“I need to look around,” he said, standing and heading toward the stairs. A part of Becca wanted to stop him and tell him she was calling the shots, but she was too overwhelmed. She trailed after him. “Did you check and see if anything was missing?” he asked.

“No. There’s no way she would take anything.”

“You really sure about that?” Christian asked.

Becca went silent. She wasn’t sure about anything anymore. She followed Christian, wondering how he felt about all the changes she’d made to their home. He was the one in the relationship who loved decorating. Every piece in their home had been labored over, hours spent searching for the perfect lamps and rugs and artwork. She used to joke that if Christian ever cheated, she would react appropriately by burning every single thing he loved. In the end though, she lacked the courage. She gave him everything, watching him pack it all away, and she started over entirely, redecorating from top to bottom. Nina called it Becca’s exorcism, which wasn’t far off. Her plan was to erase every last trace of him. A futile effort. Christian’s essence was as much a part of this house as the crown moldings and high ceilings.

He headed straight for Becca’s room at the top of the stairs. She joined him, her eyes zeroing in on her armoire tucked into the corner of the room. One of the drawers was slightly ajar. Becca pushed past Christian, rushing to inspect the contents. His well-honed instincts were spot-on. Her pearls, her grandmother’s collection of turquoise jewelry she brought over from Mexico, even Becca’s wedding ring—all of it was gone. Ash had cleaned her out.

“Best guess is she plans to pawn it,” Christian said.

Hurt danced across Becca’s face. She turned away, not wanting Christian to see as she slammed the drawers shut. “It doesn’t matter. They’re just things,” Becca said dismissively.

“Bullshit. You have a right to be upset.” He reached out and squeezed her hand. “From an investigative standpoint this could be a good thing.”

“Oh, really? Ash stealing my jewelry is a good thing?” He ignored her sharp tone.

“It’s a starting point. I’ll put in some calls to my buddies at the local precinct. “They’ll know the pawnshops in the area. Places most likely to buy from a minor. We’ll canvass those shops. See if anyone saw her or might know where she was heading.”

This was good. This was a plan. Clear steps they could take. That’s what Becca needed to focus on.