Page 40 of Veil of Silence

The last thing she wanted was to make Shelby panic. “I’m not saying anything yet. I’m just asking questions.”

Nora looked around Preston’s room again. Nothing proved his father hadn’t taken him. Nothing proved anything.

Still, the uneasiness inside her sharpened.

“You said you’ve tried to call, but Mikey isn’t answering, right?” Nora asked Shelby.

“That’s right.”

“I assume that means he didn’t call you this morning.”

A wrinkle of confusion formed between her eyes. “No, he didn’t. Why is that important?”

Nora frowned. “You said yesterday he’d been calling constantly. But he hasn’t called today.”

Maybe that meant nothing.

Or maybe . . . maybe it meant Preston’s father had finally stopped calling because he’d taken his son.

Yesterday, she would have trusted the obvious answer.

Today, Nora couldn’t tell which was more dangerous—trusting an instinct that might be wrong or ignoring one that might be right.

Nora stepped onto Shelby’s porch just as a dark sedan pulled in behind the cruisers—two more officers had just shown up.

She recognized the car before the door opened. It had sat in her own driveway more than once.

Special Agent Prine climbed out. She wore a gray blazer, and her hair was pulled back the same way it had been every time Nora had seen her. The woman didn’t look at the deputies—or at Shelby, who’d followed Nora as far as the doorway.

She stared instead at Nora.

Her steps slowed when she reached the bottom of the porch. “Ms. Loveless.”

“You got here fast.”

“I was already in the county.” Prine’s attention moved past her to Shelby, then returned. “Why are you here?”

“Shelby was expecting me this morning,” Nora said.

“I had surgery last week,” Shelby added. “Nora’s my home health nurse. She’s been coming every morning.”

“Good to know,” Prine said.

Shelby stepped out farther onto the porch, both arms wrapped around herself. “Are you—?” Her voice cracked. “Are you here because of Preston?”

“I am, ma’am.” Prine’s tone shifted into a slower, warmer tone. “I’m Special Agent Prudence Prine. I’d like to sit down with you as soon as you’re able.”

Shelby nodded quickly. “Of course. I . . . I just want my son back.”

Another vehicle turned into the driveway before Prine could respond. Nora watched as Pastor Whitfield parked behind the agent’s sedan and hurried up the walk.

“Shelby, I just happened to be at the station when the call came in. I decided to come right over.” He climbed the porch steps and took both her hands. “You’re not facing this alone. The church will pray, search—whatever you need until Preston comes home.”

Shelby’s face crumpled. “Thank you, Pastor. I really appreciate that.”

Introductions were quickly made.

Then Prine said, “Deputy Cross is going to take you inside. Pastor Whitfield can stay with you until we’re ready to talk.”