Page 31 of Little Girls Sleeping
“What makes you say that?” He eyed her closely.
“I did a bit of searching for any missing girls with similarities to Chelsea’s disappearance, and I think it’s quite possible that it’s Tammie Myers.”
“Okay. I’m going to need the entire story of how your search got you here. Understand?”
“Of course.”
“Go take a break now,” he said. It wasn’t a request, but an order.
As her uncle followed Templeton to the gravesite, Katie decided to walk Cisco down the road to clear her head and give the dog a break. She opened the driver’s door and ordered, “Come, Cisco.” He obeyed and trotted alongside her.
The entire area appeared completely different now with all the emergency vehicles parked haphazardly. The familiar static sounds of police radios rose at varying levels, and everyone hustled to their duties. A few of the deputies glanced at Katie with quizzical expressions, as if to say, “How did you find her?” and “What made you pick this exact place?” She assumed that several of them had been involved in the initial search for Chelsea; they must have found it strange that it was an outsider who’d discovered the dumping ground. Hearing Templeton’s accusations wouldn’t have helped any. She knew there would be idle gossip around the department by tomorrow.
She ignored the looks and instead gazed up at the pine trees, recently so stoic and magnificent but now polluted and disconcerting. They loomed along the roadway like a warning to stay away. The wind, which had been breezy, was now calm.
It was true that in an instant everything could change.
Nineteen
Countless news vans with giant antennae and overzealous reporters from various California areas crowded the parking lot of every police substation in the county. They roamed every possible public area to secure comments from any local resident who would give an opinion, and everyone seemed happy to comply.
The usual media outlets had already posted the breaking story with different slants:
Bodies of Two Missing Girls Found in Specially Constructed Graves.
The Toymaker Fulfills Fantasy by Killing Local Girls and Making Teddy Bears.
The story was in every newspaper and on every news site. Anticipation rattled through the networks whenever there was anything involving dead children and serial killers. Pine Valley had been descended upon and there was no sign of interest in the case easing anytime soon.
The detail about the teddy bears and the coffins had leaked and spread like wildfire, much to the dismay of the sheriff’s office and the investigative team.
“Everyone please settle down. This is going to be quick and painless. I’m going to make a few in-house announcements before I go outside and make an official statement to the press,” stated Sheriff Scott. His steely stare and ability to use his authority to quiet a room was unprecedented.
Mayor Stan Miller stood quietly behind the sheriff.
Katie sat and watched her uncle prepare to tell his staff about how the Chelsea Compton investigation was going to play out. She had spent hours the previous evening explaining in detail everything leading up to her discovery of Chelsea’s body, presenting her lists, notes, maps, and personal field notebook. She explained that she had photocopied Chelsea’s file from his office. He was not pleased with her rash decision, but accepted that it was justified by the outcome.
Glancing around the training room, she observed the usual personnel, including Detective Templeton, two other detectives whose names she didn’t know, several deputies and forensic personnel, Denise, and some other women from the administrative staff.
Her uncle was dressed in his sheriff’s uniform, adorned with more brass emblems than anyone else. He looked serious as he stood firm and spoke directly to his staff.
“I don’t have to tell you that this case has reached national status, and that means no talking toanynews agency, in person or otherwise. No posting of anything remotely related to the case on your social-media accounts. Understood? Unfortunately, it will be a while before the news interest dwindles. In the meantime, there are going to be a few changes.”
Some low voices murmured from the crowd.
“The Chelsea Compton case has been officially upgraded to a homicide, along with the as-yet-unidentified girl discovered next to her. Detective Templeton will be running the investigation, reporting to me on a daily basis. I have full confidence that we will find the person who committed these heinous crimes. I will let Detective Templeton update the task force on how he wants to proceed after this meeting.”
More noise from the gathered detectives and deputies.
“I have another important announcement before we all adjourn to our duties. I will have Mayor Miller explain the change in personnel.”
“Good afternoon, everyone.” The mayor cleared his throat and adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses, keeping eye contact with everyone in the room. “I have received an official confirmation that Sheriff Scott is within his sworn rights as sheriff of Sequoia County to deputize Katherine Ann Scott.”
A strange awkward silence filled the room.
“Katherine Ann Scott is now a fully sworn police officer for Sequoia County Sheriff’s Office, and temporarily acting as a detective with the department to investigate and assist on this case until otherwise noted. You will now refer to her as Detective Scott.”
Katie looked toward the detectives. Their frozen stares of disbelief were priceless, except for the fact that she had to work with them. She would need all the strength and courage she could muster to move forward working the case.
