Page 40 of The Ice Sisters

He tugged at his thick white beard. “So what would you like Santa to bring you?”

Mazie felt the sting of people watching her, and cupped her hand around her mouth, then whispered, “My mama to get well. And for us to have a place to live.”

Beneath his bushy white eyebrows, his eyes narrowed. “You don’t have a place to live?”

She shook her head. “But don’t tell anybody or the police will take me away.”

She didn’t wait for him to say anything else. She jumped off his lap, grabbed the candy cane from the elf, then ran back through the crowd to check on her mama.

FORTY-SIX

EMERALD FALLS

“Monsters are inside of everyone,” he murmured to himself. “Don’t be afraid of them. Feed them when they’re hungry.”

The buzz of adrenaline shot through him as he crept through town. There were demons lurking beneath the surface of his mind, hiding in the dark cobwebs tangled inside his head ready to crawl out and possess him.

Demons that once awakened refused to lie dormant.

As he watched the spoiled children, the voices inside his head stirred again and he could see the shadows of darkness literally swirl through the air like tiny devils planning their havoc. Each time they appeared, they stole a little more of his soul.

The pretty little girls in the crowd triggered his memories. The girls giggling. Always getting the attention.

Passing by him as if he was invisible.

But he’d gotten them back. When they slept, he snuck in and cut off their shiny ponytails. Hung them on the wall like trophies.

The police had found the twins. He’d heard it on the news. Seen that lady cop asking questions in town at the festival.

He smiled to himself. She’d looked right at him, even talked to him. But she had no idea who he was or that he was a killer.

FORTY-SEVEN

KIDS LEARN & PLAY

Ellie left the ERT to finish searching and carried Barbara’s computer and planning books to her Jeep. The sleet had paused, but the air still felt damp and held a lingering chill. The bare pawpaw trees looked bleak against the misty gray of the dark clouds, and tree branches swayed beneath the weight of the snow that hadn’t yet melted.

The image of those girls in the ice taunted her as she phoned the number for the director of the school. “I understand the school is not open on Saturdays but we’re looking for one of your employees, Barbara Thacker.”

“Oh, my, I heard that on the news. You still haven’t found her?”

“I’m afraid not. And I could use your help. Can you contact some of the staff who knew Ms. Thacker and meet me at the school to answer some questions?”

“Of course. I’ll make some calls and see you there in an hour if that works for you.”

“Absolutely.”

Ellie relayed her plans to Derrick and decided to drop him at the station.

They were both lost in thought as she drove them back to town. Anxious to speak to Barbara’s coworkers, she headed to the school.

Except for four cars and an old pick-up that had seen better days, the parking lot was empty. Snow covered the outdoor playground and paper snowflakes covered the windows.

Ellie climbed out, tugging her coat around her as she walked up to the entrance. A middle-aged woman in slacks and a sweater greeted her and introduced herself as the director. “We’ve all gathered in our conference room.”

“Thanks for meeting me.” She followed the woman down a short hall, past an office labeled Break Room then to a room next to it housed with round tables, a coffee station and chalkboard.

Colorful kids’ artwork lined the walls and signs pointed in different directions, labeling the different areas and classrooms. Next, she led Ellie to a room labeled Director and they went inside.

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