Page 168 of Protecting What's Mine
Deputy Hiya Tahir climbed out and adjusted her belt.
“You are overreacting,” Mack said in exasperation.
“We’ll see about that,” he said mildly as he gave her a hard, reassuring hug.
ASEARCHof Mack’s house revealed several missing items. A bottle of wine, a pair of small diamond studs that her foster parents got her for her graduation from med school, and two-hundred dollars in cash that she kept in an empty box of K-Cups in the kitchen cabinet.
The weak lock on the back door had been jimmied open, and Mack could see Linc’s wheels turning.
“No other damage that I can see,” she said as she perused her bedroom under Deputy Tahir’s watchful eye.
“Where’s your sketchbook, Dreamy,” Linc asked, peering into the drawer of her nightstand.
“It’s right…it should be right there,” she said, frowning. The charcoal pencils were there, the eraser. But no book.
“Is it missing?” the deputy asked.
“Why would someone take that?” Mack asked half to herself. She peered under the bed in case she’d mislaid it.
That tickle between her shoulder blades was back. Something was wrong.
“Dr. O’Neil, do you know anyone who would mean you any harm?” Deputy Tahir asked.
“You mean besides the Kershes?” Linc put in.
“We’ll ask any questions that need asking, chief,” Deputy Tahir said.
“Someone broke in here,” Linc said succinctly. “You think asking questions is going to keep Mackenzie safe?”
“Linc.” Mack laid a hand on his arm. “I am safe.”
“I want you to stay at the station with me tonight,” he said, his jaw hard.
“I’m not staying in a firefighter fart factory.”
“You’re not staying here alone.”
“Sunshine and I will stay at your place. Final offer.”
“I want drive-bys,” he insisted.
“We’ll have patrol come by every hour,” the deputy offered. “It’s probably just kids being stupid. But it doesn’t hurt to be careful.”
Mack waited until Linc walked Deputy Tahir to her cruiser before pulling out her phone.
“Well, look who it is. The daughter who disowned me,” Andrea sniped when she answered the call.
“Where’s Wendy?” Mack said flatly.
“What does it matter? Are you going to try having her arrested again?”
“Where is she, Andrea?”
“Andrea? I’m yourmother. You will show me the respect I deserve!”
“When you’ve earned my respect, I’ll be happy to give it to you. Where is Wendy?”
“She’s in the shower getting ready for work.”
