Page 23 of Special Agent Anastacia

Something poked at her consciousness… like a toothache not willing to be ignored. Why the hell would they come back knowing that the house was now occupied? Wouldn’t they have seen the lights and the vehicle? What didn’t ring true? What was she missing?

It was Nash who came up with a practical reason. “Could be, whoever stayed here left something behind and wanted it back enough to break in again.”

“Okay. That makes sense.”

“I do have my moments.” Nash’s sheepish act made her laugh.

“Oh, hush.” Without even noticing, she pushed at him like a child might do to another in friendship. Theories were fighting for supremacy, and from experience, she knew she had to give them time to jell. Then she snapped her fingers. “I’ve got it… what’s been bugging me. With all the stuff going on, I forgot that I hooked up a few cameras outside after realizing someone had been squatting here while the house was empty. Let’s hope I knew what I was doing when I installed them.”

She went for her phone and brought it to where Nash waited. Together, they opened her app, and both sat back frustrated. The motion lights had been smashed and the silhouette of the person breaking in simply looked to be a dark mass in human form. From the weird angle, they couldn’t make out any features that might have helped solve the mystery.

Discouraged, Nash spoke first. “What are you going to do?” He had some ideas but knew he’d get further by questioning her rather than forcing his own thoughts before she had a chance to voice her own.

Appreciating his tact, Ana grimaced. “First of all, I’ll be absolutely sure that bolt is in place from now on. And I’ll makecertain that the inside door from the bedroom suite to the rest of the house is also locked, so even if he or she breaks the glass to gain entrance, they won’t be coming into the main house.”

“Good idea.”

“Then we’re going to go through the suite like kids on an easter-egg hunt. You up for it?”

“You bet.” He followed her back to his room where he saw his ruined sweatpants pooled on the floor so as not to make a mess on the furniture. “Frankly, between us, I’m having a hard time controlling my anger. The thought that a stranger broke into your home, snooped around, and carelessly set a fire, makes me wish I could get a few minutes alone with the prick.”

“Funny thing? Me too.” They grinned at one another before Ana turned on all the lights and they started their search.

An hour later, they ended up slumping side by side on the bed, both frustrated and seething with disappointment. “Nothing.” Nash smoothed his mustache, pushing it from side to side, a habit he had when stressed. “I thought I had it figured out.”

“Me, too. We’re still no further ahead as to why the culprit came back here tonight. Hell, we don’t even know if it’s the same person.”

“That’s kind of a given though, right?”

“True. But why set the fire?”

“Hell if I know.” Nash added, “They’d already made good their escape and must have realized I couldn’t see them. Are we even sure it was the same person who broke in, and the one who set the fire?”

“See… I don’t know that either and that’s pissing me off. In fact, everything about this case is pissing me off.”

Nash laughed at her disgruntled expression. “It’s light enough now to go and inspect the fire remains. Just maybe I can find some indication as to how it started.”

“Good luck. I’ll make breakfast, and then we’ll need to head back into town.”

Nash took his flashlight and did a survey of the ruins, carefully detailing everything in the vicinity.

What’s this now?

About two feet away, he spotted a couple cigarette butts on the ground by the nearest tree. Knowing a bit about evidence retrieval, he scooped the leaves up under the butts to lift them as a whole parcel and not sully any possible DNA. His brain worked overtime, firing questions at him.

Could this be the way they started the fire?

If so, why stay so far away… out here by a tree?

Were they waiting to watch their handiwork, and I disturbed them?

Son of a bitch… was I that close to the sicko?

He couldn’t be sure. One thing he did know, the brand was Marlboro which was one of the most popular choices in the US. Also, the butts appeared dry, making him think they hadn’t been there very long. Plus, no lipstick stains, which suggested a man had smoked them or a woman who didn’t wear any makeup.

Not a lot to go on, but just maybe they could pull DNA from them and have a person of interest to question.

Chapter Eighteen

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