Page 45 of Elsie's Strong Shelter

“Hi, Jackie. My name is Dean Kingston and I’m a private investigator. This is Elsie Sweet. We are looking into a case involving your son, Justin. Can we ask you some questions?”

Worry was clear as the blue sky on Jackie’s weathered face.

“We’re sorry to show up and spring this on you,” Elsie said, setting her forearm on the top of the fence. “We tried to call but could never connect.”

Sighing, Jackie leaned on the long handle of her garden tool. “Did he get himself into trouble? I swear, that boy’s the reason for all my gray hair. I thought sending him to live with my mom would be good for him but that doesn’t seem to be the case. You’d think at twenty years old he’d start getting his life together.”

“Have you spoken with him recently?” Dean took the spot beside Elsie and stood with his thumbs hooked in the front pockets of his jeans.

Jackie scrunched her nose. “Let’s see. It’s been a couple of weeks since we touched base. We don’t get great reception all the way out here, or at least that’s the excuse I get for him not calling me more.”

“When you spoke, did he mention anything about what he’d been up to in Water’s Edge?” Dean asked.

She shook her head. “He doesn’t tell me much. Never has. Always been more on the secretive side. He got that way after his daddy left when he was little. My husband, Paul, always tried to get him to warm up, build a relationship. But Justin preferred to keep to himself. And after the hurt his daddy caused, I never pushed him too much. Maybe I should have.”

“I’m sure you did the best you knew how.” Elsie understood the guilt that always accompanied making decisions for a child in your care. Mila often talked about her concern over choices she made for Jimmy, and Elsie too wondered if she did the right things for the little boy she loved so much.

Jackie smiled and rubbed a smidge of dirt from her cheek. “Thanks for that.”

“Everything all right out there, babe?” An older gentleman with a jawline as strong and broad as his shoulders stepped outside and climbed down the porch steps. His narrowed gaze landed on Elsie then Dean before it softened on Jackie.

“Yes, fine. Something’s going on with Justin and these investigators are here to ask some questions.” Jackie waited for the man to join her before continuing. “This is my husband, Paul.”

Paul gave a curt nod. “Is Justin in trouble?”

“Oh yes, you never mentioned what exactly happened to bring you all the way out here.” Jackie set the tool on the ground, opting instead to rest her hand on her husband’s arm.

Nerves twisted Elsie’s insides. She didn’t want to lie to this woman, but also wasn’t sure how much information was wise to share. Before she could decide how to respond, Dean cleared his throat.

“We have reason to believe that Justin was involved in some way with a man named Malcom Miller.”

Paul mumbled something under his breath.

Jackie slid her hand down his arm and fit her palm inside his. “I know that name. Justin met him when he was busing tables at a rest stop restaurant. Brought nothing but trouble to Justin’s door. I hate to think of what he’s gotten him into now. If you can find a way to get my boy away from him, I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

Wincing, Elsie shifted and dropped her gaze. She hadn’t given any thought to how hard it would be to face Justin’s mom. She believed Justin had hurt her friend and possibly killed a man. She hadn’t been prepared to drop that bomb on such a nice woman.

“What kind of trouble did Justin get into with Malcom?” Dean asked.

Jackie shrugged. “Stealing, lying, picking fights. He’d come home with black eyes or a busted lip. Always had new fancy things but no job to pay for anything like that. I asked a lot of questions he never wanted to answer. I always had a feeling he had his hands in something illegal but couldn’t prove it. Didn’t know how to fix things.”

“You tried everything you could think of.” Paul pressed a kiss to her temple. “Do you think Justin’s with Malcom now? What kind of trouble are they in?”

“We believe Justin is involved in a missing person’s case,” Dean said. “It’s important that we find him as soon as possible.”

“What? No. No way.” Jackie pressed a hand to the base of her throat. “He may have strayed off the right path a little, but he wouldn’t hurt anyone. I’m sure if you find Malcom, he’s the one in the wrong. The one who has the answers you’re looking for.”

Bile sloshed around Elsie’s stomach. She was about to play a part in wrecking this woman’s world. Dean had more experience in delivering this kind of news. She could stand back and let himtell Jackie what kind of trouble her son was in. But something about the fear in the woman’s eyes had Elsie taking the lead.

“We found Malcom this morning. Someone killed him.” Elsie kept her voice low and quiet, knowing each word was like a tiny bomb.

Jackie swallowed hard and kept direct eye contact with Elsie as if she were a lifeline. “You think Justin was involved?”

Elsie nodded. “We do. We also think he knows where my roommate is. She went missing a few nights ago, and her last known location was your mother’s house. We can’t be sure yet how her path crossed with Justin’s, but it’s clearer with each passing hour he’s involved.”

Jackie squeezed her eyes shut for a beat, and when she opened them again, tears shimmered at the corners. “Justin’s not a violent person. Never has been. I’m not blind to his faults, but he wouldn’t hurt anyone. Iknowhe couldn’t.”

Elsie’s chest tightened. “I’m so sorry to bring this to your doorstep. Maybe you’re right. Maybe Justin is as much of a victim right now as Mila. But we won’t know that until we find him.”

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