Page 90 of The Ice Sisters

Cord wanted to follow, but while Modelle was in the house, he snuck over to the old chicken house at the edge of the property. The windows had been boarded up.

Dammit. He moved to the back side, pulled his pocketknife from his pocket and pried open one of the boards, then another so he could see inside. The interior was dark and reeked of animals and chicken poop. Using his flashlight, he shined it into the space but it was empty.

Crouching low, he worked his way back around the edge so he could see the back stoop then watched as Modelle carried the body down the steps. Modelle grunted, shifting the heavy weight as he strode into the woods.

Again, Cord followed him through the thick trees and bushes. In spite of the cold and sludgy ground, Modelle was sweating and heaving for a breath. Twice, he paused and glanced back toward Cord as if he sensed someone behind him. But Cord was skilled and managed to keep his footfalls silent.

He was tempted to stop Modelle but he had no authority. Besides, he couldn’t save the person wrapped inside that rug. But he could see where he was taking the body and then call Ellie.

A mile in, and Modelle’s legs were shaky. He groaned and lowered the body to the ground, then bent over and dragged it a few more feet in. This wooded section was just outside his property and part of the AT.

Cord peeked through the hemlocks and realized a shovel lay on the ground where Modelle had already dug a hole. The bastard rolled the body into the hole, wiped sweat from his forehead with the back of his arm then scanned the area.

Cord froze, as still as a deer caught in headlights. A minute passed, then another.

Seemingly satisfied he didn’t see anyone, Modelle began shoveling dirt and snowy slush on top of the body.

ONE HUNDRED TEN

Ellie’s phone signaled a text as she and Derrick left the hospital.

Cord:At Modelle’s.

Next, came a series of pictures. It took a minute for Ellie to realize what she was looking at. First photos of Modelle with an ax. Then him tearing out a wall inside the house. Next, Modelle dragging out what looked like a body wrapped in a rug and hauling it into the woods. Then Modelle dumping the body into a hole.

“We’ve got that son of a bitch,” she said to Derrick as she showed him the pictures.

“Who is that?” Derrick said. “Doesn’t look like a child.”

“No, it’s an adult.”

“I’ll use this to obtain warrants for his house and property then call an ERT.”

“I’ll text Cord and tell him to stay put until we arrive. Tell ERT not to approach either until we have those warrants in hand. This time that SOB is not going to be released on a technicality.”

“Copy that.”

She texted Cord.

On our way. Wait for us and do not approach.

Cord: Yes, ma’am.

Ellie almost smiled at the sarcasm in those two words. But the image of Modelle hiding a body in the wall taunted her. What if he’d done the same thing to Mazie and Ivy?

No, don’t go there. Those little girls have to be alive.

Derrick made the call while she sped from the hospital and headed onto the highway leading to Modelle’s farm. “The warrants will be waiting at the station.”

“We’ll swing by there on the way.”

Anxiety plagued her as she sped away from the hospital. Minutes later, she parked at the station and left the engine running while Derrick rushed inside to pick up the warrants.

He returned, waving them in his hand and they drove in silence as she raced onto the highway leading to Modelle’s. The mountains loomed ahead, the roads a winding maze through the sharp peaks and ridges. A semi barreled around the corner and Ellie had to ride the shoulder to avoid being hit head on. Derrick grabbed the dash to steady himself and they fell silent.

She had to focus on the road right now.

The shadowed areas were still slick with black ice. She careened around another curve, disappeared down a long road that threaded its way through a sea of trees, their long, twisted branches entwined above, making it even darker.

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