Page 126 of Chasing Shelter

In my bed upstairs.

Wearing the pajamas I’d worn two nights ago.

And whoever had taken them had been standing right next to my bed.

36

TRACE

I couldn’t takemy eyes off her, even when I should’ve been turning around and clearing out my SUV. Instead, my gaze was locked on Ellie Pierce. The way the late-afternoon sun hit her hair just so, making the red strands hidden beneath the brown flare to life. How the blond wove through it all, creating its own sort of rainbow. And those pale green eyes sparkling with amusement as she gave me hell.

But then it changed. One moment, she was teasing, and the next, her face lost all color. The life and mischief drained from those pale green eyes, and Ellie’s whole body started to shake.

I was running before I even knew why; all I knew was that I needed to get to her, had to make sure she was okay. It only took a matter of seconds to reach Ellie, but it felt like a lifetime, an infinity of unknowns and fears swirling in my mind.

By the time I skidded to a halt next to her, my lungs burned, and my heart pounded, making it feel like both could explode from my chest at any moment. But my gaze locked onto the items fanned out in Ellie’s hands. Photos. Of her. In her fucking bedroom.

But it got worse.Somuch worse. There were multiple shots, and on the last one, a gloved hand holding a knife reached out in front of the lens. Written on the photo in block letters was:COULD’VE SLIT YOUR THROAT AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3. GO HOME BITCH.

Blood roared in my ears as the panic set in. But I did everything I could to keep my voice even. “Ellie, slide the mail back into the mailbox but don’t shut it. Try not to touch anything more than you already have.”

If there were prints anywhere, we needed to be able to read them. Had to be able to find whoever had done this and nail them to the wall.

“Wh-what?” Ellie asked, her voice trembling as she blinked rapidly.

I placed a hand on her back, needing her to know I was there, that I was with her. That I had her back and always would. “Slide the mail back into the box. Nice and easy.”

My gaze swept the street, the houses all around. There wasn’t a damn thing out of place. A few families were getting home from school several houses down, but other than that, no movement.

Ellie’s hand trembled violently as she shoved the mail back into the metal box that somehow felt like an assault weapon now.

“That’s good,” I praised as I wrapped an arm around her and guided her toward the backyard. “Keels,” I called, still trying to keep my panic under wraps.

“Playing with Bumper, Daddy. It’s not time to stop yet, is it?”

My panic eased a fraction, and I breathed a little deeper. “Not yet.” Pulling my phone from my pocket, I hit Gabriel’s contact.

“I thought you were taking the afternoon to be with your girls. Why are you wasting time calling me?” he greeted.

“Need you to send squad cars and evidence techs to Ellie’s. Lights, no sirens. I don’t want to scare Keely.”

The sound of a chair shoving back came across the line, and I knew Gabriel was already moving. I heard him bark a handful of orders. “On our way. What happened?”

“Photos in her mailbox. Of her sleeping. Someone with a knife.” I didn’t want to give him any more than that. Didn’t want to put theimage in Ellie’s head again. “I need someone to clear the house, but I don’t want to leave Ellie and Keels.”

“Be there in less than five. Where are you?”

“Backyard.”

“On it.” And with that, Gabriel hung up.

I unlatched the gate to the backyard and guided Ellie through it. She didn’t speak or make a sound, but I could feel her trembling against me.

“Look, Daddy! Bumper loooooves my horn.” Keely ran around the yard pretending to headbutt invisible foes while Bumper danced around her. Barks sounded from inside, and I saw Gremlin pawing at the doors to get out.

“Keys?” I asked Ellie.

She didn’t answer right away, and that killed something in me.

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