Chapter 107
ONE HUNDRED SEVEN
Sanctuary House
Ellie phoned Derrick to fill him in on the latest turn while she and Cord drove to Sanctuary House. “How’s Dana Jo?”
“She’s traumatized and dehydrated but her mother is with her now. She’s really worried about her daughter but says Dana Jo has remembered what happened to her when she was abducted and found unconscious.”
“She was sexually assaulted,” Ellie filled in.
“Yes. And now she can describe her assailant. It was the attorney who handled her DUI charges. She says he drugged her water bottle in her car, then after she left the Shake ’n’ Shack she had car trouble, ran off the road and he took her from there.”
“But Wheaton said his son’s name was Wally,” Ellie said. “And the attorney is Will Whittaker.”
“He could have changed his name to leave his past behind for his law practice,” Derrick said.
“True. I think he may be on his way to Sanctuary House,” Ellie said. “Deputy Eastwood radioed an SOS. He might be after Clara. Dammit, I thought the ambulance would be there by now.”
“I’ll meet you at Sanctuary House.”
Ellie ended the call, squinting through the hazy white as she veered onto the dark street where Sanctuary House was located. Shondra’s squad car was parked in the drive. Two doors down, a black SUV was parked, half hidden by the bushes.
Whittaker, Wally, was ballsy to attack while a deputy was on duty.
The narcissist sociopath thought he could escape anything.
Cord jumped out as Ellie parked and crept toward the house, and she followed, gun drawn.
But as she passed Shondra’s car, she took a quick glance inside. Dammit, Shondra was slumped in the seat, her head lolled over, blood trickling down the side of her face. One hand was handcuffed to the steering wheel.
Pure panic shot through Ellie, and she gestured to Cord. His eyes widened as he saw Shondra, then he eased open the door and checked for a pulse. He gave a quick nod, confirming she was alive. Relief gushed through Ellie.
She held up a finger, indicating for Cord to wait for her, then quickly called Derrick. “Shondra is injured, in the car. Send an ambulance ASAP.” Had the one she’d ordered already picked up Clara and the baby? “See if the ambulance arrived for Clara and her newborn.”
“Will do. Do not engage, Ellie. Wait for me.”
Ellie didn’t respond. Through the haze of snow, she saw a dark figure through the window. He was pacing, shouting and waving a gun around, obviously agitated.
Her phone rang. Derrick. She quickly sent a text:
Unsub is here at Sanctuary House.
He responded:
Copy. Be there ASAP. Wait for backup. Clara and baby just got to the hospital.
She exhaled a shaky breath, grateful Clara and baby were safe. But that meant Hazel was alone in there with a madman. A loud crash inside made her heart pound. Then a scream.
No time to wait for backup. She signaled to Cord they’d move forward, but for him to stay behind her. His eyes darkened and she knew a protest was on the tip of his tongue, but she ignored him and crept closer.
When she reached the porch, Whittaker rushed to the window and looked out as if he’d heard them. She and Cord both ducked, then she mouthed for him to go around the side to the back of the house. She would take the front.
He hissed a no, but she jabbed a finger in the air for him to follow orders then whispered, “Make a distraction around back so I can slip inside.”
He shook his head no, but she glared at him. “Do it,” she said in a harsh whisper.
His dark look indicated he didn’t like her plan, but Whittaker’s shout inside sent them both into motion.