No Safe Place: Detective Rebecca Ellis Book 1 by Mahle Robin

Author:Mahle, Robin [Mahle, Robin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inkubator Books
Published: 2023-01-14T23:00:00+00:00

It explained why Maxine wasn’t at the service. While Ellis awaited confirmation from McCallister regarding Maxine’s alibi, this could be the moment the young girl finally came out with what she’d seen. Maybe this would be proof against Townsend.

Maxine stood in front of her open door, awaiting Ellis’s approach. “You went to the service this morning, huh?”

Ellis walked up the steps, appearing surprised.

“I heard it from the other volunteers. Word spreads quickly.”

“Well, that makes more sense. Yes, I decided to go. It was clear everyone there really loved Claire. I see now why you weren’t there.”

“Motherhood.” Maxine stepped aside. “Thanks for coming. I don’t know what Vanessa wants to say, but I’m glad you’re here to listen.”

Ellis followed her inside. “And she didn’t say anything else to you?”

“Nope. Just said she wanted to talk to the ‘osifer.’ I took that to mean you.”

“She’s a sweet girl.” Ellis smiled. “Where is she?”

“In her room. I’ll take you to her.” Maxine started up the stairs. “She said she wasn’t feeling well this morning. I checked for a fever, but she doesn’t have one. Hard to say whether she was telling the truth, although, she usually likes going to church. Well, until recently.”

Ellis trailed her up the steps. “With all that’s happened, that doesn’t come as much of a surprise.”

“No, but this behavior has been going on a while.” Maxine stopped on the top landing. “I should’ve asked her, you know? I just thought, well, she’s a kid who doesn’t want to sit in church. Fair enough. We’ve all been there.”

“But this is more than that,” Ellis added.

“As much as I don’t want to believe that, yeah, I think it is.” Maxine opened the door to her daughter’s room. “Vanessa? Detective Ellis is here. She came to see you, just like you asked.”

Ellis looked at Maxine for approval before approaching the girl. “Hi, Vanessa. I hear you’re not feeling well right now.”

“My tummy hurts,” she replied.

“I’m sorry to hear that. You know, I think ginger ale is good for that. I remember my mom giving that to me when I had a tummy ache.”

“She did?” Vanessa asked.

“Yep. She was a good mom, just like yours.” Ellis sat on the edge of the bed. “Your mom tells me you wanted to talk to me.”

The five-year-old’s blond hair clung to her cheeks as she sat up. “I didn’t want to go to church today because I was scared.”

“Why were you scared?”

But, at that question, the little girl’s confidence seemed to drain away. She bit her bottom lip and picked at the reddened skin around her fingernails.

“There’s no need to be afraid, Vanessa. I’m here to help you. Your mom is too.” Ellis was aware that she was no expert at talking to kids. Not only did she have none of her own, but she hadn’t wanted any either. That said, sitting in front of Vanessa right now, she was drawn back to the hours after it happened, after her stepfather’s death when she was just 12.

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