Ellie leaned her head into her hands, nauseated as she listened.
“‘When it was over, he threatened me. Said he’d kill me if I told. But I told Daddy anyway, and Daddy said I had to keep my mouth shut. Pretend like it never happened. That his partner got me out of trouble with the law and I was young and I’d get over it.’”
Ellie massaged the back of her neck, her anger mounting.
“‘But I couldn’t forget about it. I’ll never forget. Then when I learned I was pregnant, Daddy threw me out of the house. Said I was an embarrassment to the family. Especially to him. That I’dbeen a drunk and I deserved what I got and that nobody would believe my story.’”
“Oh, God,” Ellie said. “I’ll be right back.” Pressing her hand to her mouth she ran from her office, sweating and dizzy and rushed into the ladies’ room. She fell to her knees and released the venom inside her, spewing the contents of her breakfast into the toilet. She grabbed paper towels to wipe her mouth and screamed into them.
Minnie’s father had to pay.
ONE HUNDRED THIRTEEN
Lookout Mountain
The horror of Benton’s actions weighed on Derrick. What kind of father could allow his coworker to sexually assault his teenage daughter and tell her just to forget about it? He’d seen the worst of society in his job, but for a man to throw his daughter to the wolves was disgusting to the core.
While he waited for Ellie, he skimmed Dana Jo’s files. Her sessions with the counselor confirmed everything she’d told them. She, too, had been assaulted. She’d been left for dead, amazingly survived that ordeal then repressed the memory. Eventually Wheaton had come for her and her daughter. And now they had no idea where Lou Lou was.
Benton was just as complicit as Mabel Putnam had been. He’d stood by and allowed Wheaton to attack and murder other teens without saying a word.
Ellie looked pale as shit when she returned but she straightened. “Let’s go get Benton. That son of a bitch is not going to get away with this.” She adjusted her gun and holster, yanked her coat off the coat hook and dragged it on.
They rushed outside to her Jeep and Ellie started the engine and left the parking lot with a roar.
“I think Mabel left a clue as to where the children are,” Derrick said as she raced through town.
“Where? Are they alive?”
“Yes. She made a note of Wheaton’s past in a secure file. The lady who took him in when his father went to prison. They might be there.”
“Get your people on it,” Ellie said. “We need a name and an address.”
“On it.”
While he called Bennett, Ellie turned her focus on the icy road and traffic. Although traffic was minimal, she clutched the steering wheel in a white-knuckled grip
A few nutcases were trying to brave it as if they couldn’t do the smart thing and stay home one more day. Ellie flipped on her siren, forcing them to pull off the road, then crossed the highway and took the most direct route to Lookout Mountain.
Derrick hung up from Bennett, then said, “My partner will get us the information as soon as possible.”
The morning lights from the mountain homes shined through the fog as Ellie veered onto the street to the Benton’s. When she pulled up the long drive, lights burned in the house. Ellie flipped off the siren to avoid alerting Benton they were on their way.
Seconds later, she parked in the drive. Derrick exchanged a determined look with her as they walked to the doorway together.
Derrick rang the bell and surprisingly Benton answered, dressed in a suit as if he was heading to his office.
Little did he know he was headed to jail.
“Mr. Benton,” Derrick said. “You are under arrest.”
Rage and shock flared on the bastard’s face. “What the hell? I’ll have your head…”
Derrick gestured to Ellie for her to take the win.
Ellie grinned. “Hands behind you.” She yanked his arms behind him and snapped the cuffs on.
“What’s happening?” Mrs. Benton cried as she ran toward them in her robe.
