Page 74 of Sleigh My Heart

He nodded, but his forehead crinkled.

“Jim called Liz when we were in the car. She’s a child advocate. Trust me, there is no one better to be with your child. I can’t wait to see them with their own someday. She’ll take your father over to pick up Ava and then stay with them until you get back. Ava met her on cookie day.” Her words tumbled out at a high rate of speed. No doubt, trying to assure him his daughter would be safe.

He watched the concern in her eyes. She’d thought of Ava, her wellbeing. His chest warmed at her actions. “I trust you. I’ll call the dance studio so they know what’s going on.”

After he talked to the instructor and his father, Nick turned on the television. She glanced over her shoulder from her lookout at the window. Her brow rose.

“We might as well make it look like he’s home.”

She gave a nod. He dropped the remote on the coffee table then moved to the window on the opposite side of the room. He checked his watch.

Michelle dropped the blind. “I’m going to check the other windows.”

“You won’t find anything in his drawers.”

She stopped mid-step. “You searched the house while I was out?”

He shrugged. “I’m not a cop. And he gave us the keys.”

“He gave the police the keys.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“Were you going to snoop?”

She frowned. “Yes, but that’s not the point.”

He smirked. “What is?”

A frantic rap on the door had Michelle putting her finger to her lips and her hand to her holster.

Nick reached for his concealed weapon but didn’t pull it out.

“Cliff, it’s me. Open the fucking door. We gotta get out of here.” More knocking accompanied the words.

“Junior,” she mouthed and relaxed her stance. Crossing to the door, she pulled it open. “Where are we going?”

Chapter 19

Junior fidgeted, his knees in constant motion. “I didn’t do anything. I just came to see Cliff.”

“Just like Cliff came to see you the night at the bar?” Michelle leaned back against the wall and crossed her arms.

“I, uh. I was just wondering how he was doing.”

Nick stood at Junior’s side, one hand on his shoulder, anchoring him. They really should give Junior some room, but if Nick hadn’t pulled him in the trailer when she opened the door, Junior would be across the river by now. “So.”

He cut his gaze from her to Nick and back. “What?”

“You haven’t asked how Cliff is doing?”

He swallowed. His whole body wiggled in the chair. “How is he?”

“Naw, it’s too late to play the sincere-friend card. Where were you going?”

Junior gnawed on the edge of his lip.

“And don’t claim it was a planned trip. PTO is blocked this week.” Nick flexed his fingers on Junior’s shoulder.

The man rolled in on himself. “Fine. I might as well go back to jail. I’m a dead guy if I stay in Ashwood.”