“Val, aren’t you coming?” Gwen, who had walked a couple of feet ahead, turned around. “Val!” She said with a loud whisper.

“Did you see that?” Val’s gaze was locked on the Ballards’ front window.

“See what? I was looking straight ahead. Let’s go. Before someone sees us.”

“I thought I saw a dark-haired woman in the Ballards’ house. Jennifer is blonde.” Val continued staring at the window, her feet not moving, her gaze glued to the opening.

“Maybe they have company. Let’s go!”

“Not they, Gwen. He. It’s Thursday. Jennifer Ballard works late tonight. She’s not home.”

“Well, if you suspect that he screws other women, this isn’t going to prove anything because I doubt he’s going to rip off her clothes in front of an open window. Now come on. We need to get out of sight and in that house.” Gwen pointed to Gabrielle’s home.

Gwen was right. They needed to go before someone saw them. The two hurried to Gabrielle’s door. Val remembered the lock box code. She typed it in, opened the box and took out the house key, then slipped it into the door. After stepping inside, both women exhaled. “Well, we’re in. Do you think you can put the key back without using any light?”

“I should be okay.” Val waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness before venturing much further. She squinted because something wasn’t right. Then it all came into focus. What happened to the lights? The lights that were on the last time she was here? “Holy shit! It can’t be.”

“What can’t be? Val… what can’t be?” Gwen said loudly the second time.

Val ignored Gwen and quickly walked into the home, limping in circles in the front room, where she and Jack stood just days ago. The reality of what she was seeing grabbing and taking hold. “The furniture! It’s all gone! Holy crap, that means… Val ran from the room and down the hallway with Gwen trailing behind her. Val stood in the doorway to Gabrielle’s bedroom lost for what to do next. “Oh my God, the entire place is empty.”

“Someone must have taken her belongings. I’d guess her parents sent someone to do it.”

Val just continued to stare into the empty space, her heart pounding as she looked at the nightmare problem in front of her. “How could they do this that fast?”

“Money gets things done quickly.”

“Gwen, what do I do?” Val pulled the key out of her pocket. It dangled from her hand. “What do I do with this?”