Indecision blazed in Vernon’s gray eyes, but he finally answered, “Uh, maybe I passed out for a while. But when I came to, he was there.”
Ellie and Derrick exchanged looks. “So you can’t be certain he was with you all night.”
Vernon shrugged. “It’s not like I lied or anything.”
“Withholding information in a criminal investigation is a federal offense,” Derrick replied.
Fear replaced the anger in Vernon’s expression. “What the hell? You want me to cooperate then you threaten me?” He jammed the rag in his coverall pockets. “I’m done talking.”
Then he turned, walked back to the car, picked up a wrench and resumed working.
FIFTY-SIX
Green Gardens Cemetery
Cord hated the fear in Hetty Bramble’s eyes today just as he had years ago. That fear had triggered his protective instincts and led him to cross the line that dreadful night. He was surprised she and her cousin Ida hadn’t moved away from this toxic town a long time ago. They’d be better off if they had.
Although running away hadn’t helped him escape his dark thoughts or memories. They haunted him everywhere he went. And just when he thought he’d outrun them and found happiness with Ellie, they’d resurfaced and were threatening to destroy it all.
Still, he and the Bramble girls had to keep the one they shared buried.
Ellie and Fox suspected there might be more victims buried here and he had a job to do. He continued to search the land beyond the graveyard, not surprised to feel the heat from the ground seeping through the soil. Areas had been cleared for toxicity but still held signs of what had happened underground.
He studied the terrain for disturbed land that might indicate a buried body and almost four miles in, he noticed some looserocks on the hill. Stepping closer to them, his foot sent stones tumbling over the edge into a deep ravine. Curious, he narrowed his eyes and scanned the land below. Bare bushes and sticklike trees dotted the side of the ravine and thick dried brush was piled on one side.
His instincts kicked in. Most of the land was barren except for that one spot. Had the wind blown the debris together, or had someone created that pile to cover up something?
Suspicions racing through his mind, he analyzed the terrain for the best way down and found a less steep section than where he stood. After pulling on gloves, he began to make his way downhill. He grabbed tree branches for leverage to keep himself on his feet and minutes later reached the bottom of the ravine.
He crossed to the pile of brush, noting dead roots of a tree and dusty rocks strategically stacked near the brush. His heart began to pound as he drew closer.
The brush definitely had been piled there intentionally. His training with Ellie kicked in and he photographed the area from different angles, capturing an overview group of shots, then close-ups.
He panned his flashlight over the area, then knelt and peered through some branches. The stench of a dead animal filled the air, and he carefully removed more branches and sticks and placed them to the side, peeling back the layers until he uncovered the ground beneath.
His pulse jumped as he spotted something red, and he quickly yanked the remaining brush aside and discovered a scarf caught in a tangled vine.
Fox said the victims were found with a red scarf that was used to strangle them. His head reeled. If another victim was here, there could be more.
Dammit. They had to widen their search. But then they might find… the secret he wanted to keep buried.
The temptation to dig up the ground and see for himself hit him. No… this was not the area…
He reached his hand out to do it, but a war raged in his head. If there was another body here, Ellie would ream him out for breaking protocol and tampering with the scene.
Hell, he wanted to be the man she deserved.
But if Ellie learned what he’d done, he could lose everything.
What the hell was he going to do?
FIFTY-SEVEN
Finch Gardens
Ellie wound along the mile-long drive to Mr. and Mrs. Higgins’ home, a pristine property north of Brambletown set off the road with river access. The mountain views and privacy were breathtaking, an obvious contrast to the town where their young daughter disappeared.
“They apparently have an entire garden area with birdfeeders catering to the gold finches that flock to the area in winter.”
