Page 27 of Talk to Me
That was Patch’s place. It had to be.
The certainty brought impatience with it as I waited for sundown. I took myself inside the fast food place, borrowed their restrooms, washed up, and then got food before I headed back out to the car.
Burgers and fries weren’t my favorite, but I did pick up a strawberry shake—just in case.
I ate one of the burgers and half an order of fries before downing a bottle of water. Then I washed my hands as the sun vanished behind the mountain. I’d have to admire the view later.
Once it was full dark, I headed for her neighborhood but I parked two blocks away next to a community center advertising bingo.
Dressed all in black, I wouldn’t stand out and I made my way to her street. Then I moved behind them. While I hadn’t clocked cameras on all the houses, I wanted to distance myself. Her place would have motion detectors, that was just a risk I’d have to take.
Her place also had a fence.
The eight-footer would definitely offer some privacy. But a jump and pull and I was up and then over. I went low and waited for any sign of movement.
You know, I could get inside and find myself face to face with a muzzle. She could very well blow my brains out before I get a chance to tell her who I am…
Patch knew who I was. She knew what I looked like.
Worth the risk. At least then I’d know she was alright.
Still, no visible movement from the house. The backyard was almost pretty nondescript. The grass had been mowed, the hedges along the windows blocked any decent sight lines, but like out front—they were neatly kept.
“Don’t kill me without saying hello, Patch,” I murmured before I crossed the yard. A lot of people spent all their security on the front of their homes, trusting the backyard fences and the fact it was the back to discourage others.
A pair of deadbolts on her backdoor made me proud. She was going to make me work to get inside.
I always did like a challenge.
It took me three minutes to get the locks freed. They were definitely the sturdier kind. I approved. Another two to free the chain on the door. There had been a beep when I nudged it inward.
That was a sensor.
There was no alarm that sounded.
The lack of an actual alarm worried me more than anything. I almost gave into the urge to put my shoulder to the door and force it the rest of the way in, but I fought it.
Observe.
Explore.
Verify.
Act.
I needed to know what was happening. When the door swung inwards, I stared at the modestly decorated place. Tidy kitchen, coffee maker. Everything in its place.
Only one person lived here.
Definitely feminine. The lack of shoes near any of the doors surprised me, but I still slid my own off. I went to the garage first.
There was a car parked inside. The engine was cold.
Moving through the darkened house, I looked for any sign of foul play.
Nothing.
There also weren’t any computers.