Текст книги "Trigger Snappy"

Автор книги: Camilla Chafer

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Chapter Nine

Juliet hovered anxiously nearby as I knelt squinting, at the front door. While I searched for the telltale marks of a lock pick, or a bump tool, she alternated between pacing and wringing her hands. She seemed unable to stay still as she darted glances out the door onto the quiet street. Turning away from her, I ran my fingers around the lock plate. There were no scratches to indicate someone used a lock pick, and no little marks on the frame to suggest someone used a screwdriver to "bump" the locks open. When I examined the back door, I found exactly the same: nothing. There wasn't anything to suggest someone had broken in via those doors.

"Nothing here," I told her, getting to my feet and stepping inside. I felt a little dejected when the crucial signs of a break-in were missing. Juliet quickly darted around me and pushed the door shut, locking it.

"Do you lock the door every night?" I asked.

"Yes, without fail, and I check every window too. Nothing is ever left unlocked."

"What about your security system?"

"We arm it every night. It didn't go off. I know you don't believe me, but I know someone was in here," Juliet heaved a sigh as tears filled her eyes.

I didn't want to argue with an obviously distressed pregnant woman. Without any sign to support her claim, I couldn't be sure she wasn't telling the truth. I had to look at it another way. What if someone were in the house? What if they didn't need to break in? If Juliet's stalker were someone close to her, I realized, and had a way to access her things, they could have gotten her home keys, and maybe even guessed the alarm code. It was a troubling thought. Juliet's stalker could be a lot closer to her than we originally thought. They might even know no one would believe her. "Walk me around. Tell me what you see that's different. Is anything missing?"

"I don't think so."

"When did you first realize someone came inside?"

"When I came downstairs. Rob had been up for an hour already."

"And he wasn't worried?"

"No, but when I pointed things out to him, he said he assumed I moved things around so he wasn't at all worried. Then I asked him, why would I? I mean, they’re such little, insignificant things. This book, for example. I was reading it last night and I left it open, pages down, spine up, on the coffee table because I couldn't find a bookmark. This morning, I find it closed on the side table. Rob didn't move it. And see these photos? They're moved from their previous order. Then there's that lamp. It usually sits at the other end of the table." Juliet pointed each thing out. I walked over to the lamp, and picked it up, curious as to how a lamp could have moved by itself. "Lamps don't move by themselves!" Juliet continued, just as I arrived at the same conclusion.

Feeling the cord pulling taut, I glanced around the little side table and frowned. The flex of the cord was badly frayed, and the wires were exposed. It could easily have caused a nasty shock in that condition. "Has your lamp always been in good condition?" I asked.

"Yes, I only bought it last month."

I took another look at the frayed cord before I dropped it and pulled the plug from the socket. "I'm going to take it with me and get it looked at," I told her.

"So now you believe me?"

I nodded, trying to remain casual and hoping Juliet wouldn't ask about my interest in the lamp. I didn't want to tell her someone might have tried to electrocute her. She was already afraid enough. "Okay, show me what else was moved?"

"Just some more little things. Things on the bookcase," Juliet said, pointing to a collection of crystal animals dotted across the shelves. "Not many people know that I display these animals chronologically, according to the dates I bought them, or when they were bought for me. The little frog was the first one I got from my grandmother when I was six, so it shouldn't be third from the left. Then there're the candle holders. They've been turned around; and my iPod was in its docking station last night, and now it's lying next to it." Juliet moved on, pointing out lots of little changes, things that only a diligent homeowner would notice.

"Do you have a housecleaner?" I asked.

"Yes, but we told her not to come for a while, so she couldn't have done it. I just don't want anyone I don't know really well in my home. Not now," Juliet explained as we walked to the doorway of the dining room. Juliet pointed to the little, snug seating area by the window. "Rob probably thinks I'm being silly, but even he couldn't work out how those two armchairs swapped places."

"I don't think you're silly at all," said Rob, walking through the doorway. "What do you think, Lexi? This stuff is weird."

"Very weird," I agreed, turning back to the living room. Everything seemed so inconsequential, except when they were combined with all the other things in the case.

"Do you think we're being haunted?" asked Juliet. "I know, I know. It's a crazy question, but all the doors were locked and the alarm was still set. How could anyone but a ghost have done this?"

"I don't think you're house is haunted," I told them. I thought she was right; someone corporeal had been inside their home. I could almost follow their invisible tracks as they made their way through the house, picking up something here, moving something there. It made me wonder what kind of person moved things, but didn't steal anything? It was pointless to call the police for a moved candle, or a rearranged crystal menagerie, and I suspected the stalker knew Juliet wouldn't do that. What could a police officer do, but scratch his head and say, “if nothing was missing, no crime had taken place”? No, this was all done for a very specific, and very nasty reason: playing psychological games with Juliet and forcing her to question her every move.

