Ellen's POV

As I groggily opened my eyes to the soft light filtering through the curtains, my mind slowly emerging from the depths of sleep, I reached for my phone on the nightstand. I unlocked the screen and my heart sank as I read the message from Martha the maid I planted at Zeke's place.

Mr. Reid is in town, but did not sleep at home.

A sense of unease settled over me like a heavy fog as I assimilated the information. Where could Zeke have gone? What could have kept him away all night?

As I sat up to gather my thoughts and make sense of the situation, the...