Earthway by Aimée Thurlo Read Free Book Online Page A

your background by searching the Internet. To see you through her eyes, I’m going to have to followthe logical investigative footsteps that would be available to her.”
    “That makes sense.” He walked her to the door, Abednego beside him. “Do you honestly think he’ll be all right in the house while I’m gone during the day?” he asked, glancing at Ella, then back down at the dog.
    “If it’ll make you feel better, we can arrange to loan him a Kevlar vest like some of our police dogs wear. We’ll getone for you, too.”
    Ford shook his head. “Not for me. This is all the protection I need,” he said, holding out the small silver cross he wore on a chain around his neck. “But I will take a vest for Abednego.”
    She thought about arguing that he’d need more than the cross to protect him from a bullet, but one look at his face told her his mind was made up.
    “All right then. I’ll be back later.”
    Ella stopped by the station and spent the next few hours in her office at the computer. It was close to one-thirty in the morning by the time she looked up, and she was beyond tired, but she still didn’t want to go home. Normally, whenever she got off work this late, her first stop would be Dawn’s room.She’d check on her daughter, then turn in for the night. But with Dawn gone, there was no needfor her mom skills—what had become the dearest part of her soul.
    Ella called the hospital next. Ralph hadn’t regained consciousness since his surgery, but although his condition was still listed as critical, he was stable. Grateful he was still alive, she tried to do some more work, but her attention kept wandering. She finally decided she wasn’t doing the case any good, picked up her keys, wavedgood-bye to the dispatcher, and headed home.
    Two, their old mutt, greeted her at the door, and she scratched him behind the ears. The dog sighed contentedly, then went back to the kitchen and lay down on his bed. Not knowing which side of the house to sleep on since the new addition, he’d compromised by picking the most commonly shared room.
    Ella stopped by her daughter’s room and stared atthe made-up bed and stuffed toys around the pillow. She missed Dawn so much, it was almost a physical pain. But Ella was determined to encourage her to build her own dreams and follow them wherever they might lead.
    She wanted the very best for her daughter, but beneath the love, or maybe because of it, Ella struggled with fear. It continually tempted her to keep Dawn close, where she could bewatched over. But her daughter deserved more from her.
    Ella lay down on Dawn’s bed and picked up the teddy bear that had been her daughter’s favorite toy well into her fifth year. It usually sat on the night stand, seldom used except in emergencies. With a sigh, Ella hugged the stuffed toy close, then leaned back against the pillow.
    She was so tired. Maybe she’d just rest her eyes for a secondor two. . . .
     
    Ella didn’t wake up until the alarm on her nightstand down the hall began to buzz loudly. It took her a second to get herbearings, then she hurried down the hall and turned off the racket. Hoping the noise hadn’t carried to her mother’s side of the house, Ella showered and dressed. A short time later, she headed out the door, a cinnamon roll left over from yesterday in hand.
    Ella entered the station a little after seven-thirty and stopped at the break room to pour herself a cup of coffee. The carafe was half full, but the second the strong black liquid touched her tongue, she gagged. The coffee, far from fresh, tasted like acid syrup. Ella promptly poured it down the drain and discarded the foam cup.
    Justine came in while she was brewing a fresh pot. “Hey, partner.I see you worked late last night.”
    “How did you know?” Ella asked.
    “My computer’s on the fritz, so I went to your office to use yours and noticed your log-off time. I also saw that you’d picked up the crime scene reports I left on your