Page 11 of Little Child Gone

Sadness swept through Nikki as she studied the graves of the Hendrickson family. Three generations, as Matt had said, each with at least one young child buried near the parents.

“People don’t realize how lucky they are to have parents to fight with,” Matt said.

“God, it took me so long to learn how to compartmentalize suspects who mistreated their parents, even if they were just talking badly. I wanted to shake every one of them.”

“I don’t know how you kept from it.”

She blinked against the snow. “I had to, for my own sake. The anger is paralyzing.” She debated asking if Matt had gone back to therapy, but it wasn’t her business and Matt had to go on his own, not because people talked him into it. “No one’s been in this place since they spread the ashes.” Nikki crouched next to the stump. “Nothing looks disturbed.”

“You sound disappointed.”

“No.” Nikki stood up. “I’m just used to finding something awful around the next corner. It’s always a pleasant surprise when I don’t.”

Tires crunched on the driveway. “That’s Blanchard.” Nikki pointed to the black Suburban emerging through the blowing snow.

“You think you three can manage the trunk?” Matt flushed. “I don’t mean to sound sexist, but it’s got to be heavy, and even if she backs up to the door, you’ve got a long way to carry it.”

“Blanchard will figure it out,” Nikki said. “You learn a lot of tricks when you’ve been in the business as long as her.” Nikki shivered as an ice-cold gust of north wind blasted her, the heavy storm clouds getting darker. She glanced back at the old, white rambler. What had happened in that house?

FOUR

Nikki helped Blanchard unload her equipment, including the rolled blue tarp. “You brought the furniture dolly, right? I don’t want to ask Matt Kline to help. That’s one more person to account for in the chain of custody.”

“I’ve got it,” Blanchard said.

Matt Kline approached and introduced himself. “Thank you for coming on your day off. I really appreciate it.”

“No problem,” Blanchard said. “I have to admit, my morbid curiosity is pretty strong right now.”

“It’s morbid all right.” Matt looked at Nikki. “Come in when you’re done.” He turned to leave.

“Wait,” Nikki said. “We can’t avoid stairs. Do you have anything we could use as a ramp?”

“Will drywall work?” Matt asked. “I’ve got plenty of that.”

“It should,” Blanchard answered. “I’ve got plenty of straps, so hopefully we can guide it down without having to step on the drywall.”

“I’ve got it in the old laundry room. I’ll set it up while you guys are doing your thing.” Matt ducked under the carport.

“We go in the same way, but the apartment is to the right.” Nikki tucked the blue tarp under her arm.

Blanchard followed. “Walk me through this again.”

Nikki quickly explained everything they’d discovered. “Pretty clear it’s a homicide since people don’t usually end up in trunks on their own.”

“How bad are those remains?”

“Messy.”

They found Courtney on her hands and knees in front of the closet, booties and gloves still on. “Don’t worry,” she said before Blanchard could chastise her. “I haven’t touched any remains. I’ve been looking at the floor under the carpet. It’s old wood, lots of cracks.”

“Find anything?”

Courtney held up two evidence bags, each containing a small object. “A Lego figure and some kind of little toy car.”

“A child.” Nikki felt half-sick. “The victim in the corner is at least a teenager. You can tell by the bones. Did this belong to them, or do we have another missing kid?”

“I don’t know,” Courtney said. “I agree about the remains, and we don’t know if this belonged to the victim. It could have been here before them. It sounds like this apartment was used a fair amount before Karl boarded it up. Doctor Blanchard, what do you think?”

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