Chapter 18

EIGHTEEN

Press conferences always made Ellie anxious, but they were a necessary evil. They could incite panic and solicit false leads, but other times they offered invaluable information.

At the moment, she could use all the help she could get.

She found Angelica Gomez, the local reporter, in the press room with her cameraman Tom already setting up. She and Angelica had butted heads when they'd first met, but during the last few cases they'd forged a working relationship and friendship. Angelica looked professional as always. Her black pant suit accentuated her curves, and she'd secured her glossy black hair into a top bun.

"Morning, Ellie. Are you ready?" Angelica asked.

Ellie smoothed down her ponytail. "Yes. Let's get it over with so I can get back to work."

Angelica gripped the mic and signaled Tom she was ready. "This is Angelica Gomez with Channel Five News coming to you with this breaking news." She angled the mic toward Ellie. "Detective Reeves?"

"Yes, thank you, Ms. Gomez." She gripped the mic with clammy hands. "Yesterday two unidentified children's bodies were found by Emerald Falls on Coal Mountain. The girls are identical twins, approximately seven to eight years old with brown hair and green eyes. They were wearing black sweatpants with pink sweatshirts and had green bows in their hair."

She inhaled a breath. "We have checked databases for reports of missing children and found none matching their descriptions, but with cell towers and power out in many areas and people stranded by the weather conditions, the family may have not been able to reach us. Please phone the police department if you have seen these girls or have information regarding the parents' whereabouts. We'll keep you abreast as new information becomes available."

She thanked the public and left Angelica to relay the phone numbers for the police and a tip line. Then she hurried to her office to research reports of murders with the same MO.