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“Okay.”

“I knew that something wasn’t right in that house since she was a kid. They were weird and always making her do shit that she didn’t want to do.”

“Do you know what kind of stuff?” Kay asked softly.

I looked down at Josh, his eyes told me that he knew. He knew what had gone on in that house but there was no way that he would tell us. Loyal to his girl. I respected him for that.

“Look, I know that it looks bad. Me and the good girl together. But I fuckin’ love her and some scumbag has taken her.”

I stepped closer the louder his voice got, it wasn’t that I thought he’d hurt Kay, I just didn’

t want a situation on my hands.

“Her dad is a fuckin’ weirdo and in bed with some seriously fucked up people. The only reason he called the cops in the first place is because I went around and demanded he tell me where she was.”

“You said that she lives with you?” I asked.

“Yeah, man, she has since she was fifteen.”

“And where is it that you live?”

“What do you wanna know that for?” Josh stood up, the guys he was with flanking him on either side.

I raised my brows at him. It didn’t matter how many of them that were here, they still wouldn’t be able to hurt me. “You wanna know when we find Lindsey?” I said, stepping forwards.

“Fuck, yeah,” he growled.

“Then we need to know how to get in touch with you.” I tapped Kay on the shoulder, silently telling her to stand up.

“Oh.” He frowned. “Does this mean that you believe me?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” I smirked.

“Shit, I dunno. ‘Cus I’m me?”

I took another step closer, only the table separating us as I looked him straight in the eyes.

“Know what I think?” I said, waiting for him to acknowledge me. “I think that you’re doing your best to protect the girl you love.” I shrugged. “There’s no shame in that.”

“Yeah, man. I just want her back home.”

I nodded, fully understanding him and listened as he told us how we could get in touch with him.

I smiled at Kay, pleased that she had suggested coming to see the parents. If we hadn’t have come here, then we wouldn’t have found out what we have. One thing was for sure, we had some more digging to do.

After a full week of investigating, not only Daley, but now Lindsey’s parents, it felt like none of us had stopped working.

On Saturday morning, me and Eli took Monty for a walk up to the clearing. He loved being in the woods almost as much as me and Eli did. He ran ahead but not too far, turning back around constantly to check that I was still there.

“Mama? Do you think Monty will be able to go on all of the stuff?”

“All of what stuff, sweetie?” I looked down at him, dragging a stick behind him.

“The wood stuff,” he said, like I should know what he meant.

“You mean the training equipment in the clearing?”

“Yeah!” He jumped up and down, the stick that he was holding flying out of his hands. “Will he be able to? I think he’d like it.” He was nodding his head emphatically and I couldn’t help but smile at how excited he was. He loved having a dog and they’d become fast friends, there was nothing like seeing the bond that they had.