Page 93 of The Sleeping Girls
Moving closer he shined his flashlight into the brush and swallowed hard as Benji pawed at the dirt, digging until he uncovered a bone.
Not just a bone. A human skeleton.
ONE HUNDRED FOUR
CROOKED CREEK POLICE STATION
Derrick escorted Gil Landrum to the interrogation room but Ellie ordered Deputy Landrum to watch from another room.
She introduced herself to Heath’s father as she entered. The man was gruff-looking with graying hair, a scruffy beard and scars on his hands that could have come from his job.
“I’ve been watching the news. Is Darnell here?” Landrum asked, his tone icy.
“No, we’re still looking for him. But Heath is here, too. He’s one of my deputies.”
Gil jerked his head in shock. “What? Heath works for you?”
Ellie nodded. “You didn’t know?”
He put one fist into the other palm. “No. We… haven’t spoken in a long time. Now, I know your agent said you’re looking for Digger, but I can’t help you there.”
“Are you aware he was released through the Innocence Project?” Ellie asked.
Gil grunted. “Yeah, I saw it on the news. But I don’t care what that podcaster says. Digger killed Anna Marie. End of story.”
Ellie tapped her foot. “Actually Ms. O’Connor was attacked, and we believe it was because she was helping Darnell. That someone didn’t want him to go free.”
His gray eyes flicked to Derrick, then her, his tone incredulous. “You think she found something to prove Digger’s innocent? ’Cause let me tell you, I walked in and found him over her. I know he did it.”
“We’ve reviewed his statement and the interrogation,” Derrick interjected. “But we also have new information that could point to another suspect, something the original investigating officer overlooked.”
Gil Landrum folded his arms, his flannel shirt stretched across his bulk. “You’re wasting your time. That boy should be back in jail.”
Ellie stiffened. Perhaps the motive for taking the teens was to incriminate Digger and do just that—put him back in prison. Then the actual killer could go free.
“You certainly seemed intent on convincing everyone of that years ago,” Ellie said.
“Because I caught him red-handed,” he snapped.
Ellie let his attitude float in the air and settle before she continued.
“As we said, we have uncovered new information. Anna Marie’s autopsy and her medical records. We know she was diagnosed with a kidney disorder that would require a kidney transplant.”
Landrum’s jaw hardened. “Yeah.”
“Were you and your wife tested to see if you were a donor match?”
He gave a quick nod, but pain laced his eyes. “We weren’t. She was going to have to go on the transplant list.”
Ellie and Derrick shared a look. “Transplant surgery can be expensive,” Derrick said bluntly.
“Cost didn’t matter. Somehow, we would have found a way, that is if Digger hadn’t taken her from us.”
“But your wife left the family before the murder,” Ellie said. “Why would she desert her sick child when she needed her?”
He shook his head. “I guess she was just too freaked out,” he said. “She left a note saying she couldn’t handle things and had to get away.”
“Do you still have that note?” Derrick asked.