"I don't see what the point of this is," said Rob. He wrapped an arm around Juliet's shoulders and pulled her closer, acting the protective man while his face belied serious worry.

"I think someone is trying to mess with your heads, but you have the advantage here," I told them.

"What's that? They can walk into our home while we're asleep!" said Rob, his voice rising.

"No, the advantage is: they can't mess with your head if you know they're doing it... or trying to do it. You're already fighting back by hiring me."

"I feel like I'm losing though. Look at me. I'm a mess." Juliet shook her ankle. She didn't need to remind me of the obvious ankle bracelet that peeked below her maxi skirt. "I can't leave my house. I've probably lost my job. Someone is screwing with us while we sleep! I’m scared to even have Robbie over in case whoever is doing this hurts him."

Rob hugged her tighter. "No one is going to hurt Robbie, honey."

"We don't know that. They could have killed us in our sleep! What if they kidnapped him? We would never forgive ourselves for letting something happen to him."

"I don't think you need to worry about your stepson. You're the focus of the stalker's obsession, Juliet," I told them. It sounded better in my head. Seeing that neither Juliet or Rob looked assured, I probably didn't help at all. I thought about the frayed lamp cord, trying not to grimace as I said, "I agree it might be better to keep him out of the house until we've caught the stalker."

"How do we do that? How do we catch them?" asked Juliet.

"Your house is still under surveillance," I replied, wondering exactly how effective my surveillance was. My motley crew of a best friend, parents, and another friend, hadn't spotted anything unusual so far and it was doubtful they ever would, especially since we only watched over Juliet during daylight hours so far. Clearly, my surveillance needed beefing up and had to be around the clock. "I think it's time we tightened security."

"Tell us what we need to do," said Rob.

"First off, call a locksmith and get all your door locks replaced. Change your alarm code too, and make sure it's not easy to guess; so no using birthdates or anniversaries. I'm going to check on my surveillance team," I told them, hoping I sounded authoritative enough that they wouldn't ask exactly whom that consisted of. "Then we're going to look at getting the best security system in the house that we can. Next time..."

"Next time?" Juliet whimpered, her voice starting to break.

"Next time, we'll be ready for them," said Rob, looking squarely at me. I nodded.

It didn't take me long to find the car containing my surveillance "crew." It helped that my mom was in the driver's seat and waving frantically all the way from when I stepped outside of the house with the bagged lamp in my hand, until I pulled open the passenger door.

"You didn't have to wave so long," I told her, leaning over to kiss her cheek.

"I didn't know if you saw me."

"I was walking towards you!"

"Why were you checking their door? You ran in there like the house was on fire!"

"I would never run into a house on fire." At least, I hoped I wouldn't. It seemed dumb, but I suppose it depended on who was inside. "Someone was in the house last night," I told Mom before she asked anymore questions. Unfortunately, I opened with something that couldn’t fail to inspire even more questions.

"Were they burglarized?"

"No, someone just went in and moved a bunch of stuff. Nothing was missing."

"That's weird."

"Agreed. What time did you get here?"

"Eight. And your father stayed until ten last night."

"Did you see anyone?"

"I saw a couple walking their dog."

"Did they go into the house?"

"No."

"Did you see anyone approach the house? Or knock on the door? Or go around back?"

Mom shook her head. "No, sorry."

"That's okay. I figure the break-in happened during the night. I have to go. I need to get my clients a new security system."

"You should ask Antonio. The system he installed for Serena is very good. She even has one of those little cameras over the door so she can see who's out there."

I brightened. My ex-colleague, Tony Delgado, was extremely efficient when it came to electronic systems. I asked him to install my sister's alarm system back when she was getting a divorce, and her now ex-husband was defining exactly what it meant to be an asshat. Delgado installed a comprehensive system and started dating my sister, which no one ever gave me any credit for. Later, after my nighttime attack at home, he was part of the crew Solomon assembled to install my alarm system.

What I needed for Juliet, though, was the ultimate security system, something that would record all the rooms in the house, as well as alerting law enforcement if the stalker tried again. I thought it was highly likely they would; after all, Juliet was a sitting duck thanks to her bail conditions and the ankle bracelet keeping her under arrest. It was highly likely that the stalker now knew exactly where to find Juliet at all times and that thought was very worrying.

"Can you watch over them a while longer?" I asked.

"Sure. I'm enjoying it."

"Nothing happened."

"That's not the point. I'm putting my skills into practice. This is invaluable experience."

"For what?"

Mom beamed and tapped her little digital camera. "For the next time you ask me."

"There might not be a next time," I told her as gently as possible.

