Im wondering if Christina knew anyone else on the transplant list. Or did she even happen to know someone with a similar ailment?

No, he said, giving a very shaky smile. Christina had something of a morbid sense of humor. She often joked about how hard it was to find support groups for women with liver cancer. As for any other people she may have met or spoken with at the hospital or at doctor visits, I couldnt tell you. If there were people like that, she never mentioned them to me.

Can you think of any friends or family members that may have had something against her? Even if it might seem like a small thing to you.

Ryan opened his mouth to answer but then gave Rachel a curious, almost offended look. No. I mean…what the hell sort of question is that?

Given the nature of the scene, we believe there is a very good chance the killer had been in the house for a very long time. Also, the way in which he escaped out of your bedroom window so quickly and without apparent injury makes it appear as if they knew the layout of your house very well.

Oh, well I dont think…wait. You mean to tell me the killer could have been in here all afternoon?

Possibly.

But how?

We dont know, Rachel said. Im curious, though. Do you usually lock the door on the screened-in porch?

Ah, that damned thing. Sometimes…when we think about it. But theres nothing out there worth stealing, really. So we usually just settled on the back door. But yeah…when one of us thinks about it after going out back, well lock it. It was…it was unlocked, wasnt it?

Yes, it seems that way, Rachel said. You see, because there was no footage of anyone on your Ring doorbell, we assume he broke in from somewhere else. Maybe through the kitchen window off of the screened-in porch, or even the bedroom window. But as of right now, the only sign of breaking and entering we have that is remotely solid is the fact that the bedroom window was open when the police got upstairs. They say you think it was closed when you found her?

Im almost certain of it…but I really wasnt paying attention to that sort of thing…you know?

His face scrunched up and his eyes narrowed. Rachel knew they were going to lose him soon, and rightfully so.

Oh my God…, he muttered. I cant…I mean she…

You heard absolutely nothing out of the ordinary while you were down here by yourself? Jack asked.

No. Nothing, he nearly snapped. I was watching television, but I had the volume down very low. I mean..., he let out a sob here and seemed to force out the rest. I even heard her when she flushed the toilet and spit into the sink when she was brushing her teeth. I couldnt be