Page 133 of Chasing Shelter

I wrapped an arm around her, pulled her closer, and looked up at Gabriel, waiting.

“Got a few updates for you,” he began. “First, Jasper was drinking with a friend after your little run-in at the elementary school. The friend alibied him, but we’re looking for corroboration.”

My back molars ground together, but I managed a nod.

“Heard back from someone at Philip’s correctional facility,” Gabriel went on. “The only people he’s talked to in the past two weeks are his lawyer and Ellie. Nothing else on the phone or computer logs.”

“His lawyer could be a go-between,” Linc said, his voice tight. Arden melted against his side and wrapped an arm around his waist.

Gabriel lifted his chin in Linc’s direction. “We’re looking into that the best we can.”

“Bradley?” Anson asked. And the way he did it told me his mind was leaning in that direction on the suspect list.

“That’s where things get interesting.” Gabriel flipped his notepad page. “The NYPD visited Bradley’s apartment. No one home. And the doorman said he hadn’t seen Bradley in a few weeks. Doesn’t think he’s been home because the mail’s been piling up.”

Ellie stiffened against me, and I pressed a kiss to her hair. “He can’t get to you. Not now.”

“Police went to his parents’ residence,” Gabriel continued.

Linc scoffed. “Can’t imagine Henrick and Helen were thrilled about that.”

Gabriel shook his head. “The detective I spoke to said Henrick Newbury was downright combative. But Helen Newbury was worried. She hadn’t spoken to her son in weeks either, and they usually talked every other day or so. We got a photo of Bradley. We’ll circulate that around town, but I think you should all take a good look, too.”

The Colsons all nodded and offered murmurs of agreement. Gabriel turned to Ellie. “Where do you want to stay tonight? We’ll put a detail on you until we find him and know for sure he’s the one responsible.”

“Holt and his team will be here tomorrow to install the security system,” Linc interjected. “But I think you should consider staying at Cope’s.”

Ellie looked up at me in question.

“I’m where you are,” I said. “Wherever you want to be, I’ll be with you.”

The tension thrumming through her eased a bit. “Here. I feel safe here.”

And hell if that didn’t make a shot of pride surge through me. I’d built a home that gave Ellie that.Igave her that. “Then we stay here.”

“It’s actually easier to cover this place than Cope’s, so that works for us, too,” Gabriel said.

“Hey, what’s wrong with my place?” Cope pouted.

Sutton patted his chest. “You built that monster mansion in the middle of nowhere, Hotshot. It would take twenty officers to surround it.”

“I hope that doesn’t mean you’re insecure because you’re lacking in other departments,” Lolli said, arching a brow.

Cope’s jaw went slack and then his face screwed up like he was a little sick to his stomach. “Did my grandma just insult my dick size?”

Kye clapped him on the shoulder. “Truth hurts, Puck Boy.”

Cope whirled to Sutton. “Tell them that’s not true.”

She instantly started laughing. “I am not telling your family you have a big dick. Sorry. That’s where I draw the line.”

“See,” Cope demanded. “She said it. Big dick.”

“I don’t know,” Rhodes said, lowering herself to the arm of Anson’s chair. “You kind of seem like you’re protesting too much.”

“If anyone has Big Dick Energy here, it’s me,” Lolli said with a smirk. “It’s rolling off me in waves.”

“That’s actually the pot smoke,” Kye offered.

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