Chapter 113
ONE HUNDRED THIRTEEN
Lookout Mountain
The horror of Benton’s actions weighed on Derrick. What kind of father could allow his coworker to sexually assault his teenage daughter and tell her just to forget about it? He’d seen the worst of society in his job, but for a man to throw his daughter to the wolves was disgusting to the core.
While he waited for Ellie, he skimmed Dana Jo’s files.
Her sessions with the counselor confirmed everything she’d told them.
She, too, had been assaulted. She’d been left for dead, amazingly survived that ordeal then repressed the memory.
Eventually Wheaton had come for her and her daughter.
And now they had no idea where Lou Lou was.
Benton was just as complicit as Mabel Putnam had been. He’d stood by and allowed Wheaton to attack and murder other teens without saying a word.
Ellie looked pale as shit when she returned but she straightened. “Let’s go get Benton. That son of a bitch is not going to get away with this.” She adjusted her gun and holster, yanked her coat off the coat hook and dragged it on.
They rushed outside to her Jeep and Ellie started the engine and left the parking lot with a roar.
“I think Mabel left a clue as to where the children are,” Derrick said as she raced through town.
“Where? Are they alive?”
“Yes. She made a note of Wheaton’s past in a secure file. The lady who took him in when his father went to prison. They might be there.”
“Get your people on it,” Ellie said. “We need a name and an address.”
“On it.”
While he called Bennett, Ellie turned her focus on the icy road and traffic. Although traffic was minimal, she clutched the steering wheel in a white-knuckled grip
A few nutcases were trying to brave it as if they couldn’t do the smart thing and stay home one more day. Ellie flipped on her siren, forcing them to pull off the road, then crossed the highway and took the most direct route to Lookout Mountain.
Derrick hung up from Bennett, then said, “My partner will get us the information as soon as possible.”
The morning lights from the mountain homes shined through the fog as Ellie veered onto the street to the Benton’s. When she pulled up the long drive, lights burned in the house. Ellie flipped off the siren to avoid alerting Benton they were on their way.
Seconds later, she parked in the drive. Derrick exchanged a determined look with her as they walked to the doorway together.
Derrick rang the bell and surprisingly Benton answered, dressed in a suit as if he was heading to his office.
Little did he know he was headed to jail.
“Mr. Benton,” Derrick said. “You are under arrest.”
Rage and shock flared on the bastard’s face. “What the hell? I’ll have your head…”
Derrick gestured to Ellie for her to take the win.
Ellie grinned. “Hands behind you.” She yanked his arms behind him and snapped the cuffs on.
“What’s happening?” Mrs. Benton cried as she ran toward them in her robe.
Derrick gave her a stony look. “We’re arresting your husband as an accomplice in your daughter’s murder and the deaths of two other women, kidnapping another and abducting minors.”
“What?” Mrs. Benton cried.
“Call Will,” Benton shouted.
Ellie touched the woman’s arm. “No need. He’s the man who killed your daughter and is in custody. And Mrs. Benton, your husband knew and covered for him. If you were aware of this and helped cover it up, you’re at fault, too.”
“Oh, my God,” Mrs. Benton cried. “I gave up everything for you, Claude. Even gave you two beautiful girls and instead of protecting them, you did all this?”
“Oh, please. You got what you wanted,” he barked. “A nice house. Nice clothes.”
“No, I wanted a family,” she cried. “And you betrayed all of us.” Mrs. Benton crumbled into a kitchen chair, doubled over and buried her head into her hands. “Take him away. Please get him out of here. Please…”