Page 50 of Elsie's Strong Shelter

Jimmy took off like a rocket, Elsie, and Mrs. Sweet on his heels.

Mr. Sweet hung back and studied Dean’s face. “What was that look?”

“What Jimmy said.” Dean scratched the back of his neck as his stomach tied in knots. “Hit a little too close to home.”

“What do you mean?” Mr. Sweet stared in the direction of his family, giggling as they leapt onto the swings and catapulted themselves in the air.

Dean debated how much to say, but if he were in the other man’s shoes, he’d want to know every piece of information uncovered. “We think Mila somehow stumbled upon a man who’s involved in an illegal gambling ring—high stakes poker. Saw something she shouldn’t.”

“Sonofabitch,” Mr. Sweet said, letting his eyes fall shut for a second. “That lovely girl. She’s been through so much in her life. She doesn’t deserve more pain.”

Boo whined and tugged at the leash, leading Dean toward the play area.

Mr. Sweet walked beside him, his hands shoved in the pockets of his fleece jacket. “Is there anything at all you can tell me? Not knowing is eating me alive. I thought losing my son was the worst kind of pain, but as much of a nightmare as hearing about that car accident was, at least we knew he wasn’t suffering. But with Mila…” The older man’s voice cracked and he stopped, hanging his head.

Dean rested a hand on Mr. Sweet’s shoulder. “I wish I had more to tell you. I really do. All I can say is we’re doing everything we can. Tracking every lead.”

“And still no idea where Mila is?”

“No, sir.” Dean shook his head. “Elsie and I even drove out to Cooper County this morning to speak with the main suspect’s mother. We hoped she’d have some idea of where her son may be hiding, but we came up empty.”

Mr. Sweet let out a long sigh. “Dear God, I hope no one took her out that way. We’d never find her.”

“Why do you say that?”

“That’s mining country. Lots of land. Lots of shut-down mines. Lots of places to hide…”

Mr. Sweet didn’t have to finish his sentence for Dean to understand his fear. If someone took Mila to a labyrinth of old mines, they might never find her body.

Elsie grippedthe linked chains of the swing and pumped her legs back and forth. If she closed her eyes and focused on the cool breeze on her face and the sound of Jimmy’s laughter, she could almost pretend today was an ordinary day.

But soon the tears would come back along with the crushing pain of leaving Jimmy, not knowing if they’d ever make his world right again.

“Elsie, will you push me? Please!” Jimmy’s innocent little voice sang out.

“Sure.” She dragged the toes of her tennis shoes against the mulch to slow herself, then hopped off. “Mom, do you need me to push you, too?”

Her mom chuckled and kept her steady motion on the swing beside Jimmy. “I think I’m fine but thanks.”

Elsie gently pushed against the small of Jimmy’s back, lifting him a little higher in the air.

He kicked his legs and giggled. “Higher. I want to go higher!”

“Any higher and you’d go over the top of the swing set.” Her mom clicked her tongue, somehow managing to keep her voice stern and serious.

“That’s not true,” Jimmy said. “But I want to do something else anyway. Watch me jump.”

Elsie slowed his momentum enough so she wouldn’t have a heart attack when he catapulted himself into the air and landed on his feet.

He took off running toward the twisty slide.

“Wait,” Elsie said. “Something fell out of your pocket.” She jogged to the red, plastic whistle he’d left behind. Picking it up, she aimed arched brows at her mom. “S’mores, a dog in his bed, and whistles? He really did get spoiled yesterday. Unless you and Dad now enjoy loud, piercing noises that blow out your eardrums.”

Her mom slowed to a stop and offered a sad smile. “Anything to make him happy. Go ahead and place that in my purse. It’s over there on the bench.” She nodded toward a wooden bench at the end of the playground, shadowed by large trees.

She flipped the whistle between her fingers. She loved her parents so darn much. Always so selfless and full of love. She hoped one day she found a partner who exuded the same qualities her mom and dad lived by.

Maybe she already had.

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