Chapter 92
NINETY-TWO
Derrick left Cord in charge of overseeing the search teams around Midnight Ridge, although with the weather conditions worsening, the situation looked dire.
Even the searchers would have difficulty if blizzard conditions occurred.
The expected power outages would increase the danger and might force them to call off the search.
On the drive, he phoned Bennett and asked him to run a background check on Mabel Putnam.
“Find out everything you can about her. We suspect she’s somehow involved with the child abduction/adoption ring.
She referred clients to an adoption agency, but Detective Reeves said the building was abandoned.
” Derrick turned onto Elm Street. “I have no idea what her motive is or if she’s the killer or working with someone else, so anything you find could be helpful.
She told her receptionist that she had an emergency, so look into her family and their whereabouts.
She also might be going to them to hide out. ”
“I’ll get right on it,” Bennett agreed.
Derrick spotted Ellie’s Jeep parked in the driveway and rolled in behind her.
Snow had collected on the ground, creating a white carpet and icicles hung from the awning like jagged pieces of broken glass.
Wind howled from the mountain, blowing snowflakes through the air and nearly blinding his vision as he maneuvered his way to the front door.
He found it unlocked, then kicked snow from his boots as he entered. “Ellie, it’s me.”
She met him in the doorway of the living room. “Something’s wrong, Derrick. I can feel it.”
“She’s not here?”
“No. I cleared the house, but things are a wreck as if Mabel ran in and grabbed things in a hurry. Either that or there was a struggle and our unsub may have her.”
Derrick glanced at the living room and noted the overturned lamp and papers on the floor.
“There’s a big kitchen knife missing in the kitchen,” Ellie said. “And I found blood spatter on the bottom cabinet.”
The lights flickered, cut out for a moment then back on.
“We need to hurry before we lose power completely,” Ellie said.
“Call an ERT and I’ll start photographing the scene and collect a sample of the blood.
” She took a breath. “After you call, head upstairs and look around. One of the rooms was locked. I want to know what’s inside. ”
“Copy that,” Derrick said as he gripped his phone. He climbed the stairs as he called for an ERT. “Hurry. We may lose power any minute.”
“We’ll bring backup high-powered flashlights and night lighting equipment,” Lt. Williams said.
Derrick thanked him then hung up and walked down the hall. The hall bathroom looked in order with everything neat and clean. The room across from it was locked, so he decided to come back to it.
The room at the end of the hallway was obviously the primary suite.
The bed was made with a blue comforter adorned with butterflies, yet clothes were scattered across the bed and a few had fallen to the floor.
He searched for blood but saw none, so he stepped into the closet.
Some clothes remained, but the hangars looked askew as if Mabel had rushed in and snatched some to take with her. Just like Ellie described.
As if Mabel was on the run. Because she was scared of getting caught? Or afraid of someone?
He noted an empty spot, the carpet indented, where a suitcase might have been stored, but it was gone.
Next, he entered her bathroom. The bath towel was hanging on the towel bar along with a gray robe on the wall. Glass doors offered a clear view of the shower stall. He shined his flashlight in search of blood but found none.
He pivoted to the vanity, opened the drawers but found no toiletries. Another sign she’d left.
Curious about the locked room Ellie mentioned, he walked back down the hall and stopped at the doorway. Pulling his lockpick from his pocket, he wiggled the tool into the lock and twisted and jiggled it.
Dread filled his stomach. Why was the door locked? Something important must be in the room.
What if a body was hidden inside?