Page 66 of I'm Watching You

‘What happened?’ Vega said.

‘I had a break-in. Someone came inside my home while I was at work and Brianna was at school. Nothing was taken but I knew someone was here.’

‘Any idea what they were looking for?’ Ayden said.

‘There was a time when someone might have foundsomething,but I did my time and there is no more of that here.’

‘You report it?’ Ayden said.

‘No. Like I said, nothing was taken. But someone was in my house.’

The detectives asked a couple more follow-up questions about Ruby’s job and Lindsay’s work. Nothing out of the ordinary came up and they left.

‘So why break into a woman’s house and not take anything?’ Vega said as they walked to their car.

‘I hate coincidences,’ Ayden answered.

‘So do I.’

Chapter Fifteen

Tuesday, July 8, 11:00A.M.

Mental Health Services was in a one-story brick building that was curtained off from the main road by a row of trees. It had tinted windows and nondescript signage. Few noticed it when they drove by.

Lindsay was on staff at Mental Health Services as a full-time counselor. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, she worked eight-hour days. On Thursdays she worked a twenty-four-hour shift, manning the crisis line. The rest of her time was spent at the shelter.

Since the shelter location was a secret, she used this facility to meet with her shelter family members on Mondays and Fridays. The county also allowed her to host her shelter’s board of directors’ meetings in the main conference room and interview potential shelter staff here on her off days.

Today, like every Tuesday, her morning was insanely busy. She had held her regularly scheduled counseling sessions and had also ended up on the phone with her board director, Dana Miller. The conversation had lasted almost a half hour. Keeping her tone positive, she had filled Dana in on everything about the Turner murder investigation. Dana had reminded her that so far she’d been able to keepthe press at bay. Lindsay had thanked her and promised that with luck they’d be back in business by the end of the week.

Dana hadn’t sounded happy, but she hadn’t complained too much.

Lindsay’s last morning appointment was with Howard and Marilyn Jackson. The couple were in their late fifties, came from an affluent background, and split their time between Richmond and Boca Raton. Lindsay had first met the couple when she’d helped their twenty-six-year-old battle alcoholism. Brenda had moved in with the couple a few months ago, and all had seemed well – until last week, when Marilyn had discovered her daughter was using illegal drugs. Marilyn had called Lindsay on Sunday night for help. Lindsay had agreed to a Tuesday appointment.

Marilyn and Howard sat side by side across the conference table from Lindsay. Dark circles marred the white flesh under Howard’s eyes. Clearly he’d not been sleeping. And the lines in Marilyn’s face looked deeper.

‘How long do you think she’s been using?’ Lindsay said.

Marilyn’s large purse sat in her lap as if it were a shield. ‘I don’t know. Years maybe. I’m starting to wonder if we ever knew her.’

Howard remained silent, his arms folded over his chest. Deep wrinkles creased his temples and the corners of his mouth.

‘Will she come and talk to me?’ Lindsay offered. ‘I’ve dealt with my share of drug addicts and alcoholics.’

Marilyn shook her head. ‘She refuses to talk to you or attend anyAAmeetings. She thinks she has all the answers. She thinks she’s in control.’

‘Believe me, she’s not in control,’ Lindsay said.

Howard nodded as if he was relieved to hear someone else say those words.

Lindsay understood firsthand how difficult and persuasive substance abusers could be. ‘What I’m proposing won’t be easy.’

Howard shifted forward as if needing a plan of action. ‘We’ll do what it takes.’

Lindsay nodded, saying, ‘Don’t underestimate what it takes to help her get clean and sober.’

Marilyn lifted her chin. ‘We’re not afraid of hard work.’

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