Chapter 5

5

E lsie’s hands trembled as she took a step back and let the two sheriff’s deputies into her home. Funny how’s she’d seen Sadie and her husband, Deputy Tommy Wells, in their uniforms countless times but she’d never put much thought into the authority they held.

There’d been no reason to see them as anything other than friends.

But this was different. They entered her house—her sanctuary—with deep frowns and black duffle bags. Determination was clear with every stride, every movement, every calculated glance.

Tommy dipped his chin. His eyes were filled with concern. “Morning, Elsie. So sorry about this. We’ll be as quick as we can.”

She rested her palm on Boo’s head, grateful for his presence. Almost as grateful as she was for Dean standing behind her. “Take your time.”

Sadie set the duffle on the couch. She pulled out two pairs of rubber gloves and a large bag labeled Evidence then tossed a pair of gloves to Tommy.

A chill raced down Elsie’s spine.

As if sensing her unease, Dean took a step closer. “You’re okay,” he whispered in her ear.

She relaxed against him, needing his support now more than ever.

“We’ll start in Mila’s room,” Sadie said. “Do you mind showing us the way?”

Dread weighed her down with every step as she led the tragic parade down the hall. She pushed open Mila’s door. Keeping her feet rooted to the carpeted floor, she leaned across the threshold and flipped on the light.

“Thanks.” Tommy gave her a tight-lipped smile, firming the lines in his clean-shaven baby face.

Sadie walked past her and went straight to the nightstand on the side of the neatly made bed. She opened the top drawer with her glove-covered hand and shuffled through whatever she found inside.

Elsie wrapped one arm around her waist, propping her other elbow on her forearm so she could bite her thumbnail. “I don’t like this,” she whispered to Dean who stood beside her. “I understand it’s necessary, but it feels like an invasion of Mila’s privacy.”

“We don’t have to watch,” Dean said. “You can trust Sadie and Tommy.”

“I’d want Mila to watch if someone was digging though my stuff,” she said.

Done with the contents of the nightstand, Sadie searched under the bed. Apparently satisfied nothing of interest was there, she then folded down the comforter, smoothing her palm across the sage green sheets.

Elsie flinched. “What is she doing?”

“They need to make sure nothing was hidden under the blankets. They’ll probably search under the mattress as well. They need to look at any place Mila could have hidden personal items. Things she might not want Jimmy or even you to find.”

As if Sadie had heard Dean’s explanation and wanted to prove him right, she grabbed the edge of the mattress and hoisted it into the air. “Tommy. Can you give me a hand with this?”

“Okay. That’s enough for me. I can’t stand here and watch any longer.” Elsie brushed past Dean toward her own room and sank onto the edge of the bed. She dropped her head into her hands. She wanted to cry, to scream, to pull at her hair in frustration. But what would be the point? It wouldn’t help find Mila. It’d just keep her in the same damn place, with the chance of making her look a little crazy in the process.

“Is it okay if I come in? Or would you rather have a few minutes alone?” Dean asked.

“Come sit,” she said, her face still buried in her palms. The mattress dipped beside her, and the feel of his strong body steadied her. Made her feel a little safer in this chaotic world she’d stumbled into.

Boo whined and leapt onto the bed beside her.

Flanked by the two protective and supportive beings, she steadied herself as best she could and dropped her hands to her lap. “I hate just sitting around and waiting. I want to help find Mila and bring her home.”

“Then let’s figure out how to make that happen.”

“Really?”

He lifted a shoulder and slid his lips to the side. “That’s why you called me right? Because I’m a private investigator who knows how to handle this type of investigation.”

She forced a smile. Yes, Dean had all kinds of experience with locating people and closing cases, but that hadn’t been the main reason she’d reached out to him.

If she was being honest, even with only herself, in her darkest hour Dean was the person she wanted by her side. She could have called Jenna, who would have roped Calvin into helping, but that’s not who she’d needed.

She’d needed Dean.

“You’re right. What can we do that the police aren’t already doing?”

“Let them talk to Mila’s boss and handle warrants for speaking with the clients she saw last night. HIPPA creates a lot of red tape that’s impossible for a civilian to get through. I think we should track down Mrs. Pauly.”

As much as she appreciated that he’d believed not only Jimmy, but her defense of the little boy’s memory, seeking out an elderly woman that used to be on Mila’s client list didn’t seem like a plausible lead. “Do you think this woman hurt Mila?”

