“What?” Hicks said, incredulous. “Are you smoking crack? Is this woman smoking crack? She says he broke into her house and did his laundry?”

“No! He did her laundry,” Mendez said. “She left a basket of dirty laundry on the washing machine. Underwear.”

Hicks closed his mouth as the meaning sank in. “Oh, man. That’s disgusting.”

“That’s what I’m thinking,” Mendez agreed. “He goes in her house, helps himself to the wine, touches her stuff, jerks off in her underwear, and does the laundry so there’s no evidence. Does that sound familiar?”

“The B and Es,” Hicks said. “Somebody breaks in, messes with their stuff, but doesn’t take anything.”

“This could be our guy,” Mendez said. “And if it is, he’s not just some perv, he’s a predator casing his potential victims.”

“Holy crap.”

“We need to pull those case files and take another look at who’s living in those houses.”

“Right.” Hicks narrowed his eyes. “Hey. Why didn’t you call me?”

“Last night? Why? We should both get dragged out of bed on a prowler call?”

“She called you at home?”

“I gave her my card. What?” he asked at the roll of his partner’s eyes. “She’s new here. She doesn’t know anybody. She’s been to hell and back. She doesn’t think anybody gives a shit.”

“You’re a regular Welcome Wagon, Tony. Is this something new for Oak Knoll? Every newcomer gets their own personal sheriff’s detective?”

“It’s not like that,” he said, irritated. “She’s got special circumstances. I’m just trying to be a decent human being.”

“Whatever you say.”

“That’s what I say.”

Mendez got up and threw half of his doughnut in the trash and dumped the last of his coffee in the sink.

“What’s your plan?” Hicks asked.

“I handed the photograph off to Latent Prints. We’ll see what they come up with,” he said. “I’m going to start calling utility companies. Maybe Ballencoa can live without a phone, but I’m betting he’s got electricity. I’m going to track this bastard down, and we’re going to have a chat about how things are done in Oak Knoll.”

Chapter 24

24

“Mommy, I like Leah,” Haley Leone said, looking up at her mother as they walked hand in hand on the shaded path that surrounded the playground of the Thomas Center day care facility.

The day care had been open for nearly three years now, offering a service to the community and an opportunity for women in the center’s program to work in what was truly a nurturing environment.

Anne brought her children here every morning while she saw clients or tended to other work. It was a safe, secure environment with plenty of supervision and activities for the kids.