Cord’s eyes darkened and he squeezed Ellie’s hand. “No, talk to Minnie’s sister. I’ll keep you updated.”
Cord was right. They could cover more ground if they divided and conquered. At the moment talking to Beth Ann was a priority.