Chapter 5
Maiagaped,tryingtowrap her head around what she was seeing.She could count the number of people who’d known she was moving to Middlemarch on one hand.
“I don’t understand,” she whispered.
Laura patted her on the shoulder.“I’ll take photos tomorrow morning when the light is better.We might discover clear footprints since it rained two days ago.”
“Thank you,” Maia said, still eyeing the words written in blood-red paint.
Laura continued their walk around the house, her pace slower now that they’d discovered the graffiti.When they arrived back at their starting point, Laura turned to her.“All the windows and doors appear secure.If you want, we can walk through the interior before we leave.”
“Thanks.I’ll sleep better if I’m certain no one is skulking in the wardrobe.They can’t hide under my bed because my furniture hasn’t arrived yet.”
Laura laughed while her husband released a chuckle.
“Fair enough,” Laura said.
Maia retrieved her handbag from her vehicle and locked it before walking up the footpath.
“Step over the blood,” Laura instructed.“I want to take more photos in the morning.”
Maia suppressed a shudder.“Are you sure the blood isn’t real?”
“Animal blood,” Laura’s husband said, his tone positive.
“Someone killed an animal to scare me?”The creature must be dead, given the amount of blood on her footpath.
“Not necessarily,” Laura said.“There are places to get blood.A butcher or a farm.”
“Oh,” Maia said in an understatement.If someone was trying to scare her, they were succeeding.
The three searched the sparsely furnished house, looking inside wardrobes and behind the plastic shower curtain.Maia searched the compact laundry.Thankfully, they didn’t discover a single bloody footprint or any other sign that someone had broken into her home.
“Call if you need me,” Laura ordered as she left.“I’m ten minutes away.I’ll come around nine tomorrow morning to take more photos and do another walk around.”
“Thank you,” Maia said, grateful because the police weren’t always prompt in the city.
“Lock the door after us,” Jonno said.
Maia rolled her eyes.“You don’t have to tell me twice.It was at the top of my to-do list.”
Laura chortled.“A woman who doesn’t take crap.I like it.”
The pair left, and Maia locked the door, still trying to understand why someone was taunting her.None of her friends who knew her plans would pull this stunt.She frowned as she ambled to the kitchen to make tea.But Samuel…
Every muscle in her body pulled tight, and tension locked into place in her chest.Her ex-boyfriend hadn’t taken their breakup well.At first, everything had gone well between them.They’d had rugby in common and were both rising stars.Then Sam had suffered an injury during a hard tackle, and she’d discovered his nasty side.She’d stuck with him through his physiotherapy and rehab, telling herself it was frustration making his temper fray.He didn’t mean the wounding words.But when he’d used his fists, she’d told him to take a hike.One punch was the only free shot he’d get.
Maia reached for the kettle and clenched her fingers when she noted the distinct tremor.Sam hadn’t taken rejection well and had made her life hell, spreading vicious rumors when he’d understood she had no intention of reconciliation.
If there was one thing her aunt had done, it was to help her grow a hard outer shell.That had come in handy with Sam.
Perhaps she should’ve mentioned Sam to Laura, but the unexpectedness of the situation had shaken her.Tomorrow, she decided, when Laura returned to take photos.She plugged the kettle in and flicked the on switch, letting it do its thing while she searched her box of supplies.Too much caffeine this late at night wasn’t sensible, but she doubted she’d sleep with dozens of questions lurching around her head.
First, she’d check on Sam’s whereabouts.One of her friends would know.She picked up her phone and scrolled through her contacts, pausing at one before deciding on her second choice.She didn’t want news of this communication to reach Sam.Bryce wouldn’t blab because he and Samuel had their problems.
The kettle whistled, steam billowing above the spout before the power clicked off.Maia chose a peppermint tea bag, shoved it in her favorite travel mug, and topped the container with water.Immediately, the scent of peppermint rose, and her muscles relaxed at the familiar ritual.
Maia pressed call and listened to the ringtone while she waited for Bryce to answer.
