Page 30 of This Time I'm Keeping You
“Okay, let’s head downstairs.”
“I should stay and clean this,” Poppy said, not moving.
“You have to wait until Billy tells you it’s safe,” Emma said, taking her good hand and tugging her to the door.
“You’re as determined as your brother,” she muttered.
“I have four siblings, Poppy, all older.There was no room for indecisiveness, or I’d end up last in the line.”
“And that was bad?”she whispered, concentrating on Emma’s words.Seeing her brother’s picture on the floor with the glass smashed made nausea swirl in her stomach.“Why would someone do this?I don’t understand.I was only gone for two hours, and it’s the middle of the day.”
“Kids that are high and bored.People who are scum.They’re out there no matter how much we wish they weren’t,” Emma said.
“Yes, I know you’re right.You just never think it will happen to you.”
They made it downstairs.She couldn’t see Nick, Sam, and their cousin in her living area, but she could hear their voices coming from the front door.
“Sit.I’ll bring you coffee,” Emma said.
When she’d disappeared into the kitchen, Poppy headed for the men.
“So her bag was snatched, and now this happened,” Billy was saying as she got closer.The words made her stop and listen before they saw her.
“You think there’s a connection?”
“I’d say it’s an odd coincidence if it’s not, Nick.The door was unlocked, not smashed,” Billy added.
The words sent a shiver through her.“Are you saying that whoever has my bag broke in here?”
“Listening to other people’s conversations is rude, Tinker Bell,” Nick said as she walked out the front door.
Poppy straightened her shoulders, which hurt, so she hunched again.“This is my house, so I have a right to overhear.I need to know what I’m dealing with.I should also probably tell you something.”
“What?”Nick demanded.
“Don’t yell at me.”
“Fine.Please continue,” Nick said between his teeth.
“There was this guy a few years ago.We dated for a while.He was really nice at the beginning, and then he started doing strange things, like coming over in the middle of the night and knocking on my door to check I was home.”Nick’s eyes were narrowed and laser focused on her as she spoke.“I told him I didn’t want to see him anymore; he was persistent and began stalking me.The police have all the details because I reported it, and he was fined and did probation.There has been nothing from him for a year, so it’s probably not him, but I thought you should know.”
Sam whistled.
“And you’re telling us this now?”Nick said.
“I didn’t think it was him.I still don’t.”
“That is not your call to make,” he snapped.
“What is his name?”Billy asked.
“Malcolm Davy,” she said, fighting the shudder.The man had destroyed her life.
“Okay, I’ll look into it,” Billy added.“You’re famous.That kind of thing comes with problems—namely, crazy fans.”
“I’ve had a few of those.”
“I need to hear about any you remember.I’ll get some people in here to take pictures and fingerprints.You heard me say the door wasn’t forced, and no windows appear broken, so it’s possible someone got in using a key, which means it’s likely the guy who took your bag.”
