Chapter Five
“Sorry,” Jen said when she met me in front of Ellie’s apartment building with a toddler on her hip. “My other kids are at swim practice, my husband’s working the night shift, and my mom has a hot date with a guy from her retirement community. So I didn’t have a sitter, and I can’t stay long.”
“No worries,” I said as she let us into the building. She had a key to Ellie’s house. “Doesn’t matter that we have to do it messy. The important thing is we find Ellie.”
The little boy’s face lit up. “Auntie Ellie?”
“Yes, you know this is her apartment,” Jen said. “Although she usually comes to our place. Auntie’s place isn’t super fun for a bunch of little kids.”
“Don’t know why I locked the door.” Jen gave a grim chuckle as she shifted her son on her hip and opened the door. “Didn’t keep the first guy out.”
It smelled like bear in here. Sweet and earthy, so I assumed it belonged to Ellie, and she’d shifted before she left. The aroma made the blood hum in my veins.
She put her son down, and he took off immediately. “Auntie! Auntie!” He came back to Jen with a confused look on his face. “Where’s Auntie?”
Jen let out a shaky breath. “She’s not here.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Want to see Auntie.”
“Of course you do. And you will, soon.”
“Want to see her now.” He crossed his arms and stomped his little foot defiantly.
Same, kid, same.
“She’s not here, sweetie.”
That was enough to send him into a full-blown meltdown.
“I’m sorry,” Jen said again. She looked up at me with glassy eyes. I felt for her, having to hold it together because she was the mom. I had a feeling she might take care of Ellie in some way too. “He really loves her.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to say we all do. I barely knew this woman, but the feelings I had for her were intense. Yet to be named.
“Have you reported the disappearance to the local police?” I asked.
Jen startled. “No, I thought you were going to find her.”
The sentiment was flattering, but it seemed like Jen had some trust issues.
Meaning she was putting all her faith in me.
I might not even work for Sawtooth Security anymore, after storming out of the office.
We’d lost time—it had been hours since I watched the attack.
The sun was setting, and it wouldn’t get easier to find her.
I needed to use every second wisely. The living room was mostly neat, except for the path from the spare bedroom to the front door.
The blood stain was in the middle of the floor, along with a trail of clothing.
A plaid skirt, a corset, a bra, stockings, and the hoodie she’d teased us all with.
I picked it up and inhaled Ellie’s scent.
Jen’s son had recovered quickly from his tantrum, and started to follow me around, picking things up and handing them to me.
“He probably shouldn’t be touching stuff,” I said, recoiling when Jen glared at me. “Fingerprints.”
“Right. Come here. Let Brad do his job.” She held her arms out, but the kid ignored her. “He’s got a mind of his own.”
“Kid after my own heart.” I chuckled, trying not to be annoyed. Jen had been nothing but helpful, even if the conditions were less than perfect. “What can you tell me about Ellie that my team won’t find online?”
At least I still hoped I had a team, and that they were looking for clues. Every bear that worked at Sawtooth Security was a solid guy. Genuinely cared about the work that we did, which was why Barrett’s refusal to help her didn’t sit right with me.
I was fully prepared to find Ellie on my own. It wouldn’t be easy, but I wouldn’t be able to rest until I knew my mate was safe.
And preferably in my arms, so I could guard her forever.
“Ellie’s very serious about her job. She’s an auditor for the city, and kind of a numbers geek. Loves a spreadsheet and never misses a city hall meeting. She’s good for the budget, but people don’t like dealing with her because she doesn’t let anything slide.”
That was good information. “Has she pissed anyone off to the point that they might retaliate?”
Jen shrugged. “Not that she told me. That last part didn’t come from her, it’s come from some people in my neighborhood that couldn’t get tax assessments adjusted and they thought she was a hard ass.
But Ellie’s not all work. She loves horror movies and heavy metal—especially from the 80’s—which is where she got the inspiration for Synamon. ”
“That’s cool.” I loved that we had something in common, and it wasn’t just a schtick for Only Bears. I knew exactly where I’d take her on our first date, after I found her. “Any boyfriend in the picture?”
Better not be, my bear rumbled.
“She had been pretty serious with this hot-shot lawyer. Really thought he was the one.” Jen rolled her eyes.
“But you didn’t like him,” I said.
“He wasn't my favorite.” She shook her head. “But he fit Ellie’s picture of the perfect life, so I supported her. He wasn’t a bad guy, he treated her well enough—”
Not like a queen, my bear said. She doesn’t deserve anything less.
