"I'm texting the owners,” she told the dispatcher.
Emery:The guesthouse was broken into. I’m on the phone with the police. I don’t know if they’re still in the house.
Devon:Where are you?
Emery:Bathroom.
Devon:Don’t move. Stay there until the police get there. I’m on my way. Won’t take but five minutes to get there.
Emery clutched the phone like a lifeline, the dispatcher's voice a steady anchor in her ear as sirens wailed in the distance, growing closer. She stepped from the bathroom, slowly opened the bedroom door, and peeked her head out.
Nothing.
Red and blue lights strobed through the windows as a patrol car pulled into the driveway. Sandy Kane emerged first, her uniform crisp despite the ungodly hour, followed by a younger deputy with sandy hair and a calm, assessing gaze.
"Emery." Sandy's voice was professional but warm. “Are you in there? Are you safe? You called about an intruder?"
“Ma’am,” the dispatcher’s voice came over the phone. “You can hang up now that the police chief is there.”
“Thank you.”
Devon’s truck pulled into the driveway. He leapt from the driver’s seat, pushed past Sandy, nearly knocking her over, and burst through the front door, wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt, his hair disheveled, his expression fierce. He scanned the dimly lit room before his eyes found hers. "You're okay?" He crossed to her in three strides. "You're not hurt?"
"I'm fine. Scared, but fine." She stood on shaking legs. "They ran when I woke up. I heard the doors, heard movement."
Sandy cleared her throat. “Now that we’ve established that Devon here hasn’t changed since high school, mind if I do my job?”
“Sorry, Sandy.” Devon turned, keeping his arm around Emery. “What are you doing out on patrol at this hour? It’s like you’re a rookie all over again, pulling double shifts.”
“I’ve got a rookie and one out on medical for another week. My team and I are all stepping up and working overtime,” she said. “You know Deputy James Chen." Sandy gestured to the other officer. "We're going to check the perimeter, then I want to walk through everything with you. Devon, I take you’re going to be glued to her for the time being?”
"Not leaving her side."
Sandy and Chen moved through the guesthouse with practiced efficiency, checking windows, testing locks, and examining the French doors. Chen crouched near the lock, pulling a small flashlight from his belt.
"No signs of forced entry," he said. "But the lock here is a standard residential model. Easy enough to pick if you know what you're doing."
“Is anything missing or disturbed?” Sandy rejoined them, her expression thoughtful.
“Not that I can tell,” Emery said.
“Did you see the intruder?" Sandy asked, taking out a small notebook.
“I saw a shadow, and I heard them. Movement near the doors, then they left."
“Devon, do you have security cameras on the guesthouse?” Sandy pulled out her phone. “And if so, can you access the cameras from here?"
Bryson appeared in the doorway before Devon could answer, fully dressed and grim-faced. "Heard the sirens. What happened?"
Devon gave him a quick summary while Sandy waited patiently.
"Security footage," Bryson said immediately. "Let's pull it up at the main house. Bigger screen, easier to see details, and you can look at the entire property.”
"Good idea," Sandy agreed. "Devon, you stay with Emery. Bryson, Chen, and I will review the footage."
After they left, silence engulfed the guesthouse like a weight. Emery sank back onto the couch. Her adrenaline crash left her shaky and cold. Devon grabbed the throw blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders.
"Someone was here," she said quietly. "I know what I heard."
