Page 11 of Elsie's Strong Shelter

“You’ll need to come while Jimmy’s at school,” Dean cut in, thinking two steps ahead. Sadie and her fellow deputies probably already had a plan of what they needed to do and when, but the child’s well-being was of utmost importance.

Elsie squeezed his hand and stared up at him with watery eyes. “Thank you,” she mouthed, as if the words were lodged in her throat.

Her turmoil was like a weight on his chest, and he offered her a tight smile. This was why he was here. Not only to offer a hand in helping find Mila, but to support Elsie. She shouldn’t have to carry this burden alone.

“Of course,” Sadie said. “We can head back to your house now, if that works for you two. I’d like to see her room sooner rather than later.”

“We’ll meet you there in twenty minutes,” Dean said. He still needed to clean up and grab a shower. He could call Calvin during the drive back to town and explain the situation. He had a couple of cases he was juggling, but nothing Calvin couldn’t handle if he took off a day or two.

Sadie stood. “If you don’t mind, I’ll have Tommy meet us there. I’ve been awake all night and don’t want to miss anything. A second set of eyes is always good.”

Elsie nodded.

“We’ll see you soon.” Dean jumped to his feet and walked Sadie to the door.

He’d worked with a lot of great cops in his life, and Sadie was a damn good one. He had total faith in her, and knowing Tommy and Owen were on the case as well loosened the knot a bit in his stomach. The Wells brothers were a staple in Water’s Edge and law enforcement was in their blood.

Before Sadie stepped outside, he stopped her with a light touch on the arm. “Is there anything else you can tell me? Something to help Elsie feel a little better about all of this?”

“Trust me. I wish I had more information to share. I’ll see you both soon.”

He returned to the living room. Boo had jumped on to the couch and snuggled close to Elsie. She looked so small, so scaredon his oversized furniture. Her face ashen and pale, her eyes red and puffy. Her misery shredded his heart.

He needed to move quick to clean up and get back to Elsie’s place in time, but he couldn’t walk away from her yet. Crouching in front of her, he rested one hand on her knee while petting Boo with the other.

“This is so surreal,” she said, her gaze fixed straight ahead and voice barely above a whisper. “I can’t believe anyone would hurt her. That anyone would steal her from her family. It has to be a mistake. An accident. Some weird cosmic twist of fate that took her somewhere. Somewhere wehaveto find.”

He swallowed the logical response circling his brain. There was no reason to crush her hopes but statistically speaking, something bad had probably happened to Mila. “We’ll figure this out. Mila has a smart and dedicated team of sheriff’s deputies searching for her right now. I’ll talk to Calvin, and I know he’ll help anyway he can, and I won’t stop until we bring Mila home. I promise you, okay?”

She drew in a shuddering breath. “Okay.”

“Are you all right here with Boo while I get ready?”

“I’m good.”

Straightening to his full height, he ran a hand over his shaggy hair. He wished he could jump in the shower but there wasn’t enough time. Not only did he need to get them back to town, but he didn’t want to leave Elsie’s side for too long. Not right now when the bomb Sadie had dropped was so fresh.

“If you want water or something to eat, help yourself.”

She pressed a hand to her stomach. “I don’t think I could eat anything right now.”

“Understandable. I’ll be quick.”

He cast her one long look before hurrying down the hall to his bedroom. He had to steel his nerves and gather his thoughts if he was going to be of any use to Elsie right now. The last thingshe needed was him acting based on emotions and whatever this unshakeable attraction was between them.

No, he had to put a lock on the feelings she stirred inside him. Not just for her sake, but for his. Dealing with a missing persons case was something he could handle. Getting lost in Elsie’s big hazel eyes was not. Elsie Sweet was off limits, and he’d be wise not to forget it.

5

Elsie’s hands trembled as she took a step back and let the two sheriff’s deputies into her home. Funny how’s she’d seen Sadie and her husband, Deputy Tommy Wells, in their uniforms countless times but she’d never put much thought into the authority they held.

There’d been no reason to see them as anything other than friends.

But this was different. They entered her house—her sanctuary—with deep frowns and black duffle bags. Determination was clear with every stride, every movement, every calculated glance.

Tommy dipped his chin. His eyes were filled with concern. “Morning, Elsie. So sorry about this. We’ll be as quick as we can.”

She rested her palm on Boo’s head, grateful for his presence. Almost as grateful as she was for Dean standing behind her. “Take your time.”

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