“I’m not saying there wasn’t, but everything was locked up tight, Harlyn. I didn’t see anyone or any evidence there was someone there. What did you see and hear?” he questions in that same kind tone. It grates on my nerves. His eyes dart over my shoulder, and I look back to find two police cars pulling up to the curb. Their lights are on, but thankfully, their sirens are off.
Anger and embarrassment stiffen my spine. A male police officer steps out of the first car, his chest artificially large from the padded vest under his tight shirt, and a female arrives next.
Their approach is steady and measured, and both of their gazes are directed at Boone. “Hey there,” the male officer calls with a wave of his hand before he slides it to the butt of the gun on his hip. I’m not sure if he sees us as a threat or if it’s just routine.
“Hey, Special Agent Boone Landry, off duty.” He presents his badge with a flick of his wrist.
Both police officers lean in to get a look at the ID before glancing at each other then back at Boone, who is already putting his wallet into his rear pocket.
“Hawks,” the male introduces himself. “Who called?” He finally looks at me.
“I did. There was…I thoughtthere was someone in the house.” I amend my words, though there is a slight bite in my tone.
“Did you see someone?” he questions with a slight tilt of his head.
“I… Something was moved. It wasn’t where I left it, and I heard the doorknob turn.” Saying it out loud makes it sound insignificant, which pisses me off. I’m not losing my mind.
“And you just happened by?” He turns his attention back to Boone.
“We have plans this morning,” he answers without hesitation.
“You went in knowing there could have been someone in the house?” The cop shakes his head, making sure we see his disapproval.
“There’s an ongoing issue. I didn’t want to chance them getting away, but—” Boone darts his eyes over to me. “I didn’t see any evidence of a break-in, and I know Harlyn is careful about locking up. I think this may have been a false alarm.” His tone is soft, kind even, but it still feels dismissive.
I bite the inside of my lip to stop myself from making a snarky reply.
“Do you think it was a false alarm?” the female officer chimes in.
Forced to actually consider the question, I start to lose some of my resolve. I know I’m paranoid and easily spooked, but this felt different. I know where I left the folder, and it was not there. “I don’t have any other explanation. If Boone says no one’s there, then no one’s there.” I settle on answering the only way I can, so I don’t feel like I’m lying to myself and them.
“Mind if we take a look around?” she asks, already turning in the direction of the condo.
“By all means.” I gesture toward the door. When I move to join them so I can see for myself, Boone lightly grabs my wrist, holding me in place.
When I turn to look over my shoulder, I’m not sure what I was expecting from him—sympathy, irritation, or maybe even doubt—but I get none of that, because he isn’t even looking at me. His eyes are searching the area around the condos and nearby clearing, as if he’s looking for someone. A sliver of hope lances my heart. Maybe he does believe me.
“I searched the house, Harlyn. Every door and window was locked.” His voice is soft, as if he’s trying not to be overheard, but there’s no one around. Not even all this commotion has brought out any looky-loo neighbors.
“Okay,” I mutter slowly while allowing him to keep hold of my wrist.
“You went to bed shortly after I left,” he states, still assessing the surrounding area.
“Yes, after making sure everything was locked,” I confirm, growing more fervent by the second.
“There was something…” His eyes finally met mine, and there’s a hardness there that I hadn’t yet witnessed, not even when he told Macey to edit the interview.
“What?” I whisper.
Boone casts his eyes around again and says, “I’ll show you later.”
The fact that he saysshow, and his apparent reluctance to do it now, out in the open, speaks volumes. Without thought, I lean into him and wrap my arms around his torso. “Thank you for believing me. I thought you would think I was crazy.”
I’m just about to pull away when he returns the embrace, wrapping his arms tightly around me and lowering his head to the top of mine. “Of course I believe you.”
With those words, I pull back and look into his eyes. Damn, he really is stunning. “I didn’t believe Hayzel,” I admit, feeling disappointed in myself.
His hand comes up to cradle my cheek. It’s an intimate touch, one that makes me feel a riot of emotions I can’t sort out in the moment. “You can’t blame yourself for that, Harlyn. You couldn’t have known.”
