Page 67 of Skin and Bones

There, on my pristine counter, sat an elegant woman’s watch—gold and encased with diamonds.

CHAPTER

FOURTEEN

I didn’t scream. Fear had a way of freezing your vocal cords when you needed them most.

“Deidre,” I called out, surprised by the steadiness in my voice. “Could you come here a moment?”

I heard her book close in the living room, followed by the soft shuffle of her slippered footsteps approaching. When she appeared in the kitchen doorway, her brows shot up toward her hairline.

“Good heavens,” she breathed, staring at the gleaming watch lying ominously on my countertop.

I grabbed a clean tea towel from the drawer, carefully wrapped it around my fingers, and gingerly turned the watch over to see the back. Sure enough, engraved in elegant script were the words: To Elizabeth—Seek Truth. Stay True.

“Someone’s been in the house,” I said, setting the watch down on the towel. The gold gleamed under the kitchen lights, far too pristine to have spent decades underwater as Lucinda had claimed. Tiny diamonds winked around the face, catching the sunlight like miniature stars.

A low growl from the corner made us both jump. Chowder stood alert, wrinkled face scrunched in an expression I’d never seen before. The fur along his back stood on end.

“What is it, boy?” I whispered.

He waddled past me with surprising speed, growling deeper as he reached the mudroom door. When I followed and tested the knob, it turned easily in my hand.

“Unlocked,” I said, snatching my hand back. “I always lock it.”

Deidre was already dialing her phone. “With the Silver Sleuths coming and going all day, it’s no wonder. Half of us probably forgot to check it. I’m calling the sheriff.”

“Where are the others?” I asked, suddenly aware of the quiet house.

“Dottie’s watching the news in the den, Walt’s on patrol outside, and Hank’s in the study making calls to his courthouse contacts,” Deidre explained. “Bea called about twenty minutes ago. Said she’s got her grandson digging through some financial records and will head over as soon as she has something concrete.”

“Check the rest of the house,” I said, moving carefully toward the hallway. “Make sure nothing else has been disturbed.”

My skin prickled with the realization that someone had been in my home while all of us were here, vulnerable, unaware. With Deidre, Dottie, Hank, and Walt staying with me as my self-appointed security detail, we should have noticed something. Clearly we hadn’t.

I hurried upstairs to change out of my housedress. No way was I greeting Dash in my vintage floral housecoat and fuzzy slippers, not when someone had just invaded my home. I grabbed a pair of high-waisted tan trousers and a short-sleeved blouse with mother-of-pearl buttons—my Katherine Hepburn, tough-girl-inspired outfit. My hands trembled slightly as I tucked in the blouse and fastened the trousers at my waist.

Dash’s SUV screeched to a halt outside my house less than ten minutes later. I hurried to unlock the front door for him, pulling it open just as he reached the porch. His hand hovered near his weapon as he stepped inside, Deputy Harris following close behind with an evidence kit.

“Are you hurt?” Dash demanded, his eyes scanning me from head to toe.

“Not physically,” I replied, smoothing a hand over my trousers. “But I’m mad enough to spit nails about someone letting themselves into my home without an invitation.”

His attention shifted to the gold timepiece on my counter, his expression hardening. “Is that what I think it is?”

“Elizabeth Calvert’s watch,” I said. “Maybe. More than likely a remarkably good copy. I used a tea towel to handle it.” I gestured to the cloth beneath the watch. “Didn’t want to contaminate any evidence. The engraving is on the back.”

Dash nodded, looking impressed despite the gravity of the situation. “Smart thinking.”

He moved to examine the mudroom door, crouching to study the frame. He ran his fingers along the edge, brow furrowed. “Lock’s intact. No signs of forced entry.” He stood and examined the door handle more closely. “Most likely someone simply left it unlocked with all the traffic in and out today. Though whoever broke in could have had a key or picked the lock.”

“With all the traffic coming and going all day, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone forgot to lock it,” I said, sighing. “Dottie went out to get the mail, Walt’s been doing his perimeter checks, and neighbors keep bringing casseroles. Anyone could have forgotten to lock up.”

“Whoever did this is good,” Dash replied, his expression grim. “And they weren’t concerned about being caught, which means they knew exactly when to slip in and out.”

A chill skittered down my spine like a spider. The thought of being watched so closely made me want to retch.

“Mrs. Pembroke,” I said suddenly. “If anyone saw something, it would be her. The woman spends more time watching this street than she does sleeping.”

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