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I didn’t argue with that tone in his voice. He was clearly on a mission, and I just hoped it had something to do with finding Elizabeth. I focused the best I could on answering all of the officers’ questions and gave them my contact information, then followed Justin out the door to his truck.
“Where are we going?” I asked as he sped us out of the lot.
“To campus.”
“To . . . why?”
He shot me a look that spoke volumes. It hit me like a ton of bricks that he didn’t trust Sofia, and I’d had her in my home. Left her alone with my child. Had I misjudged her somehow? Had I missed something?
“Justin, please,” I pleaded. “I can’t think straight right now. I need you to tell me what’s going on.”
“I’m following my gut,” he said, his gaze intense on the road. “It’s never steered me wrong before.”
I was almost afraid to ask. “And what’s your gut telling you?”
He didn’t respond, but my cell phone rang, interrupting us. I grabbed it out of my purse, praying it was news about Elizabeth.
“Hello?”
“Liv, you okay?”
I squeezed my eyes shut at Camden’s voice. “Not really.”
“What do you need from me?”
Tears leaked down my cheeks and I let them roll. “Get my baby girl back.”
“I would if I could. You know that.” His own voice was rough and choked up. “But you’ve got the best working on it. I trust Kade and his guys. Plus, I think Justin loves her as much as he loves you. He’ll hunt down whoever did this to the ends of the earth. I’d do the same for one of my girls.”
I glanced over at Justin’s stony profile, not sure what to say to that. “You know what, there is something you can do for me.”
“Name it.”
“Can you keep the family updated? I don’t have it in me to call everyone right now and...”
“I’m on it.”
“Thanks. I love you, Cam,” I whispered. “I gotta go.” I could see the campus gates approaching and I knew I needed to brace myself for whatever was coming.
“Okay. Love you too. Please promise you’ll call with any news or if you need anything. Anytime.”
“Okay.”
We hung up and a couple minutes later, Justin pulled onto the campus of Sam Houston State University and circled around in the direction of the student housing. When we arrived at Sofia’s building, I didn’t see her car, which was curious since she’d called out sick, but I didn’t say anything.
He parked and we got out, the crisp breeze spilling across my skin, nearly making me forget the reason we were there. He quickly came around and grabbed my hand, leading me up the walkway.
At her door, he pounded with three loud bangs while I looked around. Most of the kids must’ve been in class as the hall was empty, but the area was bright and open, a few students even decorating their landings with plants and cheery signs.
No answer.
Justin glanced around, then let my hand go to try the knob. It was locked, but he pulled out his pocketknife, got to work on the lock, and in seconds, it popped under his hand.
He inched open the door, peered in, then pushed it wide and ushered me inside before closing it behind us.
“Did you just... you pick locks too?” I muttered, shocked. “Is that a Navy SEAL thing?”
“Lots of things are,” he said, going to work, looking around the room, though I wasn’t sure what for, as he looked through desk drawers and rifled through books and journals.