“—but he had like, zero personality.”
“Doesn’t sound like he’s a match for what you told me about her.”
“Here’s the thing.” Jen intercepted her son before he knocked over a vase.
“Ellie and Synamon are two completely different people. It’s amazing they share the same body.
Ellie is prim and proper, follows the rules, and is very concerned with what everyone thinks about her.
She’s shy and quiet. And then there’s Synamon.
So I know you’ve seen the videos, since you saw…
what happened. That’s her. I told her the other night I think Ellie is more of an act than Synamon.
She puts on that makeup and comes alive. ”
I nodded, wondering how I’d be able to make her feel like that all the time. No more hiding.
I had to keep my head in the game. “Why did she break up with the lawyer?”
“He didn’t want to get married. More like, he didn’t want to marry her. He’s already engaged to someone else.”
It took everything I had to suppress a growl. The absolute audacity of this man to reject such an incredible woman.
If he didn’t, you probably would’ve never met her, my bear reminded me. You need to send that dude a thank you card.
We needed to find her before we sent anyone anything.
“How did she take it?”
“Not as well as she’d like everyone to think.” Jen did her best to contain a restless toddler. “She got really quiet and withdrawn. I’m pretty sure that’s when she started performing on Only Bears.”
I nodded. “Do you have any contact info for the ex?”
“I’ll dig up what I can,” Jen said, but I didn’t have a chance to ask her any other questions before meltdown number two went into full effect.
While Jen soothed her son, I took a look around the apartment. Ellie’s tan purse was still on the counter, with her keys and phone beside it.
I headed into the studio. Although I’d known what to expect—the knocked over equipment, the tear in the greenscreen, it didn’t prepare me for the rush of emotions that coursed through me when I saw it with my own eyes. Her scent was intense here.
Gently, I started lifting things—looking for pictures, scripts, to be honest, I wasn’t sure what I was looking for. Barrett usually assigned me to cases that happened deep in the forest, not domestic cases. But I had to trust my instincts. Follow the scent. Trust that I could find her.
Another phone sat on a charger next to the computer. It was much less fancy than the one by her purse. Ellie wasn’t the type to keep a burner phone, but Synamon was.
This one didn’t have a password, and I scrolled through. It looked like Only Bears business stuff. Notifications of orders, new subscriptions. In the notes section she had a shopping list, skit ideas, and people to watch.
My blood ran cold when I clicked on that one. It was a collection of creepy messages, some of them with words circled.
I slipped the phone into my pocket and walked out of the studio. Jen was still holding her son, who had quieted to a whimper. I was pretty sure they were bear shifters too, and there was no way the kid hadn’t picked up on what was going on.
“I’m gonna head out,” I said. “Is there anywhere she likes to go as a bear?”
Jen shrugged. “It’s been a long time since we shifted together.”
Good. She was a bear. That would help me.
“Wait. Are you taking her hoodie?” she asked.
I nodded. “Need the scent. It’s one of the last things she wore before…” I couldn’t bring myself to say it. “Is there anything significant about this sweatshirt?”
“Never seen it before. Neither Ellie or Synamon are the hoodie type.”
“We’ll be in touch,” I said. “If you hear anything, see anything, even if it seems like nothing, text me.”
“I will.” Jen’s eyes glassed over again.
“Hey, we’re gonna find her.” It was a promise I wasn’t sure I could keep.
“It’s just not like her to not tell me where she is.
Even if she’s a bear.” Jen’s voice shook.
“I keep checking my doorbell cam for notifications of a bear sighting, and there’s been nothing.
I can’t think about the worst-case scenario, Brad.
She’s been my best friend since we were eight years old. ”
“And she’ll be your best friend until you’re eighty.” More promises. I vowed I wouldn’t break this one. “I want to go while there’s still daylight.”
Jen nodded, and I left her behind in the apartment.
The apartment building was on the edge of a wooded lot. Didn’t look like it got too wild, as we were close to the city, but if Ellie had wanted to hide, it made sense that she’d go there.
Problem was if it made sense to me, it would also make sense to the Centerfold Slasher.
Or whoever had gone in there. Jen had made it sound like her angry neighbors weren’t a big deal, and the ex had moved on, but there were people with motive.
A rejection from an auditor could be a major financial blow.
And if that hot-shot lawyer had found out about Ellie’s secret identity…