“Why would you think that?”
“Um, because I heard someone in here.”
“I knocked and you didn’t answer. I was worried because of the fire and knew you were home because I saw your car.”
“I was also scared because…” She hated saying this out loud. “Things have started going missing again.”
Polly paled. “No.”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“My bodywash and toothpaste.” She lifted a shoulder. “There might be more. I haven’t checked.”
“Was your door unlocked when you got home?”
“No. They could have picked the lock though.”
“Do you want to call Ward?”
“I should call the station. They’ll probably laugh at me because there’s noevidenceof a break-in.”
“We still need to report it.” Polly frowned. “What about Ethan?”
She was shaking her head before Polly finished speaking. “No. He’s got enough to deal with tonight.” That was an understatement. He’d looked like he wanted to kill someone after the fire.
“Okay. I’ll help you pack a bag and you can stay in the house with me. I wanted you there anyway, but you went on and on about wanting me to keep my space, buthello, why would I want space from my best friend?”
“Are you sure?”
Polly rolled her eyes and grabbed Maggie’s bag from beneath the bed. “I’ll start packing, you call the station.”
14
Ethan sat behind the wheel, watching the closed shop from across the street. He’d been sitting there for an hour, and Gerome hadn’t entered or exited the building.
Where are you, Gerome?
The barbershop had been boarded up since Ethan arrived in town over a year ago.
His phone dinged with a text.
Joel: Anyone want a light-hearted update on the cat situation to break up the shit that was last night?
Ryan: If you killed the poor thing, I recommend not sharing.
Joel: What kind of a monster do you think I am?
Connor: The kind who threatened to kill your neighbor’s dog in Houston.
Joel: He ate my flowers.
Ryan: Poisonous flowers that you planted. Coincidence?
Joel: I didn’t know that glacier lilies were poisonous to dogs, and I also didn’t know the little shit would eat them.
Zac: Sure you didn’t.
