She couldn’t do it. While she could talk her way out of trespassing, breaking and entering would be harder. She’d find a way to get inside if she needed to, but not when it was close to midnight. Maybe a welfare check. Rogan had friends in SAPD, he could convince someone to come by.

Resolved, she walked back through the gate just as a flash of light turned down the driveway.

Well, dammit. Her gut had been off and Marie had been out late with her kids.

The lights flicked off, but the car remained idling.

No voices. No kids. No tired mom. A car door opened, the dome light shining in the dark.

Max stayed close to the gate. She didn’t dare move. She stood flat against the house, her low-heeled boots sinking into the mulch, a bush under the laundry room window partly shielding her. If she stepped forward she might be seen—would definitely be seen when the headlights went on.

The door didn’t close at first. The car hummed. She really wanted to look, see if there was a license plate, but she didn’t know if someone was in the car or if it was even Marie Richards.

She had a strong feeling it wasn’t.

Two minutes after the car pulled in, the car door shut. She heard the car slip into reverse at the same time the lights came on.

She held her breath.

The car didn’t move.

Had they seen her? She didn’t think so, but she couldn’t be certain. Who was it? It certainly wasn’t Marie.

Was this some sort of setup? Max couldn’t imagine why Grant would set her up, but she supposed he might not want her investigating his case. Maybe there was something he wanted to hide. Yet— She had made no indication to Grant’s attorney that she would visit Marie tonight. And why say he’d talk to her at all if he didn’t want to? She couldn’t force him to meet with her.

After what seemed like forever but was less than two minutes, the car backed out and drove off.

Max waited a full minute before leaving her hiding spot. She walked briskly down the driveway intending to make a beeline for her car; instead, she looked at the front of the house.

The intruder hadn’t gone in, otherwise she would have heard him entering. He’d been out of the car less than a minute—spent more time sitting in the car after returning. He hadn’t knocked on the door or rung the bell—she would have heard that as well. So what had he been doing on the front porch?