Page 65 of Show Me

“You okay?” His eyes rake over Ruby.

She nods. “I am now.”

He glances at me, then back to her. “Show me.”

“I think they got in here.” I point at the door.

He inspects the latch, eyes narrowed, stepping from one side to the other to review the scene from different angles. “Clean entry. Whoever did this knew what they were doing.” He straightens, face harder now. “And they’ll know we found it.”

Ruby clutches my arm, fingers gripping the flannel. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

Jake notices the movement. His voice softens. “We’ll file a report. I’ll have patrol swing by tonight and tomorrow.”

“Thank you,” she whispers.

He strides to the counter, studying the box. “You want to open it?”

Ruby looks at me.

I nod once. “I’m right here.”

She takes a breath and lifts the lid. Inside is a single item. A small stuffed pig. Pink. Soft. A note attached. Similar lettering as the rest. Her voice shakes as she reads it out loud. “Thought Squirt looked lonely.” Ruby makes a small, strangled sound. “My pigs.”

Her gaze flicks toward the back of the house. Toward the porch. Toward where they are. Real. Alive. Her breathing stutters. “He knows.”

The room goes very quiet. This isn’t random. This isn’t Brent being persistent. Or Greg being overfamiliar. This is someone watching. Someone who didn’t rush. Someone who figured out what was important to her. Someone who broke into her home and left her a gift. Someone who wanted her to know it.

Ruby’s hand finds mine. I lace my fingers through hers before I can think about it. Her palm is cold against mine, fingers shaking. “You’re not staying here alone tonight. Not with this. Not after someone got in.”

She doesn’t argue.

Jake nods. “Good call.”

The wind rattles the siding outside as Ruby’s grip on my hand tightens. Every sound feels too loud now.

“I thought it was nothing.”

I squeeze back. “It’s something now.”

And whatever this is…. It…it crossed a line it can’t uncross. Not tonight. Not after this. Not after someone was inside her house. Squirt wedges himself between us, settling against my boot.

“Pretty sure that isn’t where you’re supposed to sit.”

She grunts.

“Fair,” I add. “I guess you win.”

Ruby lets out a soft breath that sounds like a laugh as she withdraws her hand, dropping it to her side. One of the tight lines in her shoulders eases. Just a fraction. Not safe. Not yet. But not alone. The moment settles there, quiet and fragile, and she looks a little less braced for what comes next.

Chapter Thirty-One

Ruby

The house feels different after someone else has stood inside it without permission. Not broken. Not ruined. Just… off. Wrong. The creaks sound louder. The shadows stretch farther. Even the wind against the siding sounds like fingers dragging down the walls.

I haven’t turned off the kitchen light. I’m not ready for the dark yet, not after tonight.

Emily stands near the counter, stethoscope draped around her neck, jacket half-zipped like she’s paused between one emergency and the next even though it’s her night off.