Her Second Death: A Short Story (Bree Taggert) by Melinda Leigh

of Lena, a recent photo, and something that carries her scent.” They were bringing out a K-9. “She’s three and a half feet tall and about forty pounds.” Kelly hurried into one of the back bedrooms. Bree followed her, stopping in the doorway to scan the room. Discarded clothing littered the floor. A stuffed elephant lay nestled in the unmade bed. Kelly snatched a small pink pajama top from the floor. “This is the last thing Lena wore before going with James.” Bree went out to their vehicle for an evidence bag. Back inside the bedroom, she put the pink top in it. “A recent photo?” Kelly nodded and opened her phone. “Text it to me.” Bree recited her number. When the pictured arrived, she forwarded it to Romano. Her partner went outside to make arrangements for a unit to pick up the pink shirt and put out a BOLO. A be on the lookout would be sent to all area law enforcement with a description and photo of Lena, along with the known details of her disappearance. Bree returned to the living room and the snapshots of Lena. The little girl was blonde, long-limbed, and bony like her mother. In each photo, Lena smiled but didn’t look at the camera. Her attention was on the stuffed elephant she clutched. The first picture was Lena at the zoo, in front of the giraffe exhibit, holding the stuffed elephant, staring at the floor. Another picture showed her in a classroom, with the same elephant in tow. A flashback popped into Bree’s head. Her little sister, Erin, in the kitchen. Like Lena,