Chapter 3 - Sanctuary at Saint Bridget’sDown in the warmth of Saint Bridget’s church basement, the air smelled of floor wax, old books, and toasted saltine crackers.
The radiator near the back wall clanked rhythmically, spitting out a steady stream of heat that felt to Ellie like pure heaven. She sat on a wooden bench, her bare arms wrapped tightly around her chest as she shivered, trying desperately not to let Wyatt notice how cold she really was.
“Here, Ellie,” Wyatt said earnestly, struggling to pull the oversized gray hoodie over his head. “You take it back. You’re shaking.”
Ellie gently pushed his small hands down, smiling through her chattering teeth. “Keep it on, Wyatt. I’m just... I’m just resting for a second.”
Pastor Ruth, a kind-eyed woman with silver hair pulled back in a loose bun, walked over carrying two steaming mugs of hot cocoa topped with mini marshmallows. She took one look at Ellie’s thin, long-sleeved shirt and her purple lips, and her face fell.
“Oh, Ellie child,” Pastor Ruth murmured, quickly wrapping a heavy woolen quilt around the girl’s shoulders. “What were you thinking, giving your only coat away in this weather? Your mother would have a fit.”
“He was freezing, Pastor Ruth,” Ellie whispered, holding the warm mug between her numbing hands. “Nobody else was stopping.”
Before Pastor Ruth could reply, the heavy wooden doors at the top of the basement stairs burst open with a resounding crash.
Heavy, hurried footsteps echoed down the concrete steps.
“Police! Nobody move!” a sharp voice commanded.
Ellie flinched, spilling a drop of cocoa onto her quilt. She looked up, her green eyes widening with absolute terror as three police officers in heavy tactical gear rushed into the room, their flashlights cutting through the dim light.
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And right behind them stepped a tall, imposing man in a dark wool coat, his face pale, his dark eyes scanning the room frantically until they locked on the little boy wearing an oversized gray hoodie.
“Wyatt!” Spencer Weston cried out, dropping to his knees as he rushed across the room.