“No, but she may be the last person who saw her. If she stopped by after her last shift to check in, Mrs. Pauly might know where she went after.”

Elsie struggled not to roll her eyes. “We’ve been over this. She was coming straight?—”

He held up a hand to stop her. “I know. Straight home for girl talk. But if she made a pit stop at Mrs. Pauly’s, she may have planned to stop somewhere else quickly before heading home. Maybe she wanted a certain snack or brand of wine so told Mrs. Pauly she hoped she’d find a store open that late. Or maybe she wanted to fill her gas tank and mentioned she hated stopping at a gas station at night. Any small tidbit that may have been said could lead us somewhere we may have never expected.”

“I never would have looked at it like that.”

He bumped his shoulder against hers and winked. “Which is why you’re an amazing business owner but don’t work as a PI.”

She couldn’t help but smile. “True. Are you sure you have time to spend on this today? You do work as a PI, and I don’t want Calvin upset. Or for you to neglect paying customers.”

All hints of amusement left his face. “Calvin will understand. You’re more important than anything else I have in the works. I’m here with you until this is over.”

Excitement tingled inside her for a brief moment before she stomped it out. Mila was missing and most likely in danger. Now wasn’t the time to get swept away by sweet words, even if they were coming from the man she’d had a crush on for the past few months.

“Thank you. So how do we find this mysterious Mrs. Pauly?”

“Are you two talking about Maxine Pauly?” Tommy stood in the doorway, his brows knit in confusion.

“Do you know her?” Elsie asked.

“Sure. She lives in Water’s Edge, close to downtown. She was a good friend of my grandma’s.”

Hope scooted Elsie to the edge of the bed. “Does she have health issues? Would she need a home health aide to take care of her?”

Tommy scratched his chin. “She’s pretty old, and lives alone. Now that you mention it, I remember my pappy saying she’d suffered a stroke last year. Would make sense she might need a little help.”

Elsie straightened. Maybe this investigation stuff wouldn’t be so difficult after all. In a matter of seconds, they’d figured out who Mrs. Pauly was and where she lived. She only hoped that finding Mila would be just as easy.

Dean parked his truck outside Mrs. Pauly’s house and shut off the engine. The small home had a square concrete stoop, white siding, and one car garage. Flower boxes housed deep purple and orange mums, and a vertical sign beside the door announced Welcome .

“No car in the driveway,” Elsie said. “Do you think she’s home?”

He shrugged and unfastened his seatbelt. “Her vehicle could be in the garage, or she might not even have one. After having a stroke, she might’ve given up her license.”

He’d called Calvin on their way into town to get some information on Mrs. Pauly, and to give his friend an update on Mila. Calvin’s quick search had pinpointed her address, as well as given them a little background on the woman. And at eighty-nine, he doubted she was bopping around town in the early afternoon.

Elsie stayed frozen to the leather seat. “Why am I nervous? It’s not like I think we’re going to walk in and find Mila bound in the kitchen.” Her attempt at humor was cut off by a silent sob. She shook her head and sniffed back tears. “Sorry. This is all just so weird. I don’t know what to say or how to act. I don’t even know how I’m putting one foot in front of the other.”

Facing her, he hooked his arm on the back of the seat. “There’s no wrong or right way to act in a situation like this. You’re doing great. You’re strong, Elsie. Using your brain and your resources in a difficult time to help find your friend. Not everyone is as brave.”

“I don’t feel brave. I feel… lost.”

“Hey, look at me,” he said, ducking his chin so they were eye to eye. “You don’t have to feel brave to be brave. Just keep doing what you’re doing, and I’ll be beside you every step of the way.”

She let out a long breath. “Let’s go.”

He jumped out of the truck and was greeted by a rush of cool wind. The breeze filtered through the trees and added to the melody of the day.

Rushing to Elsie’s side, he rested the tips of his fingers on the small of her back as they walked up to the weathered door. Touching her was beginning to be like second nature. He should drop his hand, take a step back, but her body pulled him to her like a magnetic force.

At the front door, he lifted his fist and looked at her for the go ahead. “Ready?”

She gave one decisive nod.

He knocked twice.

“Come, on,” Elsie said, urging on the woman they hoped was inside.

