Chapter 17

17

E lsie’s heart threatened to explode with joy even as fear for Mila stayed rooted in her soul, a dizzying combination that was becoming all too familiar.

And as much as she wanted to forget everything except Dean’s confession and the look on his ex-wife’s face, they had more pressing issues waiting for them.

Stepping outside, Dean turned her toward him. “I hope what I said didn’t scare you, but I needed to be very clear with Gina. I didn’t want to leave any doubt on where things stood on my end.”

“Are you serious? Everything you said, the way you described me, I don’t even know how to explain how much that meant.” Heat climbed up her neck. No one had ever made her feel so seen, so appreciated, and he’d done so with only a handful of words. “No, nothing you told Gina scared me. Only made me realize what an idiot I’d been earlier to think the worst of you. I’m sorry.”

He tucked his thumb under her chin. “You have nothing to be sorry about. Neither of us could have predicted Gina showing up at my house like that. I would have thought the same as you if I’d walked in on your ex laying one on you. Which, just for the record, is not something I ever want to witness.”

She grinned. “Seeing as the only ex-boyfriend I have is happily married with a baby on the way, I don’t think you need to worry.”

“Good. And listen, I know your mind is centered on Mila. I don’t want to push you. We can take this as slowly as you want, however you want. You’re worth waiting for.”

Lifting onto her toes, she pressed her lips to his. Excitement stirred in her gut, but she broke away before their sweet kiss morphed into a hot make-out session in the middle of town. “I’ve never been a patient woman. Yes, things are all out of whack right now and my attention needs to be on Mila, but that doesn’t mean I can’t think about you, too. Besides, I need to give Mila some good stories when she gets home.” She forced the last words from her mouth with a tight smile. Hope was harder to cling onto with each passing hour, but she had to believe they’d find Mila. The alternative was too devastating to handle.

“Okay,” he said, grinning. “I’ll call Calvin quick to get information on Justin’s mother and then give her a call. Then we can sit down and talk about us. Sound good?”

She nodded, although talking wasn’t exactly high on her list of things she wanted to do with Dean. Her mind wandered back to earlier, before they’d been interrupted. Being in his arms, his mouth on hers and his hands all over her body, had felt so right. And after days of pain and worry, she just wanted to be loved.

While Dean called Calvin, she studied the river that trickled along beside her. The constant gray clouds of the last few days had dissipated, leaving behind a clear blue sky. She leaned against the railing separating the sidewalk from the grassy incline that led down to the water. Something about the gentle gurgle of the rushing stream calmed her nerves and reminded her life was always moving, always changing. A sign from above that no matter what, she would be okay and figure out how to move forward.

Her phone rang in her pocket, jolting her back to reality. She hurried to retrieve it, and her chest tightened at the sight of her mom’s photo on her screen. “Hey, Mama,” she said, answering. “How are you?”

“Hanging in there. Any news?” The tightness of her mother’s voice gave away her worry.

An internal war waged. She wanted to confide in her mom, but also didn’t want to add to her stress. Nothing they’d learned had given them any clue on how to actually find Mila, and everything they’d found pointed toward an outcome nobody wanted to accept.

An outcome that would destroy her mother.

“There’ve been a few developments. Dean keeps telling me each new piece of information is pointing us in the right direction, even if it doesn’t feel like it.” At the mention of Dean, she glanced up to find him disconnecting his call with Calvin.

Her mom sighed. “Jimmy’s getting antsy. He’s worried about his mom and missing you. Any chance you could drop by? Maybe we can find some way to keep him occupied.”

Guilt burrowed into the pit of her stomach. She’d been so consumed with finding Mila she hadn’t stopped to consider how Jimmy was handling things. Yes, she wanted to help in any way she could, but Mila would want her to be there for Jimmy.

“Let me check on something really quick.” She lowered her phone and cupped her palm over the speaker so she could talk to Dean without her mom overhearing. “My mom’s asking if we can spend some time with Jimmy.”

“Absolutely. Just let me know when and where.”

His immediate agreement warmed her down to her toes. “What about Justin Pauly’s mom?”

“Calvin’s tried getting ahold of her, but she hasn’t answered her phone. He gave me her address if we want to check it out while he’s tracking down another lead. She lives over in Cooper County, about forty minutes from here.”

“I want to go there first and hear about whatever leads Calvin’s looking into.”

