Part 24 (2/2)
Nate appeared behind her. He was wearing street clothes, but held a gun at his side. He took off across the road and disappeared behind the house. Another police car sped to a stop a moment later. Caroline and I watched as two more cops jumped out and ran to the porch.
”I didn't see anyone leave, but I couldn't see the back,” I said.
”What are you doing here?”
”I was in town buying stuff for Annabelle. I just thought I'd drive by and take a look.”
”Well, that was a good idea,” she said sarcastically.
I studied Caroline's face. She looked normal now, but I was tempted to mention how awful she'd looked a few moments before. I decided against it. ”Did you get a chance to ask Nate about the detective?”
”Yes, I did. He said he'd look into it. Gwyn, you can't keep doing stuff like this. I told you-you're scaring me. It's way, way too dangerous. Promise me you'll stop. Okay?”
”Okay.”
”And let me in. It's freezing out here.”
”Sorry, forgot.”
Nate came out ten minutes later and put his face to the window. ”No signs of anyone now, except for old footprints near the back door and in the drive. Those could be mine or one of the other guys. We've been coming by to check every so often. We're taking a closer look at those.”
”Well, I saw someone. Thanks for getting here so fast, Nate.”
”Sure. And don't worry. We'll catch him eventually. And there's a good chance he'll decide things are getting too hot around here and move on.”
I turned to Caroline, then again to Nate. ”That does it. I'm selling the house. I've had enough of this. I'll tell Trevor to put a sign up tomorrow.”
The following day, Trevor, Nate, Caroline and I met at the house. Trevor wanted to take inventory before putting the house on the market, make note of some minor fix-ups that might improve its resale value. Care brought Nate along to check things out before we entered-just in case.
I'd also talked to Linda, who agreed immediately to the sale, and a.s.sured me that neither she nor Wolfgang had been by the house the previous evening.
I held Annabelle in my arms and followed Trevor as he listed items that needed repair. The puppy, making all the right political moves, had campaigned and won Trevor over, wiggling and running in circles on his arrival last night, acting as though Trevor were an old and valued const.i.tuent. Unfortunately, I suspected that Annabelle had mistaken Trevor for Josh, returning for a visit.
”It needs paint,” I said, gazing at the kitchen walls and cabinets.
”This house needs a lot of things, carpeting, curtains, counter tops. But it's salvageable,” he said.
Just then, Nate walked in, joining me and Trevor. ”I have to go on another call. Caroline wants to stay. That okay?”
”Sure,” I said. ”Where is she?”
”Upstairs.”
”I'll go find her.”
Trevor grabbed his coat and began to follow Nate out the door.
”Where are you going?” I asked.
”Outside. I want to inspect the exterior of the house.”
I found Caroline standing in Kelly's old bedroom, the one Linda, Kelly and I had shared as kids.
”Strange, isn't it?” I asked.
”What?”
”Being here.”
”Yes, it is.”
”I wish I didn't have to sell the house. I really don't want to. You'll probably think I'm crazy, but sometimes when I'm alone here, I swear I can feel her presence.” I glanced sidelong at her. ”Not like a ghostly presence, just her essence, I suppose. Somehow, it's still here. And a lot of memories are connected to this house, most of them good.”
She nodded. ”I don't think you're crazy. She is here. I can feel it too.”
”Really?”
”Yes.”
I sighed. ”But I guess I should sell it. Linda wants to, and all this trouble.... And I don't like the idea of anyone else in here, some vagrant taking advantage. Kelly wouldn't like it either. I guess it's best. Get a new family in here. Bring some life back into the place. It might be nice to drive by and see kids playing in the yard again. You think so?”
”Yeah, I think so.”
The front door slammed and Trevor shouted up the stairs. ”Hey, you two, get down here. I want to show you something.”
We ran down the stairs and followed Trevor outside to a spot next to the window of my father's little room.
”Maybe I should join the police force part-time,” he said. ”Watch this.” Carefully, he eased his fingernail into the edge of one of the four gla.s.s panes just below the mid-point of the window. With a flick of his finger, the pane dropped into his hand. ”There's no caulk around this pane. Someone used gum or something to stick it back in place. But as you can see, it's easy to dislodge.”
”Nate probably couldn't see that last night,” said Caroline.
”After that,” Trevor said, ”it's just a matter of reaching in and releasing the lock. Slide up the window and he's in. The lights were off in this room.”
He pointed out the many windowpanes with loose and flaking caulk. ”And the walk goes right by the window, so n.o.body's going to notice footsteps.”
”The storm windows are out in the garage,” I said. ”It seemed like such a waste of time, putting them on, taking them off.”
”That would have made it harder,” said Trevor, ”but not impossible. I think this guy was going to find a way in either way.”
Chapter 17.
”You're sure you want to talk about this here?” asked Caroline. She'd quit work early, and was seated near me at a table in the far corner of the bar at the Wild River Grill.
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