A few seconds ticked by then the sound of shuffling reached his ears moments before the door squeaked open. A short woman with flowing gray hair, leaning her weight on a bedazzled cane stared up at them behind thick, wire-framed glasses. “Hello, there. Can I help you?”

“Afternoon, Mrs. Pauly. My name is Dean Kingston, and this Elsie Sweet. Can we borrow a few minutes of your time?”

“Well sure. Why don’t you step inside? Standing here will let the cold air in and it’s not so good for these old bones.” Before they answered, she turned away from the door and slowly made her way to the recliner in the living room.

Dean waited for Elsie to step inside before following. The door shut behind him. A velour couch pressed against the wall mirrored the loveseat across from it. Both nearly identical to the set his grandparents had owned when he’d been a child. Framed photos littered the walls, and knick-knacks covered the mismatched stands that made the small space suffocating.

Elsie moved further into the room but stayed on her feet. “Thank you for agreeing to speak with us. I’m Mila Kinsley’s roommate.”

Delight lifted Mrs. Pauly’s face. “Oh, Mila. I just love that girl. How is she?”

“She’s missing.” Elsie’s voice cracked, broadcasting her emotion.

“Oh my.” Mrs. Pauly’s hand fluttered up to cover her mouth.

“That’s why we’re here,” Dean said. “We know she kept coming by to visit you, even after you severed ties with Hometown Healers. Did she stop by last night? We thought maybe she decided to see you before coming home.”

“You’re right, she does stop by from time to time, but not last night.”

Elsie’s shoulders dropped.

Disappointment pressed on Dean’s lungs, but he wasn’t done yet. “When was the last time you saw her?”

Mrs. Pauly rested her shaky hand on the arm of her chair. “It’s been about a week. My grandson recently moved in so there was no reason for her to come care for me. Not when she has a little boy to look after. I always love to see her, enjoy our visits, but she doesn’t need to waste her time on an old woman.”

“I know for a fact she never looks at time spent with you as wasted,” Elsie said, leaning forward to squeeze Mrs. Pauly’s hand. “She spoke about you with Jimmy, her son. Told him all about you. She only talks about the most special people with him.”

Mrs. Pauly beamed. “Thank you for that, child. I hope with my whole heart you find her.”

“Before we leave, can you tell us if she ever discussed anything personal with you? Bad feelings or vibes she got from anyone? Other patients she looked after on her own time?” Dean doubted the older woman could give them much more information, but it was worth a shot.

A cloud of disgust tightened the lines of her wrinkled face. “We talked a little about her boy’s father.”

A small gasp came from Elsie. “Really? She hardly ever discusses Keith with anyone.”

Dean mentally slapped himself. How had he not considered Jimmy’s father? He didn’t know the history beyond the fact that the deadbeat wasn’t a part of his child’s life, but there had to be a reason for that. A reason that could point directly to Mila’s disappearance.

“She didn’t say much, but I understood her pain of being a single mother. The guilt and burden that come along from loving the wrong man. Other than that, she talked mostly about Jimmy. Or let me prattle on about my own life. Such a sweetheart.”

“Thank you again for your time.” Dean plucked a business card from his back pocket and laid it on the side table by the front door. “Please call me if you can think of anything.”

They said their goodbyes then walked back into the dreary day.

Elsie sighed and stared at the house, as if willing Mila to be there. “That was a waste of time.”

“Not at all. We know Mila brought up Jimmy’s dad. That’s an angle we haven’t discussed yet.”

Scrunching her nose, Elsie stepped off the stoop and walked back to his truck. “Keith’s an asshat but he left town years ago. It’s hard to imagine him randomly showing up and hurting Mila. What would be the point?”

“A lot of crimes don’t make sense. They just happen.”

She stopped with one hand on the door handle, eyes round and pinned on him. “A crime. That makes it sound so sinister. So dangerous. I hate this.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to be?—”

“Wait!” Elsie jogged around the front of his truck and made a beeline for a cluster of bushes on the edge of the property. A patch of red showed through the green leaves. She plunged her hand through the thicket and emerged with a long strand of red, silky material.

“What is that?” he asked, crossing to her side. “Fabric?”

She clutched the material in her fist and fire flashed on every inch of her face. “Mila’s scarf. She wore it to work last night. I don’t care what Mrs. Pauly said. Mila was here.”