Page 20 of Skate the Line

My fingers fly to my mouth. I turn around and try to find a key somewhere, but there’s nothing around except a Chicago Blue Devils night-light plugged into the outlet along the hallway wall.

“Okay, don’t worry,” I say through the crack of the door. “Grumpy Ginny is gone.” I try to lighten the mood tomaybemake her feel a little less scared. “I’ll get you out, Rapunzel.”

“Rapunzel?” she gasps. “That’s not my name.”

“Haven’t you ever heard the story of Rapunzel? The old witch locks her away.”

“My name is Ellie,” she says.

Instead of looking for the key or for tools in this mansion-like home and leaving Ellie alone, I open up my crossbody and pull out my debit card. While sliding it in between the doorjamb and lock, I continue to talk to her.

“Hi, Ellie. I’m Sunny. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Are you my daddy’s friend?” She pauses. “Because he doesn’t really have friends.”

I laugh out loud and continue working with my debit card.

“And I’m not supposed to talk to strangers.”

The lock finally gives, and I use my elbow to turn the doorknob while pushing the door in. “Whew,” I blow out a breath and nearly tumble on top of Rhodes's daughter.

Her eyes are wide with fear, but all it takes is one smile from me, and her shoulders relax.

“Are you okay?” I get down on her level.

Her lip wobbles, and my heart aches.

“I’m okay,” she answers softly.

Oh. She’s a tough one. Her chin dips as she tries to hide her emotions, and I give her the grace she needs until she pulls herself together and meets my eye again.

I hold my hand out. “Hi, Rapunzel. I’m Sunny.”

Her eyebrows fold in on themselves, and a little giggle falls from her mouth. “I’m not Rapunzel! I’m Ellie.”

I smile at her, and she does the same.

“What do you say we go down to the kitchen for a little midnight snack, and you can tell me all about that evil witch who locked you in here.”

Her pretty eyes linger on me for a few seconds, like she’s trying to figure out if she wants to trust me.

Eventually, she gives in to the thought and slips past me. I let her take the lead because, after being locked inside her bedroom, I’m certain she’s a little distrusting.

That’s something she and I have in common.

Ten

RHODES

The flight dragged.

It was an hour-and-a-half, but somehow it seemed like ten hours.

I didn’t even say goodbye to my teammates. I practically ran to my truck and took off without even letting the engine warm. I blew past several yellow lights that had turned red at the last second and put the pedal to the metal. My door barely shut as I parked on the side of the street and rushed up the concrete stairs.

Ginny didn’t answer my phone calls, which was one of my strictest stipulations before I left. I knew that Ellie wasn’t particularly thrilled to have her as a nanny, but she isn’t happy with any of the nannies. Half the time, she speaks in broken Russian, just to confuse them and to irritate me.

“Ellie?” My voice echoes throughout the entryway. I glance down and see a light-pink suitcase near the door and a pair of tennis shoes kicked off to the side.

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