Page 42 of Silent Night

"What if he's protecting someone he's fostered?" Sheila asked, her heart rate kicking up a notch. "He wanted to have a child of his own, but couldn't, so it only makes sense that he and his wife would try fostering. It's like what Finn said—he's probably protecting someone he really cares about. Cares about like a son, you might say."

Natalie sat back, studying her thoughtfully.

As Sheila paced the small room, her mind raced with the implications of her new theory. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were close to cracking the case wide open. Her eyes flicked between Natalie and Finn, both looking weary but alert.

"Is there any way we can find who he might have fostered?" she asked.

Finn nodded thoughtfully. "We could check the computer we seized from his office. It's possible there're records about the church's foster program on there."

"Let's do it."

They hurried down the hallway and into the office where the computer from Salvation Springs was set up. Finn quickly navigated through several files as Sheila looked over his shoulder, biting her lip in anticipation. Natalie leaned against a nearby table, her fingers gripping the wheelchair’s armrests tightly.

"Come on," Sheila whispered under her breath, willing the computer to reveal its secrets. Her pulse quickened, and she felt a mix of fear and excitement. What if they found the key to solving the mystery? Or what if they found nothing at all?

"Okay, I think I've got something here," Finn said, opening a folder labeled 'Gentle Hands Foster Program.'

Sheila's heart leaped, and she held onto Finn's chair, leaning in to see the screen more clearly. She silently prayed that this would be the breakthrough they needed—that this would lead them to the answers they had been searching for so desperately.

"Let's see who you've been protecting, Walden," she murmured as Finn opened a file labeled 'Russel J. Cook.' The screen filled with text and images, painting a vivid picture of a young man whose life had been fraught with pain and hardship.

"Looks like Russel's biological father was an abusive alcoholic," Finn murmured. "Abused Russel and his mother regularly."

Sheila's stomach churned as she scanning the images of a young boy—bruised, battered, and broken. It was a stark reminder of the darker side of human nature, one she wished she could forget.

"His mother eventually died from her injuries," Finn continued, his voice heavy with emotion. "That's when Russel entered the foster system. He was just eleven years old."

Sheila clenched her fists, fighting back tears. Eleven. No child should have to endure such horrors, let alone be thrust into an unfamiliar world without the love and support of their family. The injustice of it all burned within her, fueling her resolve to find the truth.

"Looks like Walden took Russel in when he was fourteen," Finn said, scrolling through the documents. "He's been with him for the past six years."

"Six years," Sheila whispered, her mind reeling with the new information. A bond like that would be powerful, perhaps powerful enough for Walden to protect Russel even from the consequences of murder.

"That makes Russel twenty years old," Finn said, his eyes narrowing as he pieced together the puzzle. "Fits our profile for the killer, don't you think?"

Natalie nodded, saying nothing. Her jaw was tight, and she looked to Sheila like she was just barely holding herself together. She's just tired, Sheila told herself. We all are.

"Does it say anything about where he might be now?" she asked.

"Actually, yes," Finn replied, his fingers tapping away at the keyboard. "According to these records, it appears that Russel still lives with Walden. I think I can find their home address—got it."

Sheila could hardly contain her excitement as she paced the small room, adrenaline coursing through her veins. She clenched and unclenched her fists, ready to take action. Finn grabbed his jacket, nodding at her with determination in his eyes.

"Let's go," he said, a steely resolve audible in his voice.

Sheila followed Finn out of the room. She had gone only a few paces, however, before she realized Natalie wasn't following them. She turned around. "Nat?" she asked, surprised.

Natalie rolled out of the room slowly. "You two go ahead without me," she said.

"What? Why?"

"Someone needs to stay here and keep an eye on Walden," Natalie replied, offering a tight-lipped smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Besides, I have some paperwork to catch up on."

Sheila hesitated, sensing that there was something more going on than what Natalie was saying. But with the urgency of the situation pressing down on her, she couldn't afford to spend any more time trying to decipher her sister's true motives.

"Alright, but call us if anything happens," Sheila said, her brow furrowed with concern.

"Of course," Natalie assured her. "Now, go! You don't have much time."

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