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“Things between Shelby and me got complicated because of Chase and her biological father. We’re all good now. But you two seem so different from each other.”
“We are. And we’re not.” She shot him an accusing glare. “She doesn’t judge. She sees more than just the stupid things I’ve done.” With that, she hopped out of the patrol car and headed for her front door.
Hunt’s rich voice followed her, though she wanted to smack him upside the head for his words. “Don’t forget to pay your speeding ticket. I wouldn’t want to have to haul your ass off to jail.”
She bet he was looking at her ass right now. No man could resist her in a tight little black leather skirt.
Though she doubted the by-the-book cop would ever admit to liking anything about her.
She kept walking, held up her hand and flipped him off.
“See you soon, Cyn.”
They both knew it wouldn’t be long before she was in trouble for something again. Sometimes she couldn’t seem to help herself. She didn’t apologize or feel the need to reel herself in when life was meant to be lived, not wasted.
She hoped her sister figured that out before it was too late.
Chapter Three
Hunt stood in Mrs. Phelps’s kitchen, staring down at the eighty-three-year-old, who was sitting at the breakfast table holding an ice pack to her swollen face. He’d been called out for a home invasion and felt terrible seeing the poor elderly woman in such a state of panic.
She’d lost many precious items in the robbery.
At least she hadn’t lost her life.
The asshole who broke in had pistol-whipped her.
Who does something like that to someone who looks so fragile a strong wind might blow her over? She used a walker, for goodness’ sake.
This was the third home invasion in two weeks in Willow Fork. He’d gotten reports from surrounding towns that they’d also seen a rise in break-ins and small businesses being hit that dealt in a lot of cash.
“Won’t you sit down? You’re so tall, looking up at you is putting a crick in my neck.”
Hunt pulled out the chair next to her and sat. He put his hand over hers on the table. “Are you up for answering some questions?”
“I’m old. Not feeble. Go on with you.”
He grinned, liking her spunk. “How did the man getinto the house?” Hunt noticed no signs of forced entry on the front door. The one behind Mrs. Phelps looked to be in working order, too.
Mrs. Phelps bowed her head. “I met the mailman out front. Jim knows I can’t make it to the end of the drive to get my mail, so he brings it all the way up to the house. It’s quiet out here. No one else really comes around. I sometimes forget to lock the door.” She fisted her hand and pounded it on her thigh. “I should have known better. My daughter has been begging me to come stay with her now that my husband is gone. She said I shouldn’t be out here all alone. But this is my home. This is where I’ve lived for the past sixty years.” She sighed with such anguish Hunt felt it roll off her. “He took my wedding ring.”
She pulled the ice pack from her face and stared at her ringless hand. “After he knocked me down, he quickly went through the house, snatching up what few valuables I own. He found my jewelry box on the bedroom dresser and took the whole thing. I’d hoped to leave it to my daughter and granddaughter.”
Hunt felt sick over her loss. “What else did he take?” Hunt wrote down the list of items Mrs. Phelps rattled off, her eyes misty with unshed tears.
“Before he left, he threatened to hit me again if I didn’t tell him where I kept my money. I told him I didn’t have anything more than what was in my purse in the kitchen.” She notched her chin toward the coatrack beside the back door where her purse hung. Her wallet lay open on the hardwood floor. “He didn’t believe me. I was lying on the floor just inside the front door where he’d left me after he hit me the first time. He kickedme in the thigh and asked about the money again.” She pressed her lips tight. “I didn’t want to tell him . . . but I did.” She glanced at the empty coffee can and lid on the counter.
“How much was in the can?”
“Everything I’d saved for a rainy day and a trip to see my daughter and granddaughter. About twelve hundred dollars.”
“How much was in your wallet?”
“Maybe forty dollars at most.” She let out another weary sigh and hung her head. “What am I going to do now?”
“What do you want to do?”
“I don’t want to leave my home. But I don’t feel safe here anymore.”
