"What are you doing?" Dani demanded.

"The door is open. I locked it when we left." I gave her a panicked look.

"I'm calling the police," Dani said. "Let's go back to the sidewalk."

I put the flowers down on the porch and followed her down the steps as she spoke to the dispatcher. But standing on the sidewalk didn't make me feel safer. This was where my mother had been shot. As I turned my head away from the stain of blood, I saw a motorcycle racing down the street. It made a quick turn into the driveway, and I jumped back in alarm.

"What the hell?" Dani said.

The man took off his helmet, his longish brown hair falling over his eyes before he pushed the strands away. I let out a breath. "It's okay," I told Dani. "It's Kade."

"What's going on?" Kade asked, as he strode toward us. His gaze moved from me to Dani. "This must be your sister."

"Yes, this is Dani."

"Hello," he said. "I'm Kade Beckham."

"My mother's tenant," Dani said, giving him a sharp look and a curt nod.

"I didn't realize you rode a motorcycle," I said, drawing his attention back to me. "I thought the truck was yours. Or maybe it's my mother's."

"The truck is mine. I use it when I move my art pieces. Otherwise, I prefer my bike, which I usually keep in the garage. Your mother drives a Honda. It's in the garage. I guess you haven't been inside."

"No, I haven't."

"Are you all right?" he asked. "Why are you standing out here?"

"The door to the house is open. I think someone broke in. We just called the police. Have you been in there since you left this morning?"

"No, I haven't."

As Kade finished speaking, a police car came down the street. As two officers got out, Dani told them that someone had broken into the house and that the owner of the house had been shot and was in the hospital. Dani went into her typical take-charge mode, which was fine with me since I didn't feel like going over the story again. The officers asked us to wait in the driveway and then entered the house with guns drawn.

"Did anyone notice if my door was open?" Kade asked.

"I didn't look. I'm sorry. I was rattled."

"Understandable. I'll find out soon enough. It's good you weren't here. Where were you?"

"At the hospital. Someone attacked my mom this morning. He tried to unplug the machines that are keeping her alive."

Kade's jaw dropped as he removed his sunglasses. "Are you serious?"

"Yes. And he got away. Maybe he came here after that. I don't know." I looked into his shocked dark eyes. "Someone wants her dead, Kade. It wasn't a random attack yesterday or today."

"When did you move in here?" Dani interrupted.

"About a month ago," he said, turning to Dani.