Page 75 of The Ice Sisters

Ellie and Derrick traded a look, her heart pounding. “Mazie was here?”

Hilda bit her lip. “Si. I saw her and her mother and…”

“And what?” Ellie asked.

“I felt sorry for them, and I’ve been sneaking the little girl food.”

Ellie arched a brow. “What do you mean, sneaking her food?”

Hilda wiped at a tear with the bottom of her apron. “They looked hungry and… the little girl and woman carried trash bags with their things inside and I… think they’re homeless.”

Rosalyn was the only one of the women Ellie hadn’t found an address and phone number for. If she was homeless, that made sense. Ellie showed Hilda a picture of Rosalyn and the women and children. “Is Mazie in this picture?”

Hilda pointed to Mazie. “Si.”

“Where’s the mother?”

Hilda shook her head. “I saw her go in that alley over there yesterday but… I haven’t seen her since. Mazie said she was sick.”

Ellie sucked in a breath. “Can you describe the man who took Mazie?”

The woman flattened her hand over her chest. “I’m afraid not. He was dressed as Santa.”

A clever disguise, Ellie thought. One that attracted children without suspicion.

“What’s going on? Do you think Mazie’s in danger?”

“It’s possible,” Ellie said, seeing the terror in the woman’s eyes. “But we will find her.”

“I should have done more.” Hilda dabbed at her eyes with a shaky hand.

“You did fine,” Ellie assured her. “And you’re helping us now.”

“Can you describe the vehicle?” Derrick asked. “Make and model, color?”

Hilda twisted her hands together. “It was white, a van, I think. I… don’t know vehicles well so can’t tell you the make and model.”

“What direction did the van go?” Derrick asked.

Hilda pointed north.

Derrick pressed her for more information. “Did you get the license plate?”

Hilda’s face crumpled and she shook her head. “I’m s-sorry. It happened so f-fast. But please find her and help her mama.”

Derrick nodded. “I’ll call in an Amber Alert.”

Ellie’s adrenaline kicked in. “Then let’s go find Mazie’s mother.”

NINETY-ONE

Derrick stepped aside to issue the Amber alert and a BOLO for a white van traveling north with a male driver, a female and child inside.

Ellie thanked Hilda, then slipped her business card in the woman’s hand. “If you think of anything else that might be helpful, please give me a call. I promise you I won’t give up until I find Mazie.”

Derrick nudged her as she headed toward the security guard stationed near Santa’s workshop. “Ellie, you shouldn’t make promises you might not be able to keep.”

Anger hardened her tone. “I fully intend to keep that promise.”

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