"There will," Mom countered. "You're always getting into some kind of trouble. This way, I can help get you out of it."

I was too tired to argue. I could only hope the hours of inactivity would numb my mom toward offering further help. Not that I was ungrateful. I was very grateful that she stepped in to help when I was not just short-staffed, but empty-staffed. As I sat with my mother looking at the house, I wondered if the surveillance would pay off in another way. Perhaps the stalker would spot my volunteers and be deterred from anymore activity.

I tried calling Delgado but his cell phone was switched off. That meant he was off-duty and probably at my sister's. "I'm heading over to Serena's. Do you know if she's home?"

"Yes, she is, and so is Antonio. She told me she had a lot of paperwork today and would be home all day, except for when she took Victoria to daycare. I think she has a date with Antonio tonight. I'm babysitting."

"That's nice of you."

"I look forward to babysitting for you one day."

"I'll remember to call on you often," I said, rather than arguing about my mom's favorite topic, namely, the unoccupied territory that I called my uterus.

"You need to get on with..."

"See you later!" I climbed out of her car and walked over to mine, depositing the lamp in the trunk before sliding into the peaceful, quiet driver's seat with a deep sigh. I drove to Lily's bar on my way to Serena's, figuring I could use a coffee and someone to bounce ideas off. I found Lily at the bar, arranging the bottles in some order that only she knew.

"What's happenin'?" she asked as I slid onto a barstool.

"Juliet's house was broken into."

"Ohmygosh! Is she okay?"

"Yes, she and Rob were asleep in bed when it happened, but Juliet is pretty shaken up."

"They broke in while she was asleep? Ugh, that's so creepy."

"Tell me about it. Did you see anyone strange hanging around the house when you watched over it?"

"Not really. I took notes," said Lily, pulling a small notepad from her bar apron. "Let's see... um... Juliet's neighbor came by, and I saw Rob mowing the lawn out front; and I think he spoke to either a neighbor or a gardener. The neighbors got a furniture delivery. Probably the ugliest sofa I've ever seen! The best friend, Penelope, came by, but she didn't stay long. I think that was it. Oh, no… here I wrote that a couple of people walked past, but they didn't go near the house. Is that any use?"

"Maybe. It could mean that the stalker knew they had guaranteed access so waited until later. It's probably someone who's been in the house before."

"The creepy factor just keeps rising."

"Can you remember everyone who's been in your house?" I asked, wondering if I could do the same.

"Not while the builders were renovating, but pretty much everyone after. We haven't had many people over."

"I've only had family, including you, and Solomon. Maddox. My neighbors. Half of MPD. That's a lot more than I thought."

"Your house is practically a party house."

"Where do you keep your spare keys?"

"In the drawer where I keep the flatware."

"Me too. When do you ever use them?"

"Hardly ever."

"When did you last see them?"

"Is this an interrogation?" Lily pulled her keys from her pocket and turned on the mini flashlight on the chain before shining it in her face. "Ready! I'll tell you anything!"

I tried again, this time, barely holding in a giggle as Lily waited, "When did you last see your spare keys?"

"No clue."

"That's what I figured. I think Juliet will say the same. Or, even if she knows where they are now, I'll bet there was a time when she wasn't so sure, and couldn't say when she last saw them."

"You think that's how someone got into her house? They took her keys?"

"Potentially copied them too." I wondered if the stalker had a chance to copy the house keys when they lifted her car keys at the coffee shop. If they did, I had to assume that they still held copies of both.

"Did the alarm wake them?"

"No, it didn't go off and Juliet swears she set it. I think someone has access to their house code too."

Lily shivered. "Super creepy."

"I know."

"Before you ask, the only people that have access to my house alarm besides me, are Jord, you, and your parents. What are you going to do about your client?"

"Install a super-duper alarm system and keep watching the house until we catch the person." My cell phone sounded, Solomon flashing onto the screen. "Shoot! I was supposed to call Solomon about going over his notes."

"Isn't that cheating?"

"No." I hit answer and held the phone to my ear. "Hi."

"Hey. Where are you?"

"At the bar."

He paused. "Kind of early."

"Not drinking! I stopped by to see Lily on the way to Serena's."

"I heard Juliet's house was broken into overnight."

"How did you know that?" Sometimes, I wondered why I asked the dumb questions. Slapping my palm to my forehead, I could already guess the answer. Of course, Solomon had a surveillance team too, and one that was a lot more professional than mine. That meant he knew I'd been there.

"I have them under surveillance."

"I should have known." I wondered why I hadn't spotted them either. Probably because I was too busy wondering if my mother was as concealed as she could have been.

"They're keeping an eye on your mom too." I groaned. "She's doing very well. She's taking notes and photos."

"Of anything useful?" I wondered out loud.

"Not that's been reported."

