I went to the door but left the chain attached before opening it several inches.
The man was standing inches away.
“Morning.”
His tone was calm.
His eyes weren’t.
“Morning.”
“I’m looking for two little girls.”
I kept my expression blank.
“Little girls?”
“Twins.”
His gaze shifted over my shoulder.
“About three years old. They got outside.”
“Oh.”
I forced myself to sound concerned.
“I haven’t seen them.”
His jaw moved slightly.
“If you do, come get me before you call anybody.”
“Why?”
He paused.
“They have problems. They run. They make things up.”
Behind me, the house was completely silent.
“That sounds difficult.”
“It is.”
He stared at me a moment longer.
Then he smiled.
“I’m Derek.”
“Laurel.”
I regretted giving him my name immediately.
He nodded.
“Thanks, Laurel.”
I closed the door and locked it.
When I returned to the kitchen, the girls were still beneath the table.
Wren crawled out first.
“You didn’t tell.”
“No.”
She hugged my leg.
I knelt beside her.
“Wren, who is Derek?”
