ERIC STOPPED THE CAR down the street as far from Mariel’s house as the doctor’s car, which was parked on the other side. Through his binoculars, he could see someone sitting in the Subaru.

“There’s one in the car, so I guess the other one’s in the house. Must have got in. They said these guys were doctors or something. I didn’t think doctors did break-ins.”

“So why did you stop down here?” said Chad. “Let’s just grab the guy.” He was always ready for a fight.

“Hold your horses,” said Eric. “I’m going to call it in to Nano.”

“How boring is that?” said Chad, who fidgeted in his seat while Eric had a quick conversation with the head of security.

“We’re going to call the police,” he told Chad after finishing the call. “Those are our instructions. The boss said there’s nothing incriminating at this house—the woman is too careful to bring anything important home with her. So the guy can stay in there and search as long as he wants, he won’t find anything. If the police catch them, they’ll be arrested, and that should stop them playing amateur detective. If we go in there and sort them out, it’ll just make them look harder. If they have the balls. These guys really have no idea what they’re doing.”

“Well, that’s disappointing.”

“Sure, I know. If they don’t give up, then it’s our turn to have a word next, so don’t sulk about it. Now, call your pal in the department and give them the details. This is the address.”

Chad handed Eric a piece of paper.

•   •   •

PAUL LOOKED AT his watch and shifted in his seat, George had been inside about twenty-five minutes. Paul checked his mirror—there was a car parked down the street that hadn’t been there a minute earlier, which stood out since there had not been any traffic whatsoever. How long had it been there? Paul strained to see if anyone was sitting in the car. He thought he could see at least one figure in the car. He called George again.

“George, a car pulled up down the street behind me and parked. Actually I didn’t see it come. Just noticed it now.”

“In front of here?”

“No, but I think there are two men in the car. I think. Actually I can only see one for sure. But it seems a little worrisome.”

“But they’re not moving?”

“No.”

“There has to be something in here,” said George. “This woman is involved in it up to her armpits.”

“George, get out of there. You’ve been in there too long.”

“One more minute,” George said, and clicked off.