The Murders of Cozy Hollow

Chapter 17 - The Little Girl in the Woods

Ed got the call at seven in the morning. Two hunters had been out in the woods installing motion sensor cameras on various trees in advance of the upcoming autumn deer hunting season. Both men heard movement in the forest and immediately assumed there was an animal approaching them. When they scanned the area they could not comprehend what they saw. Walking aimlessly amongst the trees, they caught sight of a young girl in what at first appeared to be red clothing. As she wandered closer, it looked more like red paint covering her tiny body. The girl could not have been older than eight or nine. As the hunters approached her it became evident it was not paint all over her body, it was blood. The girl was completely naked, alone and drenched in blood from head to toe.

The girl was unresponsive to the men's questions so they escorted her back to their pickup truck parked along the highway and called 911. Luke Small was the first deputy to respond and make it to the scene. Even when Luke tried to question her, the girl still did not utter a word. She was taken to the county hospital by ambulance. Ed told Frank he'd meet him at the emergency room as soon as possible.

When Ed arrived at the hospital, Deputy Small stood guard outside the closed curtains of the bed where the attending physician was examining the girl.

"What do we know, deputy?" asked Ed.

"Not much," said Luke. "Hunters found this kid walking around the woods by herself. No clothes. Covered in blood. Kid won't say a word."

"She's probably traumatized. Where's she hurt?"

"Paramedics couldn't tell but the doctor is in there checking her out. She could walk okay."

"How old is she?"

"I don't know, around my daughter's age, maybe."

"Did we get any missing child reports in the area recently besides Chrissy Swanson?"

"Not that I know of, you're the detective around here."

Sheriff Ross arrived and Luke straightened up his shoulders. Luke was perpetually in hot water with his boss, mostly for his lousy attitude.

"Who's the girl?" asked Frank.

"We don't know yet," said Ed.

At that, the attending emergency room doctor emerged from the closed curtains, keeping them shut behind her. The men could not get a look at the girl as the sleep deprived physician spoke with them.

"She's stable but clearly in shock," said the doctor. "She will not or cannot speak."

"How old?" asked Ed.

"I'd say seven to nine, or around that age."

"Any significant injuries?"

"No injuries at all, I can't find anything. Not a scratch on her. Not even her feet for someone who was wandering around the forest. Her vitals look good too."

"So you think she was dropped off in the woods?"

"I think so."

"What about all the blood?"

"It's not hers. Not one cut or abrasion on her. Someone must have dumped or smeared it onto her. At least a gallon. My guess is that it's animal blood. Nurses cleaned her up as best they could."

"Maybe it was ritualistic. You kept plenty of blood samples, right?"

"Yes."

"Good, CSI Boston is on its way."

"Can we see her?" asked Frank.

"Yes," said the doctor. "But I wouldn't expect much communication from her."

"That's okay."

The doctor opened the curtains and led the three men into the enclosed area where the timid little girl sat in bed. She wore a hospital gown while connected to several vital sign monitors and an IV. She was very young with long sandy brown hair still caked in dry blood and a blank stare. The second Sheriff Ross took a good look at her, he gasped. In less than five seconds, he turned around and abruptly exited the space through the closed curtains. Ed did not know what to make of his boss's reaction. Luke was clueless as usual. Something was up. Ed decided to go find Frank before he tried to question the girl.

Sitting in a chair at the end of the hall by the nurse's station, Ed found Frank staring at the floor in disbelief.

"Frank," said Ed. "What did you just see?"

"It can't be," said Frank.

"Who is she? You know her, don't you?"

"Yes, I know who she is."

"Who?"

"That in there, is seven-year-old Diane Tomlinson. I'm a thousand percent sure. That's her."

"Who's Diane Tomlinson?"

"Diane went missing awhile back. She'd gone to the general store to by a stick of butter for her mother and was never seen again. We spent countless days looking for her."

"I don't remember seeing any other recent missing child reports."

"That's because she's one of your cold cases."

"When did she go missing?"

"1981."