Page 103 of Chasing Shelter

I did. More than that, I needed it. So, I laid out the situation to Dex, leaving out as many personal details as possible. I knew from Anson that Dex’s justice trigger got flipped when anyone hurt women. I didn’t know why; it was just that he wasn’t afraid to dip his toe back into those darker waters to help.

“Tell me the numbers the texts came in from,” Dex ordered.

I read them off one by one, hearing Dex’s keyboard in the background as I did.

“It’s software. All these numbers are coming from one software program, so it’s likely all the same person. I don’t have a lock on the IP address, but let me dig a little more. And get me the photos. I might be able to find something on those.”

“You got it.” I paused for a moment.

“Something else?” Dex pressed.

“Thank you. I really appreciate your help.”

It was Dex’s turn for silence. “Who is she?”

That was the million-dollar question. I went with the simple truth. “Someone important.”

He chuckled. “Town sheriff bites the dust.”

“Are you going to hack some stuff or sit around and gossip?”

“I can do both at the same time. I’m talented that way.”

“Goodbye, Dex.”

“Buzzkill,” he shot back.

I shook my head and ended the call.

“What’d he say?” Ellie asked. “I could only hear a few things.”

“The texts came from a software program. Like the kind that sends those political texts or spam bots. It’s probably all coming from one computer. Dex is going to try to find out where that computer is.”

Ellie nodded slowly. “It could be either of them. Neither are super techie, but they could’ve paid someone to do it. Philip’s assets are frozen, but I’m sure he has bank accounts in places the US government can’t touch, and Iknowhis lawyer isn’t opposed to handling his dirty work.”

I didn’t miss how Ellie had used her dad’s given name, creating more of that distance. I wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into me. “We’ll figure it out. I promise. You’re already on the drive-by list, but I’ll increase the frequency. And I think we need to get an alarm put in here. My brothers have used a great company called Anchor Security in the past. Anson’s friend, Holt Hartley, owns it and?—”

Ellie pulled back. “Wait, wait, wait. I don’t want to feel like I’m living in a prison. I just got out of that.”

The tension in my jaw was back. “We need to keep you safe.”

“If this person wanted to hurt me, don’t you think they would’ve done it already instead of sending photos? They want toscareme.”

She had a point. Right now, their game was fear. But when people like that didn’t get what they wanted, they did one of two things: They either found a new target, or they escalated.

31

ELLIE

“If you order evenone motion detector or laser beam, I will rearrange your entire closet and dresser. I will mismatch your socks and put your boxers in with your T-shirts,” I threatened as Trace pointed out to Anson a window he wanted better coverage for.

Arden stifled a laugh with a cough. “You know how to hit him where it hurts.”

Trace sent me a quelling look. “Nothing you or the demon dog can accidentally trip.”

Gremlin lifted his head from where he’d been snoozing on his dog bed as I narrowed my eyes. “Say no motion detectors or laser beams.”

He sighed and held up a hand in a Boy Scout salute. “I solemnly swear, no motion detectors or laser beams.”

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