Dean nodded.

Plan made, she lowered her hand and refocused on her mom. “How about we meet you after dinner? The sun’s finally out. We can get Jimmy outside and maybe help him burn off some energy. Give you and Dad a little break.”

“We can get him ice cream,” Dean mouthed.

She couldn’t fight her grin as she rolled her eyes. She wasn’t sure who that treat was for, Dean or Jimmy.

“Sounds good,” her mom said. “Your dad and I could use some of that fresh air as well. We’ll meet you at the park close to downtown Pine Valley. It’ll do us all good to lay our eyes on you.”

“We’ll see you then.” Disconnecting, she returned her phone to her pocket and straightened her shoulders. “All right. Let’s go.”

The sun rose in the sky on the drive to Cooper County, the streaks of light setting the colorful leaves of the tree-covered mountains ablaze. Dean had his window cracked to let the crisp air circulate in his truck. A strand of hair whipped around Elsie’s face, and she tucked it behind her ear.

“Do you want me to put up the window?”

She flashed him a smile. “It’s fine. It’s nice to get the fresh air, even if just a small bit. I’m actually looking forward to spending time with Jimmy and my parents later. Thank you for that.”

“Are you kidding me? It will be good for everyone, and besides, I miss the little guy.”

“Same, but until then, we need to stay focused. Do you think Calvin will get any information from the person he’s going to speak with?”

Dean shrugged. “You never know, but this is the only person we’ve connected with Justin besides Malcom. Calvin found him on social media. The two appear to have been friends pretty recently. Maybe the mom will know this guy or have other names to investigate.”

He followed the curve that hugged the side of the mountain. “Want to try calling Justin’s mom again? I’ve left a handful of messages. I wish she’d answer the damn phone.”

“Sure.” She held out her hand for his phone. After he unlocked it and handed it over, she scrolled to his recent calls. The quiet beats of classic rock weren’t loud enough to drown out the ringing that was interrupted by a voice message directing the caller to leave a name and number after the beep. Elsie disconnected before the recorded message ended. “No answer. Let’s hope she’s home.”

Following the voice of his GPS, Dean turned down a gravel driveway. “We’ll find out soon enough.”

A large yard stretched in front of a two-story farmhouse. A detached garage sat on one side of the house, a well-tended garden on the other. A woman in denim overalls and a wide-brimmed hat worked the land.

“Hopefully that’s her,” Elsie said, nodding toward the garden.

Dean parked his truck in front of the house and hopped out, meeting Elsie by the passenger door.

The woman stopped and shielded her eyes with her free hand, the other hand gripping a tall garden tool. He couldn’t make out her features, but the rigid set of her shoulders told him their arrival put her on alert.

“Do we walk over there?” Elsie asked.

He lifted a hand to wave. “Might as well.”

Elsie fell into step beside him. As they approached the fenced off garden, the woman removed her dirty gloves and erased the distance between them.

“Afternoon,” she said. “Can I help you with something?”

“Mrs. Thomas?” Dean asked, coming to a stop beside the dirty white fence caging in the rows of vegetables.

“That’s me, but you can call me Jackie.” Her voice was warm and sweet, but she couldn’t hide the tiny frown that broadcasted her unease.

“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 him tell 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. I know he 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.”

“I don’t know where he is,” Jackie said, lifting her shoulders to her ears. “I promise I’d tell you if I did. I’ll try to call him, try to find him, and then you’ll see. He’s not the one you should be after.”

“You should have my number on your phone,” Dean said. “Please call if you talk to him. Thank you for your time.”

“I’ll walk you to your truck.” Paul bent and whispered something in his wife’s ear then met them by the gate before walking toward Dean’s truck.

Elsie and Dean fell into step beside him.

“I’m sorry for upsetting your wife,” Dean said.

Paul glanced over his shoulder and sighed. “I’m not surprised someone has shown up to deliver this kind of news about Justin. The guy’s always been a troublemaker. Jackie knows he’s done some things he shouldn’t, but she’s his mom. She still has some blind spots. I’ve seen that boy’s temper.”

Elsie stopped at the side of the truck and steeled her nerves to ask her most pressing question. “Would he hurt a helpless woman?”

Paul’s jaw hardened, his eyes narrowed. “Honestly, I wouldn’t put anything past him.”