Through the window, she watched the light fade from the sky. Darkness crept in earlier and earlier this time of year.
She’d always hated having fewer hours of daylight.
She jumped when Caleb’s phone buzzed on the table.
He glanced at the screen, then stood abruptly. “It’s Sheriff Sutherland.”
He stepped into the hallway, and Millie strained to hear his side of the conversation.
“Yeah . . . Uh-huh . . . Now? . . . Okay. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
When he returned, his expression was unreadable. “I need to go to the station. The sheriff has something he wants to share, but he says he wants to tell me in person.”
Max looked up from his plate. “Want me to come with you?”
“No. I need you to stay here. Keep an eye on things.” Caleb’s gaze swept the room, landing briefly on Millie. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Her heart pounded harder. Those words were meant for her—meant to offer reassurance.
She wanted more than anything to have a moment alone with him. To hear his reassurances. To thank him.
But that wasn’t an option right now—or a good idea.
Naomi nodded. “We’ll be fine.”
Caleb grabbed his jacket and keys, then disappeared out the front door.
Millie sat frozen, her hands clenched in her lap.
She was anxious to hear the update.
Yet she had no choice but to wait. In the meantime, she hoped Naomi might let her watch the security camera footage more.
Maybe they’d missed something.
Either way, she needed to keep herself busy.
The drive to the station felt longer than usual.
Caleb’s mind raced with every mile he traveled, cycling through possibilities.
What did the sheriff know?
Had they found Valentina? Had her fake ID given law enforcement a new lead? Or maybe they’d tracked down Garrick? Uncovered something about PI Ed Lowen’s murder?
Or was it something worse?
His hands tightened on the steering wheel.
Starting the shelter had seemed like the right thing to do. A way to honor his sister’s memory. A way to use his training, the property, his resources to help people who had nowhere else to go. To honor God’s calling in his life.
But now?
Now he wondered if it had been a terrible mistake.
How could he keep people safe when there had been so many breaches? A murder on the property. An attack on Max. Women living under fake identities. Threats circling closer and closer.
Maybe this had been a terrible idea. Maybe he wasn’t as equipped as he thought.
