Kenna pressed her lips together. Jax and Javier Ryson did that man-hug, back-slapping thing and greeted each other like long-lost brothers. They’d known each other as well before she’d met Jax. In fact, Ryson was the one who’d connected them. Through a case, though. Not as a setup.
“Pregnancy is making me nostalgic.” She shook her head, unable to believe she was nearly crying again. “This whole thing is ridiculous.”
Ryson laughed. “Because you have feelings now?”
She shoved his shoulder. “Quick, talk about work.”
Ryson eyed her, an amused expression on his face. “I’d rather discuss why your vehicles look like you’ve been in a war zone.”
“You and everyone else we’ve met on the way here.” Jax shook his head. “But a rental wouldn’t have the armor plating Kenna’s life requires.”
Ryson grinned.
Kenna said, “Let’s get out of the cold and have a warm drink. You can fill us in on the search for Ellayna and her family.”
She strode to the RV and let Maizie and Zeyla in ahead of her. Or rather, she tried to. The two women wanted to say hi to Ryson first, so she wound up standing there holding the door open.
Their cat, Jolene, ever the intrepid adventurer who went everywhere with them. Mostly just so she could hide in the corner by the bed—on Jax’s side, of course. The cat chose now to emerge from the bedroom and stand by the door.
“No, no, baby. Don’t go outside.” Kenna shooed her back in and let the door shut behind her. She wasn’t able to drink caffeinated coffee right now, but she brewed a pot for the others and made herself instant that was decaf. It tasted good enough and smelled like the java her father had always drunk, so she found solace in nostalgia again. As soon as she could after the baby was born, she was going to have the biggest cup of coffee she could find. And then take an epic nap.
The others came in and settled at the table, but Jax came over and slid his arm around her. “Hey.”
She smiled. “Hey.”
He dropped a quick kiss on her lips, and she left him to finish the coffee. She took a seat in the passenger’s chair, which had been rotated around to face the back.
“Okay,” Kenna said. “What’s the word on Ellayna?”
Ryson shifted on the seat opposite from Zeyla and Maizie. He shook his head. “We can go to the house. I think you might want to see it, actually. But they haven’t been there in days. I went to Crystal’s work. She’s the receptionist for a tire sales company. They haven’t seen her at all this week, and she hasn’t called in. The kids haven’t been to school or daycare.”
“So, no sign of them in days?”
He nodded.
Kenna didn’t like the sound of that.
Maizie said, “I can check her bank activity, any credit cards. Can we get into their phones and see if they’re being used, or if we can get a location from those?”
Ryson said, “I’m going to see the judge about a warrant this afternoon.”
She knew that tone. “While we do what?”
“Crystal’s boyfriend works at a T-shirt printing company downtown.”
“You haven’t talked to him?” Kenna asked.
Ryson said, “He won’t talk to the cops. But I know for a fact that he’ll talk to you.”
Chapter Eighteen
Kenna stared at her friend. “You think he knows something?”
“If anyone can find out, it’s you.” Ryson took the full mug from Jax, who handed over hers at the same time.
“Thanks.”
Jax leaned against the closed door and sipped from his mug. “We need a rental car. Maybe two.”
