Page 64 of The Ice Sisters

“But what if Taylor and Heidi were killed because of our secrets? This maniac might come after Ivy and Mazie.” Barbara’s voice grew raspy with fear. “We should go to the police.”

Loretta hesitated. “If we do that, I’ll have to tell Michael that Ivy isn’t his. That will destroy him.”

“But the twins were murdered,” Barbara argued. “We can’t let their killer escape.”

“I know. I don’t know what to do.”

“Go back to Michael, take care of Ivy and keep her safe,” Barbara said. “I’ll take care of Claire.” After all, she was totally alone.

She had nothing else to lose.

SEVENTY-SIX

EMERALD FALLS

The sound of Barbara’s sobs in the graveyard taunted Modelle.

The police were looking for her for questioning in the murder of those two little girls at Emerald Falls.

Laughter bubbled in his throat. The ones that detective had practically accused him of killing.

He’d been tempted to follow her once she left the cemetery, but with the police looking for her, that was too dangerous.

She’d sent him to prison once. It wouldn’t happen again.

Instead, he drove back into town savoring the pain on her face.

The streets were filled with tourists, the street vendors hopping, holiday music filling the air. Children skated and laughed and ran from one activity to another, enjoying the winter treats and rushing to sit on Santa’s lap.

He stood in the shadows of Santa’s North Pole and watched as a toddler climbed onto the stage and began jabbering to the elves handing out candy canes. Next came a pretty little girl with hair a buttery blond.

She reminded him of his own child. One everyone thought he’d killed.

If someone recognized him here and saw him watching the children, the police would drag him back to jail.

But he couldn’t help himself. His need to see the little girls was overpowering. The children loved Santa. He wanted to be that Santa and hold them while they sat on his lap.

SEVENTY-SEVEN

THE PINK PIG

Ellie and Derrick left Cord’s team searching for Claire on the Woodston property while her husband’s body was transported to the morgue. They stopped for a bite to eat at a hole in the wall barbeque restaurant the inn keeper had told her about when she’d first come to Emerald Falls.

The waitress appeared and they ordered pull pork sandwiches and Brunswick stew along with sweet-iced tea for Derrick and coffee for her.

Derrick opened his laptop on the table while they waited on the food. “I’ll look for birth certificates for the twins under the name Woodston.”

Ellie’s phone buzzed. The director of Serene Living where Delilah Short had worked. She stirred sweetener into her mug as she answered the call, “Detective Reeves.”

“Detective, this is Minerva. I had a chance to look over Delilah’s notes and an archived account of some of her group sessions dating back ten years. Although I can’t share personal details of her clients, I can confirm that the woman you were inquiring about, Barbara Thacker, belonged to a support group Delilah supervised.”

Remembering Barbara had a stillborn, Ellie asked, “Was it a grief support group?”

“No. A group for women with fertility issues”

Ellie made a note on her notepad. “Who else was in the group?”

“I can’t divulge names,” Minerva said.

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