Page 35 of Elsie's Strong Shelter

He stayed rooted to the spot until Gina left then hurried to explain everything to Elsie. He stepped outside, and Elsie whirled around.

She handed him his phone. “I’ll get ready then we need to meet Calvin,” she said, moving past him.

He reached for her, but she yanked her arm away from his grasp. “Elsie. I—please.”

She held up a palm and squeezed her eyes shut for a quick second. When she opened them again, pain sparked the green of her irises. “You don’t have to explain. It doesn’t matter. Just be ready to go in ten minutes.”

She rushed back inside, leaving his heart shattered. Once again, Gina had found a way to screw up his life.

14

Tension filled the truck on the short drive to the property Calvin had found. Elsie struggled not to fidget in the uncomfortable silence. Witnessing Dean kissing his ex-wife was like a knife in the heart, but she had to put that behind her. If he wanted to give his marriage another chance, that was his choice. One she would respect.

Besides, all of her energy needed to be aimed in one place. Figuring out what the hell had happened to Mila.

The truck bounced along a gravel lane, partially overgrown with weeds. Elsie gripped the handle above her head to steady herself. “So Malcom actually lives here and not the apartment above the bar?”

“Calvin thinks so,” Dean said through gritted teeth. “If the house is anything like this damn driveway, I’m afraid of what we’re walking into.”

Dean maneuvered the truck along a narrow strip of gravel between two trees and parked beside Calvin’s SUV. A ranch-style house with dark brown siding and cracked windows sat in a sea of weeds. A rusted white sedan was parked on the other sideof Calvin—who leaned against the hood of his vehicle with his phone in his hand.

“Is anyone here?” she asked.

“Not sure. I didn’t get a chance to talk to Calvin much before we left. Hell, to be honest, my mind was more preoccupied with trying to talk with you.” He parked then shot her a timid smile.

Her resolve to not make an issue of hurt feelings weakened. “There’s no need for a conversation. We’re friends who might have been more but something else popped up. I don’t fault you for wanting to give your marriage a second chance. You didn’t plan on any of this to happen. No harm, no foul.”

Before he could say another word, she hopped out of the car and marched toward Calvin with her head held high. She might be willing to step aside for the sake of not making things any more awkward, but she didn’t need to sit there and listen to his “I’m sorry” speech. She had more dignity than that.

Calvin straightened and slipped his phone back in his pocket. “Morning.”

“Morning,” she echoed. “How’d you find this place?”

“Property is owned by Celia Miller, Malcom’s sister. I ran a background check on her, and she has another residence, as well as a business, in Alabama.” He paused, lifting his chin to acknowledge Dean before continuing. “Looks like that’s where she lives, along with her husband, two kids, and three dogs. I’d be surprised if she spends any time in this shithole.”

Dean shoved his hands in the front pocket of his jeans. “Nice work. Is anyone home?”

“Rang the bell a few times and no one answered. I peeked through the windows as best as possible and didn’t see anyone.”

“So what now?” Elsie asked. “Can’t we just go inside and look around?”

Calvin grinned. “Ask former Officer Kingston. He’s a little more rigid about the rules than I am. Technically, going insidewithout a reason or invitation is breaking and entering. But my thoughts are geared more around no harm, no foul.”

She turned pleading eyes on Dean. “Well? Willing to bend the rules a little?”

Lifting his eyes to the sky, Dean sighed. “You told me last night you make your own rules. Might as well make a few more. But stay close. Even if things seem quiet, this could be the residence of a criminal. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

A shudder ran down her spine that had nothing to do with the wind whipping through the trees. Staying close to Dean wouldn’t have been a hardship yesterday, but now she wanted space. She’d stay as close as she could if it meant getting into a house that could have the answers they were looking for.

Calvin dipped his chin. “Let’s do this.”

Calvin took the lead on the uneven pathway to the front of the house. She stayed half a step behind him.

“I’ll try knocking again before we let ourselves in,” Calvin said.

She nodded, although no one waited for her response before Calvin fisted his hand and pounded on the front door.

Seconds ticked by. Nothing happened. No sound. No shifting of the house. No answer to the persistent knocking.

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