Page 17 of Jenna's Threatened Sanctuary

He slowly lowered himself from the stump. Rounding the corner of the house to return to the front, he climbed the worn porch steps. Stained glass made an octagon at the top of the door, bouncing prisms of light around the dirty floorboards. He pressed the bell and waited.

The sound of hurried footsteps came closer. He pulled back his shoulders and lifted his chin just enough to convey authority. Without a badge, people weren’t always willing to speak with him. He’d learned over the years the best ways to get them talking. Acting like he belonged there was always the first step.

“Hold on. I’m coming.” The loud voice penetrated the closed wood. The door swung open to a man not much older than Calvin. His face was flushed as if he’d ran a mile. His mossy green eyes held interest and dirt clung to his stained sweatshirt and worn jeans. “Hello. Can I help you?”

Calvin extended a hand. He gave one healthy shake before releasing his hold and letting his hand drop to his side. “Good afternoon. I’m here to speak with Ryan Billings.”

“That’s me. What can I help you with?” The interest stayed in his eyes, but his shoulders tensed.

“My name is Calvin Spradling. I hoped I could speak with you about Stella Ryan.” He’d debated how to approach the topic but didn’t want to make this conversation any longer than necessary. Best to get straight to the point.

Ryan’s face crumbled and his jaw clenched as if he bit down hard on something. “Who are you? And why do you have questions about Stella?”

“I’m a private investigator.” He studied the other man’s reaction, but only sorrow spilled from his crest-fallen expression.

The tips of Ryan’s eyebrows dipped low. “Why do you want information from me about Stella?”

“Because I need to find out who killed her.”

Ryan leaned against the still open door and gripped the handle. “Don’t you think I want to know who killed her? I loved her.”

“Do you still love her? Even after you split up?”

He locked his unwavering gaze on Calvin. “Have you ever been in love?”

Calvin shuffled his feet. Answering questions about his love life wasn’t something he really wanted to do. “Yes.”

“Then you know it’s not something that easily comes and goes.”

Nerves clenched Calvin’s stomach muscles, but he needed to push on, not focus on feelings for Jenna that refused to stop. “Why did you two break up?”

Sighing, Ryan rubbed the back of his neck. “She dumped me. Said she was too busy with work and didn’t have time for a relationship. I knew it was a bullshit excuse, but she refused to say anything more. I always suspected there was someone else, but I guess now I’ll never know.”

“Did you send her flowers to try and get her back?”

Ryan’s head reared back, confusion pinching his face. “Flowers? What the hell are you talking about?”

Calvin tried to gauge Ryan’s authenticity. Did he really believe Stella had met someone else, someone she refused to reveal? Could he be the one who’d sent her flowers? Or possiblybeen so angry the love of his life left him that he refused to let anyone else have her? “I’m sorry for your loss. It’s never easy losing someone you love.”

Ryan smacked together his lips. “No. It’s not. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.” Retreating into the house without another word, he slammed the door.

Calvin headed back to his truck. He’d reached another dead end, as long as Ryan Billings was telling the truth. He needed to talk to Jenna. She and Stella might have had a falling out the last couple of years, but no one knew Stella better than Jenna. She may have more answers than she realized.

As he made his way to his truck, his phone buzzed in his pocket. A quick glance at the screen displayed the Pine Valley Police Department’s number. His heart raced.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Calvin. It’s Cruz. You can pick up your truck when you get a chance.”

Deflated, he squeezed the phone. As much as he wanted his vehicle back, he’d hoped for news regarding the case. “Great. I’m actually not far. I can stop by now and get it. Maybe we can chat for a few minutes about where the investigation stands.”

A beat of silence pulsed through the phone, raising the hairs on Calvin’s arm.

“What’s wrong?”

Cruz sighed. “I’m headed to Stella’s place. There was a break-in. I left your keys above the visor in your truck. I’ll call you if there’s anything I need from you or Jenna.”

Calvin disconnected and jogged down the quiet street to his truck. Screw waiting around for a call that would probably never come. Time to be a squeaky wheel or whatever the hell that expression was.

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