Page 54 of Still Afraid

People were coming out of their homes. First responders were on the scene and securing the area. But it was just noise in Josh’s mind.

He overheard Chloe’s dad speaking with an officer, and Gabe had flashed his badge at someone. Though Josh had a singular focus.

With Poirot, he walked toward the remnants of Chloe’s house. He didn’t see her vehicle anywhere. If she had been here, wouldn’t her car be too? Maybe that meant she hadn’t been. If she wasn’t here … where?

Poirot continued to insist Josh move forward and not sulk in the what ifs.

“Fine, Poirot. Find me something.”

The dog led Josh around. Poirot sniffed everywhere—high, low, left, right.

Something grabbed the lab’s attention, and he nosed under a branch that had fallen on Chloe’s driveway.

Josh slid his arm in the loop of the leash and squatted next to Poirot. He pushed the branch away.

A set of keys. Chloe’s keys.

He grabbed them and stared at them. They were unmistakably Chloe’s with her name keychain and rescue whistle attached.

He hated that she didn’t have the whistle with her, wherever she might be. The whole reason it was on her keychain was so she’d have it with her no matter what. But clearly that had failed. He closed his fingers around the keys.

“What’d you find?” Gabe came up beside Josh.

Standing, he opened his fist.

“No.” Gabe’s voice was barely a whisper. “Where’s her car?”

“That’s a really good question.”

Josh took a wider look at the tornado’s path. He didn’t see a burgundy vehicle anywhere.

Gabe said, “I don’t see it.”

They redirected their attention to the ground in front of them, looking for more clues.

A few moments later, Gabe’s phone rang. He answered it and listened before saying, “No way, are you sure? But is she …” He didn’t finish his thought as he listened. “Good. Please keep me posted and keep looking. Thanks.”

Josh struggled to breathe. Was it Chloe?

Gabe hung up and turned to Josh, motioned to his dad.

Troy walked over. “What is it?”

“A buddy of mine, an officer, found Chloe’s SUV about a mile that way.” Gabe pointed down the damage path. “No sign of her, just her Pilot.”

“He knows it’s hers?”

“Yes.” Gabe turned his phone and showed them a couple of photos his friend had sent, including the license plate. It was Chloe’s.

It had been flipped on its side and smashed up against a tree.

A new picture came through. The hatch was open, and a grocery bag hung from the hook. A box of Chloe’s favorite cereal had spilled across the back. She had brought the groceries home from the store, but had she not had time to get them inside? If the groceries hadn’t gotten inside, and her keys were on the ground in the driveway, where was Chloe?

Josh’s knees buckled. Jesus?

Chapter Twenty-One

Chloe wanted nothing more than to have Josh hold her right now. She ached for him. But he wasn’t here, and she needed to rest in her Heavenly Father’s arms. When everything is stripped away, God is there. He was with her right now. Holding her, sustaining her, helping her remain calm.