Page 88 of Shadowed Witness

Interesting. The back door would have provided more protection from passersby. But then again, it was well after midnight. He examined the locks. Neither the dead bolt nor the doorknob showed obvious signs of tampering.

“Did you have the dead bolt locked?”

“I think so?” Her face screwed up in thought.

“Especially until this is resolved, you’re going to have to make sure to keep the dead bolt thrown.”

“I know. And I’ve been trying to remember, but I’ve been so tired and off my game with this...” She spread her hands and waved them in a helpless gesture. “With everything.”

“I understand, but do your best. Maybe you could look into getting an alarm system installed too.”

“Not sure I can afford one right now.”

He got that. Didn’t like it, but it was reality for a lot of people.

They moved on to the rest of the house. He followed her through the kitchen and down the hallway toward her bedroom. The light was already on when they entered, and he took in the rumpled bedspread and the clothes tossed over a chair.

“Sorry about the mess.”

“No problem.” He continued to scan the room. When he turned to face the door, a dark object caught his eye. “What’s this?” He knelt to get a better look. A full-size handgun rested next to a pair of discarded shoes. He looked up at Allye. “I’m assuming this isn’t yours.”

She shook her head, wide-eyed. “No. I did hear something fall after I hit him with the bat, but I’d forgotten.”

He turned his attention to the baseball bat lying on the floor nearby. “That bat?”

“Yes.”

“I’d like to take it as well. We might find trace evidence on it.”

She twisted a lock of her hair. “Will I get it back? It was Derryck’s.” Her voice softened as she mentioned the younger brother she’d lost.

“Yes.”

She gave him permission, and he collected both it and the gun. He wouldn’t hold out hope the firearm was registered to the intruder, but it might give them something to go on—fingerprints if they were fortunate.

They returned to the kitchen, and he placed the evidence bags on the table while she propped herself against the counter.

“Do you need anything else from me?” Allye asked.

“Not at the moment.” He studied her. She looked ready to drop. “Have you called your family yet?”

She shook her head. “It’s so late. I’ll tell them tomorrow.”

“You need to call someone. You can’t stay here alone anymore.” Not without better precautions in place.

“I don’t have much choice. I’m not going to carry the danger to my family, and this is my home.”

“Then let me stay with you.”

She stared at him.

He held up his hands. “No strings attached, and it’s just for tonight or until we come up with a better option. I’ll keep watch from the living room, and you can go to bed.”

“I won’t be sleeping anymore tonight,” she said quietly.

“Fair enough. But you still shouldn’t be alone. He could come back.”

She opened her mouth. She was going to argue, he could see it.

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