Chapter 115
ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN
Ellie left Deputy Landrum to man the tip line then ducked back into her office, where Derrick was finishing analyzing Mabel Putnam’s files.
“I called Hazel and told her we found Minnie’s directive. She’s on her way.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I also explained Mabel’s part in all this.”
“I’m sure that upset her,” Ellie said.
Derrick nodded. “Yes, it did.”
Ellie agreed that Hazel should be the one to open the directive. “You got Benton settled?”
“Yes. Of course he’s already called an attorney. I pulled some strings and have requested he be denied bond.”
“I hope he never sees the light of day again,” Ellie said.
A knock at the door, then Ellie looked up to see Hazel. She was teary-eyed and looked shaken and clutched her purse to her hands.
“Come on in, Hazel,” Ellie said.
Hazel nodded, then lumbered in, rubbing her leg as she sat. “I heard the press conference. I can’t believe my own grandson did this. And Minnie’s daddy?” She made a tsking sound. “No wonder she hated him and didn’t want her parents to have anything to do with Iris.”
“It is pretty horrible and ironic that Wally’s father went to prison to give his son a better life yet Benton threw his daughter to the wolves for his own personal gain,” Ellie said.
“It’s no wonder Minnie was so troubled. I wish she would have talked to me.” Hazel dabbed at her eyes. “I thought I was doing the right thing by connecting her and the other girls to Mabel.” Emotions weighted her voice. “But look what a foolish old lady I was. All this happening and I trusted her.”
“She certainly seemed trustworthy,” Ellie said softly. “So don’t blame yourself, Hazel. You’re doing great work at Sanctuary House. The teens you take in need you.”
“But I let Minnie down.”
“You gave her love and support when she needed it. The best way to honor her now is to continue to run Sanctuary House so young girls in trouble have a safe place to go.”
Hazel sniffed. “I do love those kids.”
“And that’s what they need the most,” Ellie said sincerely.
“Detective Reeves is right,” Derrick interjected. “And if it helps, I believe Mabel didn’t know what she was getting into with Whittaker. I think she was just a woman who desperately wanted a child.”
Hazel frowned. “If she would cheat someone out of their baby, she didn’t deserve one.”
Ellie couldn’t argue with that.
Hazel straightened and lifted her chin as if pulling herself together. “Now, you said you found Minnie’s directive.”
“It was in Mabel’s files,” Derrick said.
“So she stole it from me?” More disappointment lined Hazel’s face.
“Either she did or Whittaker did.” Derrick handed Hazel the envelope. “Do you want to open it?”
A sad look passed through Hazel’s eyes, but she opened the envelope, then narrowed her eyes. A smile slowly appeared on her face.
“What does it say?” Ellie asked.
“She wants her sister, Beth Ann, to raise Iris.” Hazel looked up at her. “Do you think she’ll agree?”
Ellie nodded, her own mouth tilting into a smile. “Beth Ann called me and said that when we find Iris she wants custody.”
A knock interrupted them and Landrum poked his head into the door. “There’s a caller on the tip line who says she has both Iris and Lou Lou.”