Page 18 of The Fault Next Door

“Do you want me to call the sheriff?”

"And what? Tell him that the photo of my dead husband is missing? That would go over so well here. I don't really want people to know I'm gay."

Ryder nodded. “Check the rest of the house and make sure they didn’t take any money or guns.”

A bark of laughter escaped Nolan. “Guns. You’re kidding. I don’t own any guns.”

“Oh. I guess that makes sense. But you should have something to protect yourself.”

“I’m not killing anyone, so I wouldn’t use it. Trust me, Andrew tried to get me to learn to shoot, but I told him the same thing. I won’t be able to kill someone with a gun, so it would be useless.”

“What about money or documents?”

He shrugged. “I’ll look, but I don’t keep money around the house, and my documents are in a safe.” Nolan glanced around, worry filling him.

“What is it?”

He winced, knowing it made him sound weak. “What I’m really worried about is someone still being in here. Like maybein the attic or something.” He thought Ryder was going to laugh at him, but the man only nodded.

“I’ll look around while you check for anything else stolen.”

He grabbed Ryder’s arm before he left the closet. “Thank you.”

“It’s what neighbors do.”

Nolan nodded but knew that not all neighbors in Texas would be kind to him once he came out as being gay. Ryder had found out about his husband, but Nolan didn't know what to think. The man didn't seem to be taking it badly. He could have walked out once he figured out the stuff about Andrew, but he had stuck around.

When the timer on the oven rang, he jumped and almost screamed. He found Ryder in the kitchen taking the food out of the oven.

“Sorry, I totally forgot about the food. I have some baguettes I bought from the store but haven’t heated them up.”

"That's okay. We can do that now. So, was anything of any importance taken?"

“No. Only the photo.”

“I don’t want to scare you, but they might come back.”

Nolan nodded. “I know.”

He watched as Ryder pulled the butter from the refrigerator and found a knife to cut the bread. “Do you want garlic bread?” Ryder asked.

"That's what I was thinking, but I invited you over, and you don't have to?—"

“I want to. Do you want to call the cops and get it on record?”

Nolan shook his head as he grabbed the bottle of wine Ryder had placed on the counter and opened it.

“All that was taken was the photo. I have no video evidence of anyone breaking in. Heck, I can’t even figure out how they got in.”

After slicing and buttering the bread, Ryder moved to the slider and tugged on it. He leaned in and bumped it as he pulled it back. The door hopped and then opened.

“The old sliders are easy to break in through. I’d say they got in this way then left out a different door, locking it on the way out.”

“Shit. I’m going to have to replace that door and probably change the locks.”

“I can help you change the locks tomorrow.”

“I didn’t even think she knew where I lived. She thought I was still in Virginia.”

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