Page 18 of Little Child Gone

“That’s fine,” Garcia said. “Wilson stays here. He’s helping Kendall on a case, and he’s still catching up from being on vacation.”

Nikki started to leave, but Garcia spoke before she reached the door. “How’s Doctor Hart really doing after being back in the field? Coming face to face with death after what she faced can break even the strongest.”

“She’s okay,” Nikki said. “I think the remains being older made it easier to compartmentalize, but I trust Courtney. If she says she’s ready, then she is.”

SEVEN

Miller exited his big Suburban as Nikki parked next to the second Washington County Sheriff vehicle emblazoned with “K9” on the side. She grabbed her bag and winter hat, pulling the warm wool down to her eyes. The trees surrounding the Hendrickson property provided a decent windbreak, but the gray sky blocked much of the sun’s warmth.

“I sent the K9 officer to search around the perimeter of the property.” Miller joined her. “Doesn’t look like anyone is home. Do you have a key?”

“Matt texted he was on his way with Spencer,” Nikki said.

Miller shoved his hands into his coat pockets. “Heard anything from Blanchard?”

“She and Courtney are still testing samples from the scene, and the forensic anthropologist is coming in. Blanchard is confident the body in the trunk is female and the bones on the other end of the closet male. The female is an adult, and the male is likely between thirteen and twenty-five, but the forensic anthropologist will be able to confirm.” She shivered in the freezing wind. “I talked to Matt’s attorney this morning. He spoke some more about how difficult Karl’s daughter Stephanie can be, and how upset she was about the will.”

“I remember Spencer coming into the station for something when I was still a deputy,” Miller said. “This would have been around 2011. Drunk and disorderly perhaps? He threw a fit about things.”

“He hasn’t been arrested since then.” Nikki had run a background check on Spencer Bancroft before leaving the office. “Matt seems to think pretty highly of him.”

The K9 handler returned, his Belgian Malinois on a long lead. “He didn’t pick anything up on the property beyond the family graveyard.”

Miller pointed to the silver Chevy truck coming down the driveway. “Good timing. Matt’s here.”

Matt parked off to the side of the police vehicles. He jumped out of the truck, key in hand. “Sorry we are running a little late. We had a shift last night.”

Spencer Bancroft exited the truck. He was a couple of inches shorter than Matt and stouter, with piercing blue eyes. He stared at the old house in silence for a moment before joining them.

“Spencer Bancroft.” He shook hands with Nikki, Miller and Huse, the K9 handler. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

“Thank you for stopping by right after your shift.” Miller looked at Matt. “Can we talk inside?”

Matt agreed and hurried them all into the house out of the bitter wind.

Despite not being heated, the breezeway was a nice reprieve from the wind. Matt explained the layout of the house to Miller as he set out the folding chairs from the corner.

“Take the dog through the main house first,” Miller said. The handler and Malinois headed into the main house while Nikki and the others sat down to talk.

Spencer took off his Nike hat and perched it on his knee. “I just feel so bad for Matt. I pushed him to buy the place.” He stared out of the window for a minute. “How long have they been there?”

“We don’t know yet.” Nikki kept Blanchard’s information to herself. “Do you remember when your grandfather put the apartment in?”

Spencer thought about it for a few moments. “The original house burned down in the early seventies. I don’t remember the year, but Grandpa was still a bachelor then. He helped rebuild the house and during that time met my grandma.” Spencer shook his head. “Grandpa built the addition around 1992, maybe. The apartment was a rumpus room for my mom and uncle, and I lived in it for a while right after I graduated high school.”

Nikki looked up from her notes. Spencer was younger than Matt. “What year?”

“2014.”

“How long did you live in the apartment?” Nikki asked.

“Just that summer.” Spencer flushed. “I was young and stupid and thought I should be on my own. I still stopped by to check on Grandpa, since he was getting older.” He gulped and glanced at Matt. “When Matt told me about the bodies, I immediately thought about the young woman and her children who came the next summer to help Grandpa out around the house.”

Nikki’s fingers froze around her pencil. Spencer should have started with that information. “You know who the victims are?”

“No, I thought of them, but they ran off, they weren’t murdered.”

“Tell us about this woman and her children,” Miller said. “How did your grandpa meet her?”

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