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“Nice to meet you both.” Steven shakes our hands, and I notice his palms are damp.
“They’re here to talk about Kristen Stable,” Pastor Green says, and once more I pull up the photo on my cell for him to look at—though I know I don’t need to. He recognized her name, and if the loss of color in his features is anything to go by, he knows something.
“I knew her.” He clears his throat. “How can I help?”
“Your uncle mentioned she attended your youth group.”
“She did, every Wednesday evening and Sunday after church.” He moves to stand next to his uncle, putting the desk between us. “She would come with Livy and Isabel. The three of them were close.”
I nod. “Was there anyone she had an issue with?”
“No,” he says instantly. “Everyone gets along.”
“Do you know why the girls stopped spending time together or why she stopped attending youth group and church?” Miles asks.
“She never told me, but Livy and Isabel said Kristen started hanging around a girl at school who was.” He rubs his lips together. “Troubled.”
“Sometimes, the sheep wander away from the flock,” Pastor Green inserts with a disappointed shake of his head.
“Isn’t it your job to lead them back?” Miles asks, and Pastor Green’s jaw tenses.
“Can we get a list of all the kids who attend youth group?” I ask, breaking into the stare-down between the two men, and Pastor Green focuses on me before looking up at his nephew.
“Of course, do you have an e-mail address?” Steven asks, and I hand him over my card as I stand, and Miles pushes up from his chair.
“If you can think of anything having to do with Kristen that was odd during her time under your care, please reach out to us,” I say, taking one man’s hand, then the other, after Miles does.
“We will, and if you’d like to attend Sunday service, there is always a pew open for you. There are a few officers who attend.”
“Thanks,” Miles mutters under his breath as we start to walk out the door, but he stops and turns around to ask, “Where does youth group meet every week?”
“We have a building on site at the back of the property.”
“Thanks,” I reply and then walk out the door.
When we get outside and into my SUV, I look over at my brother, who I know is thinking exactly what I am.
“How do you feel about taking a field trip Wednesday?” He asks and I grin.
"I love field trips.” I start the engine and back out of my spot, trying not to get my hopes up, but fuck.
I think we might just have a lead.
Finally.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
miranda
“She seems better,” Tucker says quietly, and I take my eyes off of Emma, who has been chasing Winter and Kingston around the playroom in Clay and Willow’s place for the last forty-five minutes. Like me, she was amazed as soon as we walked through the door, and within seconds, she was off and running after both kids, with Skye not far behind her.
“There hasn’t been as many tears today, so I think she’s doing better.” I look up at him, and he turns me in his arms, so we are chest-to-chest. “Eli said he’s going to move out and stay with a friend while she decides what she wants to do, so I think she’s a little less stressed.”
“Does he think she’s going to change her mind?”
“Probably.” I shrug. “And she might for a while because she loves him. But …,” I whisper and shake my head, “you can’t just turn that off, not when being a mom is something you’ve always wanted. And if that’s not something he really wants it wouldn’t be fair to force that on him.” I say quietly and his hands slide down to the top of my ass.
“Do you want more kids?” he asks me, and my stomach flutters. That question is so very intimate and one you only ask when the answer matters.
“Yes.” I slide my hands up his chest, and his face gets soft. “Do you want kids?”
His hold on me tightens. “Yeah.”
“How many?”
“A few.”
“A few?” I smile, and his eyes drop to my mouth.
“More than two, less than five.” He ducks his head like he’s going to kiss me, and I start to press up on my tiptoes while my eyes slide closed.
“Pizza’s here!” Miles breaks into the moment, and we both look his way. “I left it downstairs in your place,” he tells Tucker, looking between the two of us with a grin on his handsome face.
Falling flat to my feet, I try to ignore the disappointment I feel at the lost opportunity.
“I guess we should try to wrangle the kids.” I look up at Tucker. I’ve missed him the last few days. Even though I’ve seen him when he’s come for dinner, then hung out until Kingston’s bedtime, I’ve missed the physical contact we had the days prior.
