Page 52 of Chasing Shelter (Sparrow Falls #5)

TRACE

Leaning back in my chair, I pinched the bridge of my nose. That convenient pressure point did nothing for me now as I listened to Gabriel walk me through the latest updates.

“How could he have dropped off the face of the Earth?” I ground out. “A camera somewhere should’ve caught him.”

“I don’t know,” Gabriel said. “Bradley’s got money and connections.”

I sat up at that. “Do you think the parents know more than they’re saying?”

Gabriel ran a hand over his stubbled cheek. “Hard to say. The dad, Henrick, told me to call his lawyer, so he’s ducking for cover. The mom, Helen, has called me no less than a dozen times to see if I’ve gotten any leads on her son. She seems genuinely worried.”

“So maybe the dad’s funding Bradley’s getaway,” I suggested.

“He wouldn’t need to. As far as I can tell, Bradley’s got plenty of money socked away. And like many people in that set, a significant amount of it is in Switzerland.”

I let out a sound of frustration. Some countries’ international banking laws meant tracing money in and out of those accounts was nearly impossible.

“We’ve got his picture circulating. Hotels, motels, rentals, and every place we can think of,” Gabriel assured me. “If he shows in Sparrow Falls or any of the towns in this county, we’ll know.”

Unless he’d changed his appearance or had a fake ID. But that wasn’t something I could control. All I could do now was stay vigilant and trust the people I had looking out for Ellie.

“What about Jasper?” I didn’t want to think about my father, let alone speak his name. But I needed to know that, too.

“Restraining order has been served. He has to stay at least one hundred yards away from you, Keely, Ellie, and Leah. It may be enough to send him back inside to finish his term. His parole officer is talking to the board, but if this temporary order becomes permanent, it definitely will.”

That was something, at least. Not nearly enough, but something.

“Thank you.” That wasn’t enough either, but it was all I could give Gabriel at the moment.

“There’s one more thing we gotta talk about,” my friend went on.

“Not sure I can handle one more thing ,” I admitted.

“Will.”

I cursed.

Gabriel tossed a copy of some paperwork onto my desk. “This was emailed to him this morning, notifying him of his termination.”

“We get a response to that?” I asked.

“Laney let me know that he replied with a number of expletives and a promise to call his union rep so he could, and I quote, ‘ fry our asses .’”

I grunted. “It’ll never come back on us.”

“Nope. You gave him too many chances, and multiple people witnessed his infractions. We’re good there.”

“I won’t miss having him around here.”

“Me either.” Gabriel glanced at the door as if he could see through it. “I think we should consider giving Fletcher Will’s desk. He’s been showing initiative, has attention to detail, and most of all, he doesn’t piss off everyone around him.”

I couldn’t argue with the points Gabriel made. “Do it.”

“All right, then. I’m going to?—”

Gabriel’s words cut off as my door flew open and Ellie filled the entryway—five foot seven inches of pissed-off glory. “Chief, you are so totally grounded.”

Gabriel tried to cover a laugh with a cough. “Told you she’d know before the day was out.” He pushed to his feet but stopped to whisper something in Ellie’s ear on his way out. I could just make out the words. “Go easy on him. He’s worried as hell about you.”

A little of the edge to Ellie’s anger eased, but she still had plenty of heat behind those pale green eyes as she stepped farther into my office and closed the door behind her.

“Ellie—”

“You said my life was my own.”

“It is. Doesn’t mean I’m not going to protect it. Keep it safe.”

“You need my permission for that.”

One corner of my mouth kicked up. “Apparently, I don’t.”

Those beautiful eyes narrowed on me. “I could make your life very difficult. I could fight you every step of the way. I could turn your organization upside down, undo your linen closet’s color- coding system, put the ketchup in the mustard’s spot, mess with your medicine cabinet’s alphabetized product arrangement.

I could make you live in blue-balled hell. ”

“I’m already in blue-balled hell. So are you.”

She let out a huff. “Too attractive and charming for your own good.”

“You’re so damn beautiful when you’re pissed at me.”

Ellie softened more. “You don’t play fair.”

“No, I don’t. Now, come here.”

“No.”

“Ellie.”

“No.”

“Please?” I prodded .

“Damn you,” she muttered but crossed to me.

The moment she was within arm’s reach, I pulled her into my lap. She landed with an oomph , and I curved my arms around her. “I’m sorry.”

“No, you’re not.”

“I’m sorry I made you feel like I was taking the choice out of your hands. I should’ve taken the time to make my arguments.”

Ellie leaned back in my hold so she could take in my face. “And you think you’d win that argument, don’t you?”

“I know I would.” I kissed the tip of her nose. “Because it’s the smart play. We needed someone inside the bakery in case the unexpected happened. Did Fletcher or Beth interrupt your workday in any way?”

“No,” she grumbled.

“Did they make you feel like you were under surveillance or living in a police state?”

This time, Ellie simply clamped her mouth shut, giving me her unspoken answer.

“They were getting paid to sip a latte and have a snack, catch up on some paperwork, and keep you safe . Is that really so bad?”

“Why do you have to be so dang reasonable?” she growled.

“It’s my superpower.” I brushed my lips across hers.

“Do you know how hard it was for me to leave you there this morning?” Empathy flooded Ellie’s expression.

“It was like walking away and leaving my heart right on the counter. It nearly killed me. But I did it because I don’t want to steal that sense of normalcy from you. ”

“Chief,” she whispered, nuzzling into me. “I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t think enough about how this might be making you feel.”

I pulled her tighter against me. “Well, this is why we talk things out.”

Ellie smiled against my neck. “That is very adult of us. Pretty sure this is a mature relationship or something.”

“Or something,” I said with a chuckle .

“I need to go back to The Mix Up. I stormed out and told Thea I was going to perform a citizen’s arrest.”

That had me laughing harder. “I’ve got cuffs on my belt. Feel free to use them.”

Ellie pulled back and quirked a brow. “I think I could be into that, Chief.”

“Good to know.” I kissed her, forcing myself not to take it deeper, and then helped her up. “Come on. I’ll walk you out.”

She started to argue and then stopped herself. “Thank you.”

I guided Ellie through the bullpen and out onto the sidewalk. While the temperatures were certainly dropping, the sun shone brighter than ever. “Pick you up in an hour?” I asked as Ellie started down the street.

“I’ll be the one with the badass security detail,” Ellie called back.

“Tell Beth you called her a badass. It’ll make her day.”

Ellie laughed. “Will do.”

The screech of tires had my head jerking up, trying to find the source of the sound.

A sedan with darkened windows but more than a little wear and tear on its body tore away from the curb a block down.

I reached for my radio to call it in to patrol when the vehicle veered off course.

Not taking off down the road but heading straight for Ellie.