“Yes, ma’am. What time did you leave your house today?”
“Seven o’clock. Give or take a few minutes.”
“Is that what time you normally leave in the morning?”
“Yes.”
“There’s no sign of anyone tampering with your locks. Are you sure you locked the door on your way out?”
“Yes. I always check the front door and leave through the door off the mudroom.”
“Who else has a key to your house?” he asked.
“My grandmother, my best friend, and my ex. I’m sorry, I’m being rude. Would anyone like something to drink?”
The deputy shook his head. Tim and Jase copied the gesture when she looked at them.
“No one else has a key? No cleaning service or pet-sitting service?”
“No. I don’t use either. Is it okay if I go get my dogs’ beds and bring them in here? I don’t want them walking in the living room until I can clean up the glass.” she said.
The sheriff nodded as he made notes in his note book. She retrieved the two beds from the living room and dropped them against the far wall in the family room.
“Has your ex made any threats against you?” the sheriff asked.
She opened the back door and let her dogs in. “Not that I’m aware of, but I’ve been deleting any messages without listening to them or reading them.” Sensing Bree’s heightened anxiety level, Polly sat down at Bree’s feet and whined up at her. Bree ruffled her ears and closed the door. Her pit bull’s butt wiggled in excitement as he made a beeline for Jase, now sitting with Tim at the kitchen table.
“How’d he lose his leg?” Jase asked.
Bree looked up from scooping dog food to find Jase petting Charlie.
“He got hit by a car. I found him on the side of the road and took him to the vet. He wasn’t chipped and no one came forward to claim him, so I kept him.”
“Ma’am, is there anyone who might hold a grudge against you or your ex?” the deputy asked, drawing Bree’s attention back to him.
“My ex, maybe, against me. I caught him cheating on me. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t the only time.” She shook her head and mumbled, “Jackass.”
“Did you know the woman you caught him with?”
Bree shook her head. “I’d never seen her before and didn’t bother with introductions.”
“Did she say anything to you? Threaten you or your ex?”
“Mostly she just called my ex an asshole. She seemed embarrassed more than anything. Told me she was sorry and left as quickly as she could.”
After writing a few more notes, he flipped the notebook closed and placed it in the breast pocket of his shirt. “I think I’ve got everything I need. You can request a copy of the report in a week or so for insurance purposes.”
“Thank you, Deputy Grant. I appreciate you coming out.”
“No thanks necessary, ma’am. Just doing my duty.”
Bree walked him to the door and shook hands with him as he left. When she came back into the kitchen, Tim smiled at her while Jase glared.
“What?” she asked.
“You’re not staying here. Pack a bag with a few days’ worth of clothes,” Jase ordered.
“Why?”
