Page 9 of Little Child Gone

Nikki understood his fear, but she couldn’t bend the rules that far. “That’s why I will call Miller and Blanchard directly. But I can’t guarantee Chisago won’t find out. That’s the best I can do.”

“Thank you,” Matt said. “I just… I’m going to wait in the breezeway.”

“I’ll update you on Miller and Blanchard in a few minutes.” Nikki rarely called the medical examiner at home. Luckily she picked up.

“Agent Hunt, I assume you’re calling me at home because something terrible has happened.” Blanchard rarely answered with “hello.”

“You’re nearly right.” Nikki quickly told the medical examiner about their discovery. “We need to get this chest out of here without compromising evidence.”

“How big is it?” Blanchard asked.

“Maybe 3x3 or a little bigger,” Nikki said. “It’s an old steamer trunk. We’ve got to be really careful with it to keep the bottom from falling out.”

“I can handle that,” Blanchard said. “I’ve got heavy-duty tarp and a furniture dolly. My Suburban is big enough to bring the chest in. We’re going to need the forensic anthropologist, too. I’d like to see things for myself before I call her. Give me forty-five minutes or so.”

After the call ended, Nikki turned to Courtney. “Blanchard has the equipment and transportation to collect the trunk. You still want to pull up the wood?”

Courtney held up the small crowbar from her bag. “I want the floorboards in front of the closet and all the gunk underneath them.”

“I’ll let Matt know.”

She found him sitting on a folding chair in the breezeway. “Doctor Blanchard is coming with her personal vehicle. I’ve got to call the sheriff, too. Do you know anything else about the family?”

“Only what Spencer told me, which is what I already told you,” Matt said. “My attorney worked with them on the sale.”

“Can I have a copy of the sale sheet?” Nikki said. “As well as your attorney’s phone number and Spencer’s? Have you told him yet?”

“No,” he said. “I waited for you. You want me to call him?”

“Not just yet. I’m going to call Miller now, but can we look at the rest of the property when I’m finished?”

Matt stood. “Sure, let me get an actual coat.” He turned to go into the main house and then looked over his shoulder at Nikki. “You can come in here and look around. I ripped up all the carpet right after I closed, so watch out for nails.”

She did as he asked, admiring the craftsmanship of the old place, despite its dilapidation. Swedish carpenters were among the best. While she waited for Matt, she called the sheriff.

“Miller.”

“Hi, it’s Nikki. Do you have a few minutes?”

“A few,” he said.

“We have quite a find at the old Hendrickson place.” Nikki quickly explained the situation. “Blanchard is coming to collect remains, and we have everything we need to collect evidence. But obviously we need to go through the rest of the house and property. I feel like you should be here for that, since it’s your jurisdiction.”

“Christ.” Miller sighed. “The room has been closed up? So these have to be cold cases?”

“I don’t see how they’re not. No one had been in that room until Matt opened the door. We confirmed no signs of a break-in. Between that and the foot of dust, I think this is a cold case. I can’t help but think of Eli Robertson, but if this place has been as secure as Matt’s been told, the dots don’t connect. At least not until we identify the remains.”

“Right,” Miller said. “You think that Blanchard and Courtney can handle things this afternoon, and then you and I can come back in the morning with additional technicians and hopefully a K9 to search for more remains?”

Nikki glanced at the ever-thickening snow falling. “We can do that. I’ve got to go to the office first tomorrow, so most likely mid-morning.”

“Call me if you find anything else,” Miller said. “I’ll meet you tomorrow.”

By the time she finished the call Matt had returned wearing a dark winter coat.

“Is Miller coming today? The roads are going to get nasty.”

“In the morning,” Nikki said. “He’s going to try to bring a K9 to search. I assume that’s okay?”

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