“Before we get into that,” Chay said, “why don’t you tell us what your interest in this person is?”
“Does this have anything to do with the attempted break-in at Sassy’s?” Jacob asked. “Or the near hit-and-run involving her on Main Street?”
“I’m not certain exactly,” Nick said. “But here’s what I do know. On two separate occasions, the security alarm for the back door of Zephyr Gallery has tripped in the middle of the night. The first night, the security footage shows nothing. On the second, there’s movement, but it’s hard to decipher what or who is there. Sassy noticed that a silver bracelet she left on her desk was missing from the gallery the day after the first alert. The bracelet reappeared at our table at the Bootleg a few days ago.”
“Could she have been wearing it that night?” Jacob asked.
Nick shook his head. “She wasn’t wearing jewelry that night.”
“Let me guess,” Chay said. “You saw Fletcher Ryder there that night.”
“He was sitting at the same table,” Nick revealed. “Soledad, too.”
“Is there a chance she may have witnessed him placing the bracelet on the table?” Jacob asked.
“I haven’t asked,” Nick said with trepidation. “From what I can tell, the relationship between them is new, but she’s happy with him.”
“Are they intimate?” Jacob asked.
“Why?”
“Because if he’s got access to her house, more than likely he has access to her key to the gallery,” Chay pointed out. “I assume you’ve checked for signs of a break-in?”
“The night of the second alert, yes,” Nick answered. “There weren’t any.”
“Which means if he’s gaining entry into the gallery without breaking and entering, he’s got opportunity and means,” Chay concluded.
“There’s another issue that complicates this further,” Nick pointed out. “Sassy added one of his art pieces to the charity auction catalog. If it does well during the Colton fundraiser, she’s offered him a chance to display his work at Zephyr.”
“So she doesn’t suspect him,” Jacob guessed.
“I don’t think so,” Nick said.
Chay narrowed his eyes. “I’m surprised you haven’t told her. You two are tight.”
The wave of uncertainty and guilt warred with his determination to see this through. He knew in his bones that Sassy wasn’t safe. He’d realized belatedly after moving out that he’d left her alone. He had spent several sleepless nights wondering if he should stop by and check to make sure her doors were locked and that no one was lurking about.
He had a duty to keep her safe. His gut told him that the near hit-and-run and the break-ins at both Zephyr and her house had to be related. He couldn’t even conceive of the events being part of some wild coincidence.
Maybe he should have informed her of his theory that Fletcher Ryder was involved. Though she did have a lot on her mind with the renovation, the Bronco and the fundraiser. Not to mention what he had allowed to happen at the Bootleg.
He buried the recollection, digging his fingers into his knees. “I’ll tell her in due time. But I need evidence if I’m going to accuse a man of theft.”
“How do you plan on getting it?” Jacob asked.
“I made a call to a friend at a security firm,” Nick replied. “He’s going to install a new security system at Zephyr to curtail any more break-ins. They’re also going to place hidden cameras on the gallery floor, the gift shop, the storeroom and outside Sassy’s office.”
“Does she know this?” Jacob asked.
“She knows about the security system,” Nick noted. “Not the hidden cameras.”
“Don’t you think she should?” Jacob pressed. “It’s her building.”
“We’ll be lucky if whoever’s doing this doesn’t catch on to the new security measures and decide to cut his losses where the gallery is concerned,” Nick explained. “If she starts acting differently or changes her pattern of behavior because she knows what’s going on, it’ll double the chances of letting this asswipe off the hook.”
Chay’s frown deepened. “You’ll need to at least contact police to make sure the surveillance is all aboveboard.”
“That’s the next step,” Nick said. “I was hoping one or both of you could use your contacts in the Dark Canyon Police Department to help.”
