“I don’t know if the x on the door means a death occurred or that gang members took this house over. If they did claim it, it might mean they did it randomly, but it also might mean they’re still in there. Please.”

Her eyes held mine for a moment, and whatever she saw there convinced her to nod and head for the fence. I watched as she ducked behind it and then I turned back to the house, opened the gate, and then walked up the short concrete walkway to the front door. I knocked, loudly enough that anyone inside could hear me, but not so loud that it echoed down the block and might attract attention. This entire street looked empty, but who knew.

When no one answered my second knock either, I tried the handle. It turned in my palm and I pushed the door open. The smell hit me immediately and my knees almost buckled at what it told me even before I stepped inside and saw my uncle’s body in the recliner. A moan made its way up my throat, and I walked farther inside, putting a hand against the wall to brace myself for a moment. “Oh Jesus.”

If I’d been here…

But no, then I wouldn’t have been with Emily. And to think of her in that field alone with Charlie was unthinkable. Still, guilt was a vise, tightening around my heart. He’d died alone.

I pulled in a breath as I brought my eyes to my uncle’s body again, noting the gunshot wound in his chest. There was no weapon in his hands, but I knew there had been. He’d fought to the end, I was sure, even if whoever had come in had had the bigger gun and gotten off the first shot. I held my breath and then approached his body and removed the cross necklace and put it in my pocket. “Thank you,” I said. “I wish I’d told you sooner. Thank you for saving me. And I’m sorry.”

I straightened my spine, stuffing down the sorrow that ripped through me like a thunderstorm. There was no time for that now. I did a quick search of his kitchen, but it’d been completely stripped of food and water.

There was nothing here.

When I exited the house, Emily was standing at the gate. “I told you to stay hidden.”

“I was worried,” she said, her gaze moving over my features, her brow creasing. “Are you okay? Is he—”

“He’s dead.”

“Oh, Tuck. I’m so sorry. What can I do?”

“Nothing. But there’s one more house I have to check. It’s a few streets over.”