Deven felt her attitude slowly beginning to dissolve, her body liquefying under the exhaustion. “I know,” she said, simply. She really was too weak to argue any further. The police department visit had not gone as expected. Really nothing had gone as expected. And here she was struggling to hold onto the shreds of sanity she had left.

She followed Paul up the stairs, already looking forward to her bed, when his hand shot out against her chest.

“Wait,” he whispered.

His body was blocking her view so obediently, she stopped and held her breath. “What is it?”

That’s when he shifted, ever so slightly, and she caught sight of her front door, swaying open back and forth in the afternoon breeze.

“Did you leave the door unlocked?” Paul asked, already knowing the answer.

“No.” Fear iced her voice as Deven grabbed his arm. “Let’s go back to the car and call the police.”

“One second. If someone is still in there, we need to catch them before they leave.”

It was crazy, but he was already moving towards the door, his arm still stretched in Deven’s direction to make sure she stayed put. Then he disappeared inside. Deven snatched her cell phone from her purse and dialed Officer McKinney’s number. It went right to voicemail. “Officer McKinney, it’s Deven,” she spoke in an urgent whisper. “I’m sorry to bother you, but please come to my apartment. I think someone broke in.” She hung up and took a tentative step closer to the door. From her vantage point, nothing seemed out of order. The couch, TV, and everything in the living room looked the same. Who would want to break in? And what the hell were they trying to steal?

She released the breath she had been holding when Paul appeared in the doorway. “No one’s inside,” he confirmed, motioning for her to enter.

“Did they take anything?”

“I don’t think so,” he said with caution. “But he did leave this.” Paul held out a single sheet of paper in Deven’s direction. The message had been written in red marker, the threat piercing through the five words like a knife: Stay out of it – Deuce.

Chapter Twenty-two

Chapter Twenty-two

Deven watched McKinney look around for the second time, poking her head in doors and focusing in on her technological wares. She knew the officer was thinking exactly what she and Paul had deduced. If it was indeed a normal robbery, why had nothing been taken? Deven’s fingers curled around the note in her pocket, the paper digging into her palm.

“Are you sure you didn’t leave the door open by mistake?” McKinney asked. Her insinuation was evident as she used a finger to lift the lid on a jewelry box and peer inside.