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“No. It’s just me until my son, Matthew, and his grandparents get here.”
“Did you leave a note on the door for us to come in, ma’am?” Mack’s voice is firm but gentle. I know him well enough to understand that tone.
“No. I wasn’t expecting you for another hour or so from now. I left on a run about thirty minutes ago. Jesus. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
She turns, ready to run, but I reach out and take her wrist. “Let me drive you up there. Mack…” I look at the street. This early in the morning, there are only a few people out and about. “I’ll call the Sheriff and have him send someone to have a look around.”
“All right, we’ll wait out on the driveway.”
“Loki! Crap, I hope he didn’t get out.”
“Loki?” I ask, my mind suddenly whirling. I’ve heard her use that name before. Ah, the big ass cat that sits in the windows watching everyone. He is a judgy fucker.
“Mack, y’all keep an eye out for Mrs. Oswald’s big gray cat, will ya? If the door was open for too long, he may have gotten out.”
“On it, we’ll take a look around now.”
“Thanks, Mack.” The call ends as I lead her across the street to my truck. With her safely inside, I run around the front, climb up in, and look back to make sure the road is clear before pulling out of the parking spot.
“I’m sure there’s an explanation of why this happened. Maybe I left it open on my way out? No, I went out the front,” she frets while I dial the Sheriff’s office. “I really hope Loki isn’t out in the wild. He’s an indoor monster.”
I reach over and give her hand a squeeze. I do not want her panicking on me.
“Sheriff’s office, how may I direct your call?”
“Sheriff Reigns, please.”
“I’m sorry, hun, he’s not in yet this morning. Can I take a message?”
“This is Ian Grisham. I’m working out at the Oswald property. We’ve had a possible break-in. I need someone to come look around. My guys couldn’t reach Mrs. Oswald when they found her door open.”
“Do you know if she was in the house?—”
“No, she was in town, thankfully. I have her with me, and we are headed back up to the house now.”
“I’ll alert Deputy Johnson. Please do not enter the home until he arrives and has a look about.”
“Yes, ma’am. That’s not a problem. Thank you.”
I end the call as we turn off the main road in town. The winding roads that lead further into the mountains are gorgeous this time of year. The morning is foggy higher up, the threat of snow on all of our minds, which is why we planned on getting an early start today. Once the new porch has a roof, things will be able to slow down a bit. The guys can work safely and be out of the direct path of the snow flurries.
I take it all in: the foggy cloudy sky, the valley that is the town showing as you look down. Gorgeous, I tell you, just gorgeous. It’s like a Bob Ross painting come to life.
When we arrive at her gate, I hit the button on the opener attached to my visor. Mack and I each have one for easy access to the property. This prevents us from having to disturb Mrs. Oswald, more than having a yard full of construction men and equipment already does, early in the morning or late in the evenings if we have to come back to collect something left behind mistakenly.
When we get to the top of the circular drive, I park and get out. Now we just have to wait for the Deputy.
Chapter 3
Victoria
There has been something off around here for the last couple of weeks. Strange noises. Doors being left open when I know I closed them. Someone has left notes on my door more than once now.
I thought I was either overthinking all of this or losing it completely, but it seems I may not be alone in this house. That thought has me seconds away from having a complete breakdown. It’s possible I am overreacting. My mother always told me I had a flair for the dramatic, but…I don’t know what to do.
To be fair, this is an old farmhouse, originally built in the late 1800’s. When homes settle, things are easier to open or harder to open. The weather changes cause window seals to swell shut and doors to stick. Drafts can be to blame for some of the noises and doors opening. The pressure in a room changes when you open one door. Maybe it’s all innocent. Things could just be… I don’t even know if I have a clue as to what is going on.
This morning, as I come down to go for my early morning run, I find the attic door open. I know good and damn well it was closed after the construction guys left yesterday. Then I hear the squeaking of floorboards, which completely creeps me out.
