Page 6 of The Ice Sisters

He’d waited until Barbara left the house, then slipped inside again. He hadn’t found what he’d wanted the first time. He would find it now.

Her little house was neat and clean, nothing like the place where he’d grown up. A wall of photographs showcased the mountains and river. The place looked homey with throw pillows and blankets and the bookcase held children’s books and games. A framed photograph of Barb’s certificate for Teacher of the Year sat in the center of the top shelf.

His jaw tightened and he walked down the hall. A large dorm-like room held bunk beds, an easel, a kid’s table, art supplies and more games and toys. The wall was filled with framed children’s artwork, all arranged around a red heart in a frame as if to say her heart belonged to all the kids who’d filled her walls with their creations.

Old childhood pain surfaced and he began to hum, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”

Pulse hammering, he bolted into action and checked the drawers in the storage cabinet, tossing art supplies aside. What he was looking for was not there.

Fueled with anger, he hurried through the room, searching the boxes in the closet, the books of art she’d kept from the kids she must have taught at school. Enraged, he snatched the art off the wall, threw the frames onto the floor and stomped on them, shattering glass and destroying them.

Panting, he hurried to her room and searched her dresser. It had to be here somewhere.

Finally, he found a small wooden box, a heart etched on the cherry wood exterior. Sucking in a breath, he opened it. Several pictures were inside, each one of a woman holding a newborn. Locks of baby hair were also in individual small envelopes.

He ran his finger over a tiny gold heart-shaped necklace. Both the twins had been wearing one just like this.

They were sisters. Twins. Bonded in the womb. Bonded in life. Now bonded in death.

SIX

EMERALD FALLS

Cord and Derrick drove in silence to Emerald Falls, the air between them charged with an awkward tension.

The snow was almost a foot deep, causing visibility to be difficult. Thankfully most people had heeded the meteorologist’s warning and stayed home, keeping traffic to a minimum.

The SAR team had already been called in to find a family stranded on Coal Mountain. They’d radioed that they’d found the trio alive and safe in one of the shelters on the Appalachian Trail. It was probably just the first of calls they’d receive over the next twenty-four hours.

But Cord’s priority at this moment was Ellie.

Derrick finally broke the silence. “When did you last talk to Ellie?”

Cord clenched the steering wheel as the tires hit a patch of black ice. “At the hospital after we tied up the last case. You?”

“Same.”

Another long awkward moment passed as both men silently acknowledged that Ellie had been out of touch for three weeks.

Cord made the turn off to the Emerald Falls Inn. He knew the area well. The large, pink Victorian home that had been converted into an inn sat atop a hill with gardens behind it.Doused with snow, it looked peaceful, like something out of a movie set. Wildlife and trails leading to Emerald Falls along with the scenic drop-offs attracted tourists year-round.

The small town of Emerald Falls hosted Winterfest each year to jumpstart the holiday season with seasonal arts and crafts, ice sculptures, winter activities for kids, an ice-skating rink and an Ice Queen pageant. Due to the weather, the crowds were gathering inside the heated tents to seek shelter.

Cord parked and he and Derrick got out, battling the wind as they walked up to the entrance of the Emerald Falls Inn. Ellie’s Jeep was parked in the parking lot, raising his hopes she was here, tucked inside and waiting out the storm.

Christmas lights glittered around the porch and wreaths hung on the door and windows. As they entered, noisy chatter and laughter, the sound of dishes clinking and holiday music echoed from the oversized dining room to the left.

“Benji, stay,” Cord said and gestured toward the corner by the doorway.

Benji followed Cord’s command and Cord glanced into the dining room where the guests were enjoying a Thanksgiving themed meal. The delicious aromas of turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie were intoxicating.

He scanned the guests, but Ellie was not among them.

He headed to the front desk with Derrick on his heels. A twelve-foot tree adorned with Christmas ornaments and twinkling white lights stood beside a spiral staircase decorated with garland and red bows.

The inn keeper, an older woman boasting a name tag that read Lula, greeted them with a big smile. “Hey there, you guys looking for a room?”

“Not today,” Cord said, then identified himself and Derrick and explained they were looking for Ellie.

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