Chapter 56
FIFTY-SIX
Crooked Creek Police Department
Ellie asked Deputies Eastwood and Landrum to join her in the conference room to update them. She’d requested Sheriff Bryce Waters’ presence, but he was busy handling situations in the county involving Day of the Dead activities and vigils being held at Midnight Ridge.
Ellie faced the deputies, updating the whiteboard as she filled them in.
“I spoke with Special Agent Fox. His partner is looking into a child abduction/possible adoption ring on the FBI’s radar. We need to explore that avenue with the three murders we have on our board.
“Minnie’s child is missing. Which means if Iris has been adopted, even illegally, she might be safe.
But that’s still a big question. If she’s been sold to a family, is she still in the state?
Or the country? And what kind of family has her?
” Ellie paused, thinking. “Iris’s photograph is now all over the news.
If the couple or person who took her knew she was abducted, they will be complicit.
If they’re not, they might panic and run. ”
“Or maybe they’ll do the right thing and come forward,” Shondra suggested.
Ellie smiled. Although Shondra had had a rough childhood and had suffered abuse herself, she managed to maintain a positive and optimistic view about the world.
“Shondra, did you learn anything from Minnie’s teachers and the counselors at her school?”
“Nothing new. The counselor said Minnie didn’t confide in her about the pregnancy or the baby’s father.
Her English teacher said she’d noticed Minnie’s withdrawal and worried that she was having emotional problems. That she tried to discuss the situation with the Bentons, but the mother assured her that Minnie was fine. ”
“Mrs. Benton was either in denial, too embarrassed to accept help or hiding family secrets,” Ellie said with a shake of her head.
“Back to the possibility of a child abduction/ adoption scenario. In the event the adopted parents are unaware the child they’re getting is abducted, adoptions require legalities or at least falsified paperwork to fool parents desperate for a child, which means we need to explore attorneys connected to any of the girls.
Also, perhaps counselors who may have worked with them regarding childbirth, parenting and adoption. ”
“Good point,” Deputy Landrum said.
Ellie nodded. “Also, we need to interview any nurses or doctors involved in the births of the girls’ babies,” Ellie continued. “We know Hazel delivered Minnie’s little girl, but I just can’t see her lying. She seems to care so much about the teens.”
“We can still look into her past,” Heath suggested.
“Okay, I don’t like it, but I’m on it,” Shondra said.
“Heath, check into the doctors, staff and counselors who might have been connected to each of our victims.” Heath scribbled a note in his pocket notepad.
“I’ll talk to the families of each of the vics,” Ellie said, dreading the task. She wasn’t sure how they’d react or feel. Some of them might have made peace with a suicidal death.
But knowing their daughters were violently murdered and that Ellie had no clue who’d killed them would stir their pain and anger all over again.