Page 38 of Shadow Undercover

“Sure. Try not to touch anything but the switches, all right?”

She paused in the threshold and glanced over her shoulder. “Why?”

“We may need to call the police to report a break-in. Your front door was unlocked,” he reminded her. “If you don’t see anything amiss, my team and I will want to take a closer look inside your house.”

Bridget’s brows knitted. “No problem. You and your friends can do whatever you need to do.”

“Thanks.”

“She’s a keeper,” Ben murmured. “Be smart, buddy.”

No pressure.

Bridget turned on the light. She glanced around, then walked to the dining room, kitchen, laundry room, and living room, turning on lights as she went. “All normal.”

“Good. Let’s tour the second floor.” As they walked upstairs, Trace said, “I like your house.”

She smiled. “Thanks. It’s comfortable. This is where Ruth escapes from her hectic life in front of the cameras.” Her smile faded. “Our home used to be a safe place. I don’t know if I’ll feel safe here again if someone broke in.”

“With the new security measures, you’ll feel safe again.”

“I hope you’re right.” She walked to the first bedroom Trace assessed and turned on the light. Bridget looked around. “Nothing is out of place.”

Trace motioned for her to check the next room.

Bridget stopped in the doorway of her bedroom. Her mouth fell open.

“What is it?” His pulse rate rose as he scanned the room for a threat he’d missed. Nothing.

“My pictures of Ruth are gone.”

“All of them?”

“Every one. Someone stole pictures of my sister.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Bridget stood in the center of her bedroom, staring at the empty places on the dresser and walls where pictures of Ruth used to be. Only one photo had been of her sister after her modeling career began. The rest were favorite pictures from their childhood.

She crossed the few feet to her bed and sat before her legs gave out. What was going on? Why would someone steal pictures of her sister? Was this Hugo’s work or had one of the groupies or news media finally made the connection between Roxanne and Ruth Monihan from Freeport and collected trophies to sell?

The bed dipped when Trace sat beside her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “We’ll figure out what’s going on. More important, we’ll find Ruth and bring her home.” He rubbed her arm in silent comfort. “We should check the rest of the rooms. You feel up to it?”

Not really. “Sure.” Trace tugged her up and into the hall. She checked her sister’s bathroom. Nothing out of the ordinary in here. Just thousands of dollars of cosmetic and skin care products her sister routinely used because she was in the spotlight whether on a contracted job or not.

So far, Ruth hadn’t been stalked while home. Had that changed? Maybe Hugo Torino had nothing to do with her sister’s disappearance. Perhaps the news media was responsible for her sister feeling as though she needed to disappear for a while. But wouldn’t Ruth have told her that she needed a break?

Bridget turned toward her sister’s bedroom and turned on the light. She gasped at the chaos.

“I guess Ruth didn’t leave her room like this.”

She shook her head, sick to her stomach. “Ruth likes everything organized. It’s how she keeps up with her belongings on the road. The habit carries over when she’s home.”

“Did you search the room before you left for Chile?”

“I moved items around a little, but I didn’t do this.”

She stared at the mess. At least nothing was broken. The chaos, however, would take time to straighten. Clothes strewn everywhere, shoes tossed around the room, closet door open with hangers bare.

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