Page 65 of The Christmas Door

“You’re right. I’m sorry,” Luke said, sincerity etched into his words.

Her pace slowed, and she glanced around, not bothering to acknowledge his apology. “We’ve lost them.”

The street stretched empty ahead of them, snow settling over the footprints that should have been there.

“They could be anywhere,” she whispered. “We might need to call the police.”

Fear surged—but purpose cut through it.

Then her gaze lifted, an idea sparking like a match struck in the dark.

“Wait,” she breathed. “Darren said they mentioned going somewhere safe.”

Luke looked at her sharply. “And?”

“When I was talking to Eli earlier, he mentioned the abandoned church down the street, how it was safe?—”

“And he said his dad used to take him there.”

“Exactly,” Amayah said. “Do you think . . . ?”

“It’s worth a shot.” He paused. “Which church building is it?”

“The old Trinity Church.” She sucked in a shaky breath. “It’s still a couple of blocks away.”

Luke stared at her for one stunned beat. “Lead the way.”

Amayah started running.

Luke kept pace with Amayah as she broke into a run, boots crunching against the snowy sidewalk, breath visible in sharp bursts.

They turned a corner, the neighborhood growing quieter, older. Houses thinned out, replaced by darkened storefronts and boarded windows. Snow glowed faintly under streetlamps, reflecting off the frost that coated everything.

Amayah pushed forward with a determination he hadn’t seen in her before.

It was raw. Protective. Fierce.

They paused at a street corner, waiting for the light to turn so they could walk across.

“You sound like you’ve been to this church before,” Luke said.

Hesitation flickered in her voice. “Yes.”

The single syllable landed with weight.

Luke’s reporter instincts prickled.

He wanted to askwhy.

Wanted to askhow often.

But as the light turned, her pace quickened again.

“Amayah, what’s the connection?” he pressed. “Why that place?”

She didn’t slow. Didn’t look at him.

“I’ve been working with someone from the city,” she finally said. “Looking into the building. Trying to figure out what it could become.”