Page 56 of Elsie's Strong Shelter

“One second.” Dean searched for Mr. Sweet. He made a beeline across the grass to the parking lot, stopping Elsie’s dad before he climbed behind the steering wheel. “Mr. Sweet. You mentioned the abandoned mines in Cooper County. Do you know how to tell where they are on someone’s property?”

“The Department of Environment and Conservation have claimed ones on file, but there are dozens more that aren’t claimed.” Mr. Sweet’s eyes sharpened, his jaw tight. “Why?”

Dean held up a finger asking the man to wait. “One second. Calvin, look up maps on the Department of Environment and Conservation website. See if Jackie has claimed any mines.”

“Okay,” Calvin said. “Looks like there’s one on here. On the back edge of her property.”

A beat of hope pulsed along with his racing heart. “Meet me there.”

Disconnecting the call, he faced Mr. Sweet. Adrenaline pumped through his system and the need to alert Tommy and Sadie about what he’d just learned made him spit out the information to Elsie’s dad as fast as he could. “Thanks to you, we have a new lead and possible location. I’ll give you more details when I have them, but now I need to speak with the deputies. We need to get search parties together fast.”

“I’m going with you,” Mr. Sweet said.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“I don’t care what you think. That’s my daughter out there, and if I can do anything to help bring her home, I will.”

The quiver in Mr. Sweet’s voice matched the one threatening to take over Dean’s body. He wanted to argue, to save him from any more pain, but he understood Mr. Sweet’s need to act. Hell, he respected the man for it. “Okay. I’ll leave you to talk to your wife and meet you at the pavilion.”

He ran to where Sadie spoke with Tommy at the far end of the building. He waved an arm high over his head to grab their attention. “Call in as much backup as you can. I may have figured out where Justin would hide Mila and Elsie.”

Something skimmedacross Elsie’s cheek, calm and gentle. She struggled to open her eyes. Pain ricocheted around her skull. Her leg throbbed. Darkness kept her under its spell, refusing to let her wake. She was all right with that. In the dark, she could escape the agony tearing at her head.

Another touch against her face stirred her consciousness.

Dean?

No, his hands were larger, his skin rougher.

Jimmy?

No, he’d never tried to wake her so calmly. If he wanted her out of bed, he’d pester her with his endearing sass until she gave him what he wanted. Probably at the crack of dawn.

“Elsie, wake up.”

The gentle prodding tickled her awareness. Her eyelids fluttered open. Not much light filtered in, but enough to cause a jolt of pain that squeezed her eyes shut again. A cold breeze whipped across her body. She tried to curl into herself, to escape whatever hell waited for her, but her body wouldn’t cooperate.

“Please, Elsie. I don’t want to be alone anymore. I need you.”

Oh my God!

Elsie ignored the knife she swore stuck in the back of her neck and bolted awake. Her hands brushed against dirt and moist stones. Nausea pitched high in her stomach, but the tearful face hovering inches above hers made her forget every awful thing assaulting her senses. Joyful tears filled her eyes. “Mila! You’re alive.”

A tiny smile curved Mila’s dry, cracked lips. Dirt stained her cheeks. Mud and leaves matted into her hair, which hung limply around her shoulders. Long, red scratches streaked across her face. “Barely.”

Elsie ignored every ounce of agony licking through her body and lunged for her friend, pulling her into a fierce hug. The effort zapped her limited energy. “It’s you. It’s really you. I can’t believe it.”

For a brief moment, all the pain and terror melted away. She’d found her friend, and Mila was alive. Nothing else mattered. Together, they’d find a way out of this mess.

Mila melted against her, sobs shaking her shoulders. “I hate that you’re hurt, that you’re stuck in this hellhole, but I’m so happy to see you. I thought I’d die without laying eyes on you again. Without seeing Jimmy. My poor baby, he’s probably so scared.”

Wincing, Elsie pulled away but kept her hands secure in Mila’s. Wounds on her palms stung, but she couldn’t let go of her friend for fear she was only an illusion. “He’s worried, but he’s safe. What happened?” Her muscles screamed as she turned her head to study the space around her. Darkness engulfed nearly every inch, the hole above them allowing glimmers of moonlight to leak in. Dirt and rocks covered the ground, and wooden tracks led away into unknown parts of the cave.

Mila sank against the rough rock wall. “I’m not really sure. I stopped by to check on one of the women I used to care for.”

“Mrs. Pauly?”

Hissing out a sharp breath, Mila used her free hand to rub her temple. “Sorry. I haven’t eaten in days and the water I found is nearly gone. I alternate between violent chills and being so hot I can’t stand it.”

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