Page 77 of The Ice Sisters

She took her place at the head of the table, gesturing toward the whiteboard. “We had another kidnapping last night in Emerald Falls. Agent Fox and I spoke with a woman name Hilda who runs Crazy Tacos. She witnessed Mazie Birmingham being abducted by a man dressed as Santa Claus.”

She hesitated. “Hilda also saw Barbara Thacker with him and the little girl. We found Mazie’s mother in an alley suffering from hypothermia, pneumonia and malnutrition. Apparently, she and her daughter were living on the streets. She was transported to the hospital and was still unconscious when I left her this morning.”

“You said Barbara helped kidnap the little girl?” Shondra asked. “I thought she was the mother of the twins and was missing.”

“All true, and a question that needs answering,” Ellie said.

Shondra waved her hand. “So what does Barbara have to do with Mazie?”

“I haven’t confirmed the connection, but it’s possible she is Barbara’s biological child.” Ellie explained about the in vitro and the women’s friendships. “I tried to contact Loretta and Rosalyn, but they haven’t answered my calls. We suspect that all of the women and their daughters may be targets.”

“Then Mazie is in danger,” Shondra said worriedly.

Ellie nodded. “Loretta also has a daughter named Ivy so it’s important we locate and warn her that she and Ivy may be in danger as well.”

Deputy Landrum spoke, “You think our killer is a nutcase with contempt for artificial insemination?”

“That’s a possibility although typically killers with an agenda like that usually leave a message.” She inhaled then continued, “This feels more personal.”

“Suspects?” Landrum asked.

“With Joel Woodston’s death and another kidnapping, he’s off our list.” She crossed his name off on the whiteboard. “Thomas Thacker was also on our list of persons of interest but he was here at the station for questioning yesterday during the time of Mazie’s abduction.”

A tense silence followed while each of the team members absorbed the information.

“Then there’s Larry Modelle. Anything new to report on him, Cord?”

His gaze met hers, eyes dark with emotion. “In town yesterday, I saw him watching a little girl in the petting zoo. He picked up a ribbon from her hair that had fallen out and made contact with her.” Cord worked his mouth from side to side as he studied the whiteboard. “I think that little girl was Loretta Stuart’s daughter Ivy.”

Ellie’s pulse jumped. “What happened?”

“Her mother called her name and the little girl ran to her. Modelle looked disappointed but if he was going to abduct her, he was smart enough not to do it with her mother right there.”

Ellie clenched her jaw. “Shondra, keep trying to reach Loretta Stuart. She may be in Emerald Falls so head there and look for her. Also find her husband’s phone number and call him. Captain, get Angelica on the phone and ask her to come over. We need to circulate Loretta and Ivy’s pictures on the news.”

NINETY-FOUR

FEATHERWOOD FARM

Barb struggled to form a plan as she paced the confines of the old rotting building where he’d locked her and Mazie for the night. The place smelled like dirt and animals and the windows had been boarded over.

Mazie was terrified and had cried for her mother all night. Barb could still see Ros in that dirty alley, her clothes filthy and worn, her body thin and frail, her skin so pale she appeared to be on the verge of death. She’d hated to leave her but hopefully someone in town would find her and get her to the hospital.

How had her friend wound up on the streets?

She knew Ros and her husband had had problems. He’d complained about the cost of the IVF just as Thomas had. Their marriage had fallen apart and Ros had mentioned he had a gambling problem. That he’d gotten in debt to some loan sharks that were dangerous.

Had he left Ros penniless?

Mazie shifted beneath the blanket Barb had insisted he give her, finally sleeping. The poor kid looked thin herself, her clothes raggedy.

Anger sat heavy in her chest. Years ago, when she’d lost Grace, the doctor told her she’d never be able to carry ababy to term. The heartbreak had become unbearable. Through counseling, she’d joined the support group and realized she wasn’t the only one suffering.

She, Ros, Claire and Loretta had bonded through their grief, guilt and pain. On the verge of suicide, she’d leaned on them, watched each of them face the challenges of invitro. Then she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer. The chemo had physically almost killed her.

The women had been there for her then, too. During that time they’d learned that a malfunction at the fertility clinic had compromised a few patients’ embryos. Claire’s, Ros’s and Loretta’s were among them. They’d been devastated.

She considered a surrogate but was terrified her cancer would return and she’d die and leave a child alone.

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