barely controlled his rage as he stared at the sick son of a bitch who’d murdered his little sister. His mother had talked to him about letting go of his hatred, but Hiram’s lack of remorse for the girls he’d killed made that impossible.
Still, he had another case to solve, so he pasted on his game face, shoving aside his fury.
Hiram spread his scarred hands on the table, the nervous twitch to his eye adding to his sinister look. The orange jumpsuit made his skin look even more sallow.
“How’s Mommy dearest?” Hiram asked Ellie with a toothy grin.
“I’m not here to discuss the family,” she said sharply. “I’m here for information.”
Hiram’s bushy brow rose. “Information about what? About where you came from?”
As anger flashed across Ellie’s face, Derrick realized the man was playing games. What did Hiram mean?
“About the Weekday Killer,” Ellie replied, leaning forward.
Hiram stretched his hands out to touch her. The minute he did, Ellie leaned back, just out of reach. “Do you know who he is?” she asked.
Hiram smiled. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Derrick removed photographs of the victims from his briefcase and spread them on the table. The pictures were black and whites of the women’s faces, their bodies covered in a sheet on the autopsy table. “Each of these women was brutally murdered a day apart,” Derrick said.
Excitement lit Hiram’s eyes at the sight of the women’s corpses, and Derrick barely restrained himself from jerking him across the table and pounding his face.
Sometimes at night, he fantasized about killing Hiram. He’d almost done so when he’d caught him but, in the end, he’d managed to stop himself, for his mother’s sake. She’d grieved so much over her daughter and her husband, he hadn’t wanted her to lose her son too. He’d never forgive himself for that.
But now the urge hit him full force again, tightening his lungs.
“Pretty ladies,” Hiram sneered. “Just like you, Ellie.”
“They look nothing like me,” Ellie said. “But they are dead because some madman slashed their throats. That madman also texted me to tell me about them. The only person I can think of that would want to torment me is you.”
Hiram threw up his hands, the handcuffs clanging. “Wish I could take the credit, but I’ve been right here.” He glanced at the pictures with a sick smile. “Besides, I like them younger.”
Derrick stood, leaning over and grabbing Hiram by the neck of his jumpsuit. “So it’s your partner who likes them older?”
The prison guard took half a step forward, and Derrick released Hiram and sat back down before giving the guard an apologetic nod.
“Who said I had a partner?” Hiram asked with another smirk.
Ellie slapped the table with her palm. “Stop playing games, Hiram. Someone buried those children we found, and I think you know who it was.” It was how they’d found the little girls, their bones buried recently on the Appalachian Trail, as if someone wanted them to be found. “If someone helped you, speak up. The media will make you even more famous for cooperating.”
Hiram’s eyes turned menacing as he glared at Ellie. “Whoever dug those graves did it on their own. But this Weekday Killer––I want to meet him when you find him.”
“Not going to happen,” Ellie said.
Hiram chuckled. “Now, Ellie, why don’t you ask me what you really want to know?”
“This is a waste of time. Let’s go, Agent Fox.” Ellie stood, turning away from Hiram.
“You wanna know who you are, don’t you? You and Mommy dearest not so chummy anymore?” Hiram called from his seat as Ellie walked toward the door.
Shooting him a warning look, Ellie hit the buzzer to be let out. Derrick picked up the photographs, stuffing them back in his briefcase and followed Ellie outside while another guard entered to help escort Hiram back to his cell.
When Derrick stepped into the hallway, Ellie was leaning against the wall with her eyes closed, her breathing erratic.
“What was that about?” he asked.
A second later, Ellie opened her eyes, pain lingering in the blue irises. “Nothing.” Spinning around with a sigh, she headed down the hall, leaving him with more questions than answers.
Fifty-Nine
Ellie was shaking as she stormed down the prison hallway. Damn Hiram for bringing up her family in front of Derrick.
Her secrets should be her own to keep. She’d reveal them when she was good and ready.
Retrieving her weapon at the security checkpoint, an instinct to run pulled at her. But running anywhere near a prison with armed guards was a