“In her room.”
“Stay close.” Remaining close to the wall, he inched down the hallway, every sense heightened. If there was someone still here, they wouldn’t be getting past him. Not a chance.
He scanned the hall as he moved, looking for a threat. When he reached the bedroom, he saw Scarlett hunched over her desk.
At first glance, it looked like she was sleeping. But after a few seconds, it was obvious she was too still.
He moved closer and touched the inside of her wrist.
No pulse. But there also didn’t appear to be an obvious wound. Hell, there wasn’t even blood. What the hell had happened?
Another scan of the room before he turned to look at Clara. “I need to check the house.”
Her eyes widened and she grabbed his arm. “Wait for Jesse.”
“I’m just as well trained as your brother.”
“I know, but—”
“I’ll be okay.”
He took a step, but she stopped him again.
“I’m coming with you.”
He opened his mouth to tell her that he needed to go alone, but she spoke first.
“Please! I don’t want to be alone.”
Shit. He didn’t want her alone either. “Stay behind me.”
She nodded.
He stepped out of the room, Glock up but close to his chest. Systematically, he went through the house, checking her bedroom, the bathrooms, then the living room. Nothing was out of place until he reached the kitchen, and just as Clara had said, the lock was broken on the back door.
That was how the asshole had gotten in.
Something sounded from the front of the house. Holden pressed Clara behind him before slowly moving toward the noise.
Someone tried the handle, then the pounding of a fist on the door. “Clara! Holden! It’s Jesse.”
The air rushed from Clara’s chest, and she ran to the door.
Jesse immediately pulled Clara into a hug before gripping her shoulders and searching her face. “Are you okay?”
She nodded shakily, and Jesse growled and tugged her into another hug.
The next hour passed quickly, with people going in and out of Clara’s house, taking prints and photos. When Scarlett’s body was removed, Clara’s face paled even further.
Holden never left her side.
“So there was no laptop?” Jesse asked, after Clara finished telling him everything that had happened.
“No.” She ran her fingers over the edge of the couch cushion. “I think whoever…killed her, took it.”
Holden tightened his arm around her, thankful as hell that she hadn’t pushed him away.
“And you don’t know why she was acting strange when she got home today?”
