Chapter 7
ELSIE
That evening
I wish I would have listened to the warning sounds in my head more. The ones that told me to turn back. To let it go.
The ones that told me to stay the hell in Kansas where I belonged but I didn’t.
My arms are cold. The rain still hasn’t let up.
It’s been over twenty-four hours since the surprise theft, and as I stand here in the middle of a strange doorstep, taking a deep breath, I pray it won’t turn into tears. I wait under the steady drizzle from the late Friday sky, my eyes closing as the police alarms from earlier fade from my consciousness and the ones in my head blare louder.
Until suddenly the door opens, a dull light streaming from inside.
I open my eyes to stare at the woman standing across the threshold. I tighten my hold around my arms.
“I’
