Page 32 of In the Line of Ire

Natalieshook her head. "I feel like I'm letting them down. Life was morecomfortable before I got divorced. I'm trying to save money for anicer place and I’d like to go buy a newer car since mine is veryold now but it's tough when I have to pay all the billstoo."

Ireached to touch her elbow. "You sound like you're doing a greatjob under difficult circumstances. Does your ex-husband helpfinancially?"

"Yes, hedoes. When he's not working, he takes the girls but he doesn't havea permanent place yet since he's away at work so often. It's notalways convenient for him to see them but he always makes sure tocall."

"I knowyou said he's a good guy but is there any reason why he might wantto scare you? Any custody issues or financialdifficulties?"

"No.Officially, we share custody, but unofficially, I'm with the girlsmost of the time. And he always makes his support payments, whichare never late. I only have to call if there's anything extra thatthe girls need, such as music or sports lessons, and he is stillcontributing to their college funds. He's a good dad and a goodman. We just didn't match as a couple."

"I'mglad to hear that he's good to you all. Let's go into yourbedroom."

"Sure."We moved down the hallway and went into Natalie's room. It was acalmer space than her daughters' room with simple linens, matchingnightstands and lamps, and a dresser with a mirror. The wooden bedseemed a little oversized for the room and the cream and pink rugwas pretty and feminine. "You said you thought someone was lying onyour bed."

"I'msure someone was. I changed all the linens. I had toafterwards."

"That'sunderstandable." I stooped down and lifted the bedskirt, glancingbeneath cautiously. With a sigh of relief, I saw the bed was fullyenclosed with several drawers underneath. Something caught my eyeand I reached for it, pulling out a slip of paper. It was a receiptfrom a convenience store for a six-pack of soda, chips and dip. "Isthis yours?" I asked, handing the slip to Natalie.

Shelooked at it and shook her head. "No, I don't ever shopthere."

"Do youhave any guests who could have dropped it?"

"Guests?Like... oh! Oh, no!" She laughed, her face lighting up withamusement. "No, I do not have a boyfriend. I have enough to dobetween working and playing chauffeur to the girls and their activesocial lives. I don't know where that receipt came from but neitherthe girls nor I ever go there."

"Maybeyou picked it up on your shoe," I suggested withoutconviction.

"Maybe,"she acquiesced.

I tuckedthe receipt into my pocket as we stepped onto the narrow landing. Ididn't see anything unnerving upstairs. The only windows thatactually opened were too narrow for anyone to climb through; not tomention there were no nearby trees or low buildings to help aperson ascend. Her house keys were not missing and no one besidesthe family lived in the house, which made it hard to see how anyonecould gain access.

"Haveyou ever lost your keys?" I asked. "Or thought you misplaced themonly to find them again soon afterwards?"

"No, I'mkind of paranoid about that. I couldn’t find a set of house keysfour or five years ago. It was so expensive to get new keys cut formy car and the house that I've always been super careful aboutalways knowing where my keys are ever since."

"Wheredo you keep your keys when you're at work?"

"In mypurse, which I put in my locker. I'm a surgical nurse at a clinicand the security is better than good."

"Why didyou change the rear lock?"

"It wasold and I was worried there might be another key somewhere around.I told Larry it was sticking and asked him to replaceit."

"And thegirls' keys?"

"Bothgirls keep their keys in their jacket pockets. I'm sure one oftheir friends would not play tricks on us before you ask thatquestion. It's been going on far too long to be funny."

"Howlong has it been going on?"

"Amonth, I think. It could be a little longer, maybe two months atthe most. I might not have realized it at first but now I can'tignore it."

"Haveyou thought about having a motion-detector alarm installed? Orsecurity cameras?"

"I don'tthink I can afford those. Systems like those are so expensive and Ican't handle another monthly bill to a crime-monitoring company.I've scraped together what cash I have to pay for you toinvestigate."

"I'lltake a look around the outside while I think about this," I saidand we jogged downstairs. Walking the perimeter with Natalie besideme, again, there didn't seem to be any other way to access thehouse. The front was entirely visible from the street and far toopublic for someone to take the risk of being seen while climbing upthe side of it. There was a metal gate in the rear yard and Nataliereached over and unbolted it for us to walk around the back. Heavyvines of ivy ran up the side wall and although the rear affordedsome privacy, it wouldn't have taken much for someone to vault overthe gate even if it were locked. I was pretty sure I could do it sosomeone taller would have even less of a problem. However, with thedoors and windows locked, there was no way to enter the houseeasily.

Natalieand I returned to the front of the house. "Has anyone ever made anyovertures to you about leaving?" I asked. "Any neighborhooddisputes or anything like that?"

"No. Irenewed the lease around two months ago and still have ten monthsleft. Like I said, one neighbor is barely here and the other houseis always empty."

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