Resuming his trek, he took in a few more details as he drew close.

Gold-flecked irises the same hue as her tank top were fringed by lush lashes. A faint sprinkling of freckles arched over her nose. Her full lips bore no trace of artificial color.

Even makeup free, Eve Reilly was a beauty. The typical girl next door, with a hint of exotic glamour.

An intriguing combination.

But nothing in her appearance offered a clue about why she would be the victim of a bomb scare.

Determining that was his next order of business.

He nodded to the female officer who was sticking close. “I’ve got this, D’Amico. Thanks.”

“No problem.” She moved off.

“Detective Brent Lange.” He turned his attention to the redhead and extended his hand. “Eve Reilly?”

“Yes.” She attempted to transfer the bottle of water to her left hand but appeared stymied by the key she held—as if she couldn’t recall why it was there or what it was for.

“Your house key?”

She inspected the ridges in her fingers. Shook her head. “No. Uh . . . my neighbors’. I grabbed it as I left. I wanted to put their dog in a safe place.” She set the water bottle on the ground and held out her right hand.

Her grip was firm—but her hand was cold despite the late-afternoon heat, and subtle tremors vibrated through it.

“Let’s move over to the side.” He indicated a bench near a mailbox that was out of the line of traffic, bending to retrieve her water.

He let her lead as they wound through the crush of emergency personnel and vehicles, then took a seat beside her and handed over the bottle.

“Thanks.” She tipped her head back and took a long swallow, the plastic crinkling beneath her fingers.

Brent pulled his gaze away from her long, graceful neck and retrieved a notebook from his pocket. “Why don’t you walk me through what happened with the package?”

She recapped the bottle and gripped it with both hands. “It was there when I got home from spinning class. About three-thirty. I saw it as I pulled into the driveway, so after I parked in the garage and dropped my gear in the kitchen, I went to retrieve it. I opened the door, started to bend down—and heard ticking. After I spotted a wire sticking out, I called 911.”

“Keep going.”

“I left the house and went next door to warn my elderly neighbor. Then I ran over to my other neighbors’ house to stow their dog in the basement and take cover. One of the local officers met up with me there and brought me here.”

He frowned. “Didn’t the 911 operator instruct you to vacate the area?”

“Yes—but I didn’t want Olivia or Ernie to get hurt.”