Page 24 of Still Afraid

He pointed.

“Oh my word. That was not there this morning.”

“Your dome light is on. And the hatch is open.” The trucks had prevented them from noticing sooner.

“That’s weird.”

“Did you accidentally hit your hatch button while we were in church?”

“I can’t believe I did. I’m sure we were too far away.” She went to the back of the Pilot and gasped. Josh darted to her side.

A couple of packed boxes sat outside of the vehicle, along with the contents of an old hiking backpack, which spilled across the back and onto the ground. Someone broke into her car!

Chapter Seven

Chloe’s chest was so tight she could barely get a breath in. She couldn’t move. Couldn’t process. What had happened?

She’d stowed the boxes in the car this morning because she’d been unable to sleep.

Josh touched her back. She jumped.

The firmness of his touch increased. “It’s okay. Does it look like anything is missing?”

She shrugged. “I can’t tell.”

“Let me call Gabe.” He was on the phone with Gabe before she could even process what he’d said. “He says don’t touch anything.”

She nodded and backed away.

Josh kept his hand on her back, a steady support that seemed to hold her together. If he moved his hand, she might crumble.

Why was it so easy to unsettle her? With all she’d been through and seen, shouldn’t she be tough and unaffected by now?

Weak and pathetic wasn’t what I meant when I asked for a soft heart, Lord.

Pathetic or not, she turned into Josh’s embrace and let him be her rock.

While they waited for Gabe, the person parked on her driver’s side came up and, after confirming they were fine, left.

A few moments later, Gabe ran up. “Chloe, are you all right?”

She nodded. “Is it worth calling the cops over? It’s nothing more than a bit of a mess. There really wasn’t anything that important in here.”

“Any electronics or jewelry?”

“Nope. Those boxes”—she pointed into the back of the SUV—“are a few books, but not the exceptionally valuable ones,” like her first-edition Agatha Christie volumes. “Those on the ground are linens. The pack has camping stuff.”

Josh said, “I’m annoyed whoever broke in scratched up your brand-new window.”

She shrugged. “Me too, but it’s not that bad.”

Gabe said, “Show me.”

All three of them walked around to the side of the vehicle.

Gabe inspected the window. “Looks like they tried to use a coat hanger. Of course that didn’t work.” He examined the keyhole. “But based on these scratches, I’d guess he got in here. Could dust for prints if we file a report.”

Chloe shook her head. “I don’t think it’s worth that. Probably just some junkie looking for valuables but was sorely disappointed in my five-year-old towels. My good camping gear wasn’t even in here.”