“We found footprints outside. No way to know if they were his.” Carl paused. “But they were big. We’ll take a mold, but it looks a hell of a lot like the footprints at our last crime scene.”
Regina froze. “Are you saying it’s the same guy?”
Carl shook his head. “No, but the coincidences are a little staggering. I’ll get more guys out here to comb the area for any evidence. He had to have driven in at some point. Maybe we’ll get lucky and find tire tracks. I’ll have the house dusted for prints.”
Regina looked over at Birdie. “Can you drive me home?”
Birdie frowned. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Regina. The boys won’t like it. You’re supposed to be staying here so you aren’t alone.”
“I don’t plan to stay at my house,” she said calmly. “But I want my backup weapon. Chief still has my service gun. I don’t want to be without protection while I’m waiting to get it back.”
“Probably a good idea,” Jeremy said. “Where are the guys anyway?”
“Houston,” Regina said shortly. “They had to tie up some things with their job. They’ll be back later today.”
“We’ll try to be out of the way by then,” Carl said. “Jeremy and I will stay out here and process the scene. I want the sheriff’s deputy to follow you and Mrs. Michaels to your place and then escort you back here. There’s no reason to take unnecessary risks.”
Regina nodded. “Do you mind, Birdie?”
“Of course not, dear. We can leave whenever you’re ready.”
CHAPTER 10
Hutch turned into the driveway and accelerated up the dirt road leading to the house. The trip to Houston had annoyed him. He hadn’t wanted to spend the day away from Reggie. Not when she was just out of the hospital.
When he topped the hill and saw four police cars parked outside the house and Birdie’s car gone, his stomach knotted. Maybe it was nothing. Probably just Reggie’s coworkers out to check on her.
Still, he gunned the engine and raced toward the house, a cloud of dust billowing in his wake. He skidded to a stop beside one of the patrol cars and hopped out.
Jeremy met him at the door with an upraised hand.
“I need you stay outside,” Jeremy said.
Definitely not a social call.
“What the fuck is going on?” Hutch demanded. “Where are Birdie and Reggie?”
“They’re fine,” Jeremy said quickly. “Birdie drove Reggie home to pick up a few things. They’ll be back later.”
“What happened?” Hutch gritted out.
“Someone broke in.”
Hutch tensed, his jaw ticking. He curled and uncurled his fingers.
“Regina played it right,” Jeremy said, as if sensing Hutch’s turmoil. “She made sure Birdie was safe. She called it in and waited for backup.”
“Did you get him?”
Jeremy shook his head. “We’re dusting for prints now. We suspect . . . we suspect it’s the same guy from the other night.”
“What?”Hutch stared at Jeremy in disbelief.
Jeremy shoved his hands into his pockets and walked farther out onto the porch. He glanced at Hutch as if weighing whether or not he wanted to say what it was he wanted to say. Finally he turned back to Hutch, giving him a long, measuring look.
“How much did Regina tell you about what happened the other night?”
Hutch snorted. “Nothing. We hadn’t gotten around to that yet.”
