Page 11 of Knight

My gut is something I’ve trusted since before I started this job. In the Army, it turned me away from an IED three times. Today, it’s saying Taylor isn’t here anymore, and it’s going to be a lot harder to find her than I thought it would be when this started. It says she didn’t know her kidnapper; he saw her at some point – whether it be at school, or with her family.

Another sigh breaks through as I reach forward, pulling my laptop closer. This is the mundane shit I knew would be part of the job, but didn’t necessarily plan for.

Pulling up the footage Laurel Springs High gave me, I settle in for what could be a very long afternoon.

Before I get started, there’s a knock at my door.

Glancing up, I grin. It’s the smiling face of my daughter. “Hey, Kels,” I give her a wave. “Where’s Ella?”

She rolls her eyes. “With her Daddy. He and D are showing her off.”

“Why isn’t D-Man in school?”

“Therapy appointment,” she says quietly, leaning in. “We’re starting to make some headway with what happened to him before we adopted him. I tend not to make him go back to school after an emotional session. Instead, we went and picked up Ella from daycare, got some ice cream, and now we’re coming to see y’all.”

“Well, it makes my damn day.” I hold my arms open, welcoming her in for a hug.

“How are things going with Taylor?”

“I wish I had some answers,” I mutter and shake my head. “But the fact of the matter is we’ve been chasing our tails since we were called out to their house. I’m fixing to spend a very long afternoon looking at some video footage.”

“Then you’ll love what I brought.” She reaches behind her, into the stroller.

When I can see what she’s holding, I dip my knees and groan. It’s one of those bougie coffees from Eden’s. They’re a vice, and I had to quit going and getting them myself because my work pants were starting to get tight. One thing I don’t do though? I don’t turn it down when someone else brings it to me. “You love me, don’t ya?”

“Sure do,” she smiles. “While I got you here to myself, have you noticed anything with Caleb and Ruby? I swung by there the other day… he was gone, and she was crying.”

The first drink goes down smooth and cool. I savor it for a few moments before answering my daughter. “There’s definitely something going on, but he won’t open up to me yet.”

“She wouldn’t either, but she was really upset – not like I’ve ever seen her before, either. I’m worried,” she admits as she bites on her fingernail.

I am too, but to her, I’m diplomatic. “They’re adults who know what their marriage can handle. If they need our help, they’ll let us know.”

“I guess you’re right…”

“Kels, don’t go making them confess to you when they don’t want to. It won’t end well.”

“I know,” she sighs. “Ruby’s one of the people I look up to the most, ya know? I don’t want to see her hurting.”

“I don’t either, but I think we need to respect their space until they ask us not to.”

She nods, a frown marring her face, before splitting into a grin. D comes into view carrying his little sister.

Carefully setting my frosty coffee cup down, I hold my hands out. “Gimme that girl.” Ella’s kicking feet and toothless smile makes everything better. I make a noise and tickle her stomach, getting rewarded with a squeal. “She’s happy today, huh?”

“She had ice cream. I mean we’re all happy when we have ice cream,” D replies and folds his arms as he leans against my desk.

“True that.” When I look up again, my office is crowded with Nick and Caleb. “Since I got all y’all here, your mom wants to have a cookout this weekend. She’s tore up about this Taylor situation, and it’d do her some good if we could get some family time.”

“Aren’t we all on mandatory overtime?” Caleb argues.

“Not after tomorrow. The city commissioner is cutting it out. We’ll keep doing what we can, and the FBI will remain here throughout the month, so there’s no reason for you not to make an appearance. It’ll make your mom happy.”

Caleb scowls, but mumbles his agreement under his breath before walking away. Nick looks at me, making a motion with his hand to not mention it. He mouths he’ll talk to me later, and I take him at his word. Turning to face D, I tag him on the chest. “If you want, after we’re done eating, we can head out and take a driving lesson.”

“In your Jeep?” he grins.

“In my Jeep,” I confirm.

---