Page 65 of Dark of Night
“He was searching for something,” Doug said. “Do you notice anything missing?”
“It will take some time to figure that out. I’ll have to put things away before I can tell. Let me check my safe.” She rushed to the gun safe, but it wasn’t opened. “It’s fingerprint activated so he probably couldn’t get in it.”
She opened it and withdrew her gun and holster. She buckled the holster around her waist. It would look ridiculous with her dress, but at least she was armed and ready.
Her phone pinged, and she glanced at the screen. “Jon is here. He’ll help me put things away. Thanks for coming so quickly, Doug.”
He lumbered back to the kitchen, and she went with him outthe door toward the parking lot. “Doug, I about forgot to tell you that I found a tracking device on the underside of my truck. It’s on the counter.” She got it and handed it to him.
“I’ll get out of here and see what I can find out about all this.”
Jon’s tall figure loped toward her, and she saw the concern on his face when he reached the back-deck light. He stopped to thank Doug, who was walking toward her truck.
“Looks like a robbery attempt,” she told him when he moved to her side. “And I found a tracking device on my truck. Doug is going to take it with him. Maybe Idoya had it put there. She sure seems to want to find Michelle.”
He embraced her, and she sank into the comfort he offered. It was too hard to be at odds with him. They’d talk more when they had this situation sorted out.
He kissed the top of her head. “I don’t think so. It’s too coincidental after what happened to my car. Show me what happened inside.”
She drew away and led him inside. He winced at all the destruction. “I wonder if he found what he was looking for?”
“But what could that be? I don’t have anything valuable. I only have costume jewelry except for my wedding ring. Maybe it’s missing.”
She took off for her bedroom and checked the jumble of necklaces and earrings. There it was. She lifted up the simple band in triumph. It wasn’t worth that much, but Kylie might want to have it someday. Or maybe Annie could have it made into something special for her.
Jon put his hands on his hips and glanced around. “So he wasn’t searching for money or anything of tangible value.What cases are you working on besides Michelle Fraser’s disappearance?”
“We’re keeping our eyes peeled for any connection to missing hikers in case Sean had any hunting buddies.”
“What about Shainya Blackburn?”
“Mason is handling that. I’ve offered to help, though.”
“So several active cases that could possibly be involved.”
“I can’t see how anyone would want to break into my house because I’m looking for a missing woman.”
“Maybe they are hoping you’ve found some evidence that will lead to her.”
“I wouldn’t keep it here. It would be with Mason.”
“The intruder might not know that.”
She thought he was on the wrong track. “Maybe it was kids trashing the house for the fun of it. The guy who ran out the front door was fast. Could have been a teenager.”
“Maybe. Let’s put things away. Maybe you’ll see something that shows his intent.”
“I could use the help.” She settled on the kitchen floor and grabbed a washtub from under the sink to load the dumped silverware and utensils.
She slanted a glance up at him. “I’m sorry about earlier tonight.”
He knelt beside her. “It was my fault. I pushed too hard. We’ll take the time you need.”
She leaned over and palmed his face. “I’m worried about Kylie finding out. I’m going to grab a test tomorrow and we can send it in. Then I’ll tell her even before we get the results. You’ve been very patient with me.”
His green eyes warmed her from the inside out, and she leaned in for a kiss. Give and take. That’s what it took to maintain a relationship. She could admit she was wrong even when she didn’t want to. And this time she’d been wrong.
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