"Is it too much to ask that your team were watching the house overnight?"

"They were, but before you ask, no, they didn't see anything."

"You only have a team on the front?" I guessed again.

"Correct, so your thief came in via the back is our best guess."

"How come you're not watching all the entrances? Isn't your client paying enough?"

"They're paying enough, but we're watching Juliet, we’re not looking for break-ins."

"She could have escaped out back."

"Wearing an electronic ankle bracelet?" asked Solomon.

"Point taken. Can I come read your notes soon?"

"Yes, I'm waiting for you, but I had to go to my house, so meet me there. Call me when you leave Serena's."

I promised I would and hung up, unsurprised that Solomon's big question hadn't been mentioned. It wasn't a simple yes or no, it was so much more than that. It was choosing a very defined path; and though the prospect of moving along excited me, it also scared me. Solomon was right, his house was bigger and better equipped than mine, and in a more chic area. Mine was smaller, cozier, and full of my stuff. It was my dream home. It symbolized my independence and I worked hard for it. I could rent it. I could sell it. I could even do as he suggested and keep it to work in; but if I lived with Solomon, would I never live in my pretty yellow bungalow again? If I lived with Solomon, what would follow our merger of linens and crockery? Would we drift along in co-habitation? Or would it progress to veils, bells, and signed certificates? It was a huge question to answer... and also a very simple one. It was yes or no.

"I have to go," I said, sliding off my stool in a daze. I wanted to talk to Lily about it, but I had a job to do first.

"What about that coffee?"

"Maybe later."

"We could meet for dinner at O'Grady's?"

"Do they let the competition in?"

"When they are as pregnant and hormonal as me... yes."

"See you at eight."

The drive across town to my sister's house was conveniently quick with light traffic, but Serena looked harassed when she came to the door on the third push of the button. "I'm busy," she said, simply.

"Hello to you too."

"Mom said you were coming by." She opened the door a little wider, allowing me to step through. I shut the door behind me, following her through to the kitchen. Delgado was barefoot, his shirtsleeves rolled up as he stood at the counter preparing food. Victoria was in her high chair next to him, her hands wedged in a plate of spaghetti. Or, at least, it used to be a plate. The plate was upside down on the floor and the spaghetti was strewn across the highchair's tray. She grabbed a handful and held it up to me. "Yum!" she giggled.

I pretended to eat a little from her hand. "Yummy."

"Stand back," ordered Serena, "unless you want her to decorate you."

I stood back just in case her aim was as good as mine at the range.

"I don't have long," Serena continued. "I have a conference call in an hour and we need to have lunch, then I have to take Victoria to daycare. Antonio has things to do too."

"You're working the Hart surveillance case?" I asked him.

He blinked, like I caught him doing something he shouldn't have been, then simply nodded. "Yes, but not today. Solomon said you're working the same case."

"You're working together again?" asked Serena, glancing from Delgado to me.

"No, but our cases have overlapped."

Serena brightened. "Is there an accountancy angle? Or codes for money? Remember how I helped you crack the case at the insurance firm?"

"I remember," I said, not pointing out that she wasn't entirely accurate. She helped me with some puzzling codes, but they weren't exactly the key to cracking the case. They did, however, work as great leads for finding the stolen millions later. "I'm actually here to ask Delgado for help."

Delgado paused his chopping. "Me? Why?"

"Him? Why?" asked Serena.

"I need someone to install a security system today, and you're the best person I could think of."

"He is," agreed Serena. "The alarm system he installed here is wonderful."

"What do you need?" asked Delgado as he caught a clump of flying spaghetti without looking. "And does Solomon know?"

"Absolutely," I said.

"Really?"

"He will when I tell him; and it's not for any reason that will interfere with his case," I promised. "I don't know what my client needs, just that it should be state-of-the– art. The best you can get. The full works."

"You want every door and window wired up?"

"Yep."

"Video feed?"

I nodded enthusiastically. "Definitely, yes."

"Audio too?"

"Yes, please!"

"Babysitting?"

"Yes... wait, what?"

Delgado grinned. "Gotcha! Let me make a call. I know someone at a fast response alarm company who could probably bring the equipment today if I help him."

"Thank you."

"And it's my day off, so don't worry about squaring it with Solomon. My day off is my business," he continued, barely looking up as he finished chopping. He scooped up the ingredients and dropped them into the salad bowl, adding a dash of extra virgin olive oil. Something on the stove sizzled and my mouth watered.

"Shame it's not a money crime. I'm good with money," said Serena.

Money crime? I don't know why it hadn't occurred to me to ask Serena about the money Juliet supposedly made and lost. "What do you know about insider trading?" I asked.

She glanced up from feeding Victoria. "A little bit. Why?"

"Tell me everything you know."