Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“I sure did, Angel.” He was already standing and was buttoning his jeans. “Let’s get to the shop. My curiosity is piqued.”
“It must not be too horrible or Craig would have called the police.”
“I agree.” Mateo opened the closet, pulled out a pair of pants and a work shirt for Nora, and handed them to her. “You get dressed and use the bathroom. Meet me in the kitchen. I’ll make quick smoothies we can drink on the way.”
She nodded and went into action, hurrying through her morning routine faster than ever. In less than fifteen minutes, they were in the truck, headed to the strip.
They rode in silence, Nora bouncing her knees while she sipped her smoothie. She wasn’t hungry. Her tummy was in knots. But she knew her Daddy would nudge her to drink the nutritious smoothie if she didn’t do so on her own.
There were only a few cars parked in the lot. Most of the businesses were not open yet. The only vehicles belonged to shop owners who were arriving early to prepare for the day.
Mateo took her hand, and the two of them hurried toward Craftastic. When they entered, they found Craig standing near the new craft nook, hands on his hips. A girl Nora did not know was sitting at the table.
The girl looked up. Her cheeks were red, and tear streaks ran down them. “I’m so sorry,” she said before anyone else spoke. “I didn’t mean any harm.”
Nora looked toward Craig as Mateo set a hand on the small of her back.
Craig’s brows were furrowed. “I came in super early, hoping to catch someone in the shop. And I did. This is Jennifer. She was asleep in the back room when I came in. It would seem she’s been sleeping here every night since you opened. She even has a sleeping bag and a duffle filled with her belongings.”
Nora gasped softly. “Why?”
Jennifer sniffled. “I didn’t have any place to go, and it’s been cold outside.” She sniffled again and a hiccup escaped as she lowered her gaze. “I was sleeping behind the dumpster for a few days before your store opened.”
“How did you get in? Did one of my employees give you the code?”
She shook her head, looking chagrinned. “No. I was huddled out there one morning when you were giving one of your employees the instructions on how to open and close the shop. I overheard you telling them the codes. I’m so very sorry. I tried to help out around the shop when I could. It made me at least feel better for using your back room. I promise I never stole anything or broke anything. Well…except for the electrical panel door. I’m so sorry about that. I never wanted to turn on the lights, but it was kind of dark in the back room, and one night I accidentally ran into it, causing it to open too far. I left you some money to cover the cost of repairs. I don’t have much. I hope it was enough.”
Nora stared at her, startled and uncertain what she should do. The girl looked to be about seventeen, and she was desperate.
Mateo gripped Nora’s shoulders from behind. “Where are your parents, Jennifer?”
She shrugged before wiping new tears from her cheeks. “It was just my dad. He took off a few years ago and never came back. I was only fifteen, so they put me in foster care.” Jennifer shuddered violently, which made Nora fear that situation had not been pleasant.
“Were you living with a family in the area?”
She nodded, lowering her gaze to the table. “Please don’t call the cops. I’ll be in so much trouble.”
“Are you in trouble with the police, Jennifer?” Mateo asked.
She shook her head. “No.”
Nora glanced at Mateo. “Then why don’t you want us to call them? They can help you.”
Jennifer shook her head rapidly. “They’ll make me go back there, and I won’t do it. I’ll run away again.” She glanced toward the door as if considering doing so now.
Nora’s heart hurt. Something bad happened to this girl.
Mateo cleared his throat. “Were they mistreating you, honey?”
Jennifer didn’t move a muscle to confirm or deny.
Nora looked toward Craig this time. The man looked just as upset as Nora felt. He had a big heart.
Suddenly, Nora remembered something Pete Gruber, her harasser, had said to her the last time he’d been in her shop. I am tracking a very dangerous woman. I believe that she is hiding here in the store. “Do you know Pete Gruber, Jennifer?” she asked on a whim.
Jennifer flinched and then nodded before lifting her gaze. “He’s my foster father. I’m sorry he’d been harassing you.”
“So, you ran away from his home?”
Jennifer bit her lip and nodded again. More tears fell. “He’s n-not a g-good m-man,” she spit out with a stutter. She started crying harder, and covered her face with her palms. “I’m so sorry.” She rocked back and forth.