‘Albuquerque Police. Open up!’ she yelled, startling at least one neighbor’s yappy dog into a frenzied bark. Soon after, several others joined in the chorus, causing the hair at the nape of her neck to stand up. She was glad Ghost wasn’t a barker. When he sensed his version of danger, he’d stand in a rigid protective stance until it was gone. Only once had she witnessed him growl deep in his throat and bare his teeth, and that was at a man who’d been at the park watching a group of unsupervised children. Ghost’s reaction had been so strange and unexpected that Alyssa had stayed and watched until the man finally left, and the children ran into a house in the adjacent neighborhood.

‘Excuse me. If you’re looking for Adam, he left just before you got here. Said he was heading out of town for the week.’

Alyssa shifted so that she could see both the person speaking as well as the front door. A young woman was struggling to control a huge, growling Rottweiler currently trying to escape the grip she had on its leash. She was a little surprised the muscular animal hadn’t yanked the girl’s arms right out of their sockets.

‘Did he say where he was going?’

‘Nope, just that he needed to get out of the city for a while.’

‘Are the two of you friends?’

Adam’s neighbor actually snorted. ‘Pfft, no. I know he plays on the football team and that he’s very quiet for an athlete. I’ve tried a few times to engage him in conversation, but while he’s not unkind, he’s pretty standoffish. Which is kind of why it surprised me that he mentioned he was leaving at all, especially since it’s football season.’ Her dog had finally quieted and plopped himself down as he leaned his thick body into his owner’s legs, almost knocking her off-balance. She patted the top of his head and when she looked back up, she said. ‘Am I allowed to ask if everything’s okay? Is he in trouble for something?’

Alyssa ignored the question. ‘What’s your name?’

‘Emilia Martinez. I live two doors down.’ Emilia pointed behind her.

‘Did you ever see him with his sister?’ Alyssa asked the question out of pure instinct.

‘Um, I’m not sure?’ Emilia’s answer was posed as a question. ‘He didn’t really have many visitors, which I always thought was a little strange for a football player, but what do I know? I’m not a fan of the sport. But on occasion, I did see the same girl come visit him. It was always dark, and so I never really got a good look at her.’