Hidden Secrets by Madison Johns

Author:Madison Johns [Johns, Madison]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

I pulled next to Sheriff Peterson’s cruiser at Nieman’s, and Eleanor and I waited by his car until he returned, carrying two plastic store bags.

His brow furrowed as he asked, “What are you doing here?”

“Did you ask the manager about Faith Fleur?” I asked.

“Yes, and he confirmed what you told me. I’ll have you know nobody has filed a missing person report yet. And then I did a little shopping.”

“I have some interesting information to share.”

Peterson put his purchases in the squad car and then gave me his full attention. ”If you can be brief. I have ice cream.”

Eleanor cocked a brow. “Aren’t you on a diet?”

“It’s for a birthday party.”

“Whose birthday?” I asked. “Are we invited?”

“No. Neither of you are.” Peterson put a hand on his open door. “I really need to get going.”

“Fine. We paid Bernice a visit. She went AWOL from the hospital.”

“Agnes, tell the sheriff what we came here for,” Eleanor prodded.

“Callie was at Bernice’s house. She let it slip that her father was a suspect in a string of missing female hitchhikers when she and her brother were children.”

Peterson’s eyes widened. “Did she mention how long ago?”

“I’d imagine the late nineties.”

“Not too many women hitchhikers in the nineties.”

“That’s what I thought,” Eleanor said. “Is there any way you can check for cold cases?”

“Sounds like a crapshoot, but I’ll relay this to the state police. They might have more resources to search cases you’re referring to.”

“And you don’t have the time to do it yourself?” I asked.

“I’m busy enough handling the active cases in this county. What are you hinting at?”

“Well, we just thought that if Wilber was involved in those disappearances someone from his past might have tracked him down.”

“And whacked him,” Eleanor added, drawing a finger across her throat.

“A victim’s family member?” Peterson asked.

“Or someone might have wrongfully gone to prison for the crime and was just released,” I added.

Peterson crossed his arms. “Then we would be talking about cold cases, which are even more of a needle in the haystack.”

“Did the coroner give you a preliminary report yet?”

“I don’t even know if forensics removed the body from the barrel yet. They have custody of it now.”

“So how long will it take to find out if the victim is male or female?”

“You’ll have to ask the coroner.”

“Are you encouraging us to question the coroner?” Eleanor asked.

“Not at all, but you two seem hell bent on doing whatever you want.”

“Do you have any other suspects right now?” I asked.

“I’m coming up empty at the moment. Have you interviewed Wilber’s neighbors yet?”

“We questioned Robert Boyd, but the only useful information he offered was that a black SUV was parked at Wilber’s house.” I pointed out the SUV parked in the corner of the parking lot. “That one over there, I believe. Did you obtain a search warrant for Faith’s room or the SUV yet?”

“She’s not missing unless someone files a report.”

“I’ll bet the manager of Neiman’s would allow you to take a look in the SUV.

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