Chapter 29

TWENTY-NINE

Derrick braced himself for a confrontation as he parked at Thomas Thacker's house, a small rustic cabin nestled by thick oaks and pines and the dark woods. Shadows shrouded the house and a cinder block outbuilding bathed in gray looked creepy against the white blanket of snow.

The man-made lake behind the property had been created around what was once a retreat center for youth camps. Deer roamed the land, darting through the trees to hide from hunters who, in spite of hunting restrictions, flocked to the isolated area to take advantage of the deserted areas.

Derrick scanned the property in search of a vehicle but didn't see one. The lights were off in the house and it was eerily quiet as he opened the car door.

A coyote wailed and he looked up at the hill beyond and spotted the shadow of a wolf howling beneath the light of the moon. Although wolves were rare in the area, they could be dangerous.

Not as dangerous as a man who beat his wife though. Or killed children.

Eyes trained on the house, he grabbed his flashlight and checked his weapon, then eased from his car. He quietly closed the door, his boots crunching snow as he walked toward the house. Brush crackled to his left and he jerked his eyes toward the sound, then saw a buck darting into the woods.

His attention swung back to the house, expecting to see lights flicker on, but it was still bathed in darkness. Still, he eased toward the porch and climbed it, checking his footfalls. The wood floor squeaked, and he kept his hand over his gun as he raised his fist and knocked.

Seconds passed and no answer. He knocked again. "Mr. Thacker, FBI. Please open up. I just want to talk to you."

Silence greeted him. He pounded the door and shouted again, but there was no answer. Tension knotted his shoulders as he jiggled the doorknob. It was unlocked and turned easily.

Lights suddenly flickered behind him. Thacker coming home?

He turned and squinted, the headlights blinding him. When they faded, he recognized Ellie's Jeep. She opened the door and got out, and he waved her forward.

Her brows lifted as she approached.

"Thacker's not answering. I'm going in."

"I'll back you." She pulled her gun and held it at the ready, close on his heels as he opened the door and stepped inside. The entire house was dark, so he shined his flashlight across the entry and what appeared to be the living room.

It was empty.

Anger surged through him as they walked from one room to the next. There was no furniture, no clothing or toys or sign anyone had ever been here.

"Either the address on his driver's license is old or he's packed up and left."

"According to Deputy Eastwood, the woman left the hospital without doctor approval. What if she and this man were the girls' parents or had something to do with the twins' death? He could have picked her up so they could leave town."

Ellie sighed and reholstered her weapon, speculating out loud. "If she or her husband are the twins' parents and know we're looking for them, her husband may have become spooked that she'd talk, cleaned out here then snuck her out of the hospital and forced her to go with him."

"Sounds feasible. I want an ERT to go over this place," Derrick said. "Maybe we'll find proof the girls were here."

"If Thacker is on the run, there's no telling what he might do."

And if this was not a personal crime, if they were dealing with a serial killer or killer targeting children, the town festival would provide a hunting ground for him to take another.