If Shelby were listening to my apprehension, she’d tell me, “God’s got this.”

A car pulled into my driveway, irritating me when I had work to do. I groaned—Edie and Amy-Jo in their Sunday clothes, an indication I was their afternoon mission project. Amy-Jo carried a bag, most likely yesterday’s café sandwiches. Maybe if I’d gone to church this morning instead of diving into the worst-case scenario with Shelby, I might be more optimistic. Their steps on the porch counted down a dread.

“Open the door, Denton,” Amy-Jo said. “Can’t hide from your friends forever.”

I flung open the door. “What brings you lovely ladies out this afternoon?”

Amy-Jo pointed a hot-pink nail into my chest. “Where have you been?”

“Working.”

“Mucking out stalls?”

I ran my fingers through my hair. “Actually, I did. Have either of you heard from Shelby?”

Amy-Jo touched my cheek with the same hot-pink nail that had been ready to claw out my heart. “We were hoping you’d located her.”

“Take a look around.” I stepped aside for them to enter. “Nothing but an empty space.”

“Sounds like a bad rendition of a Phil Collins song.”

Amy-Jo and her eighties music. “I wouldn’t know.”

Edie glared at me. “I feel badly for you, but, Denton McClure, you have no excuse not to shower. My twelve-year-old smells better after baseball practice. Have you been sleeping in your horse’s stall?”

“I wasn’t expecting visitors.”

“Trust me. We won’t be long.” Amy-Jo set the bag on the kitchen table. “You’re pale too. The food’s still hot.”

I thanked her, and we sat.

“See here,” Amy-Jo began, “if you’re working from home, Shelby has made contact, and you’re helping her stop some crime.”

“Now—”

“Don’t placate me. If she’d simply run off, you’d be furious. If she was in danger, you’d be a wreck, which you are. Bet your laptop is hotter than a firecracker. And we learned one more tidbit of news—Clay Pearce and Aria have disappeared.”

Facing the consequences of skipping church wasn’t worth these two tormenting me. “Since you have this all put together, why are you here?”

“Seeing you helps me analyze your answers.” Amy-Jo stared at me. “Is Shelby with her dad and niece?”

“I don’t know.”

“In protective custody? Or—?”

“Is she alive?” Edie said.

“I think so.”

Edie stood. Must be her signal to leave. “When this is over, I want to learn what’s going on.”

“Me too.” I forced a chuckle but neither of them joined me.

Amy-Jo joined Edie at the door, and I did the proper host thing. “Thanks for stopping by and bringing food.”

“Get a shower, Denton,” Edie said. “Put your clothes in the washer and turn it on hot with extra soap.”

I smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”

Amy-Jo pulled a newspaper from her never-ending tote. “Have you seen Saturday’s paper? I understand you can’t reveal what you know, but this could get her killed.”

After they left, I opened the local newspaper. Front-page news . . .