Page 38 of Mile High Mystery

She could have argued that anyone might do something terrible with the right motivation, but didn’t bother. “Anyone else?”

“There was this guy, Todd. We met him in Caspar Canyon, and he tried to help me with my gear. We had a beer with him at Mo’s before Janie showed up.”

“Is Todd another friend?”

“No. He wrecked an ATV in the high country last week, and Search and Rescue responded to the call.”

“So you don’t really know anything about him.”

“No.” He looked miserable.

The doorbell summoned them, and Zach ushered in a sheriff’s deputy. “Deputy Declan Owen,” he introduced himself. “I understand you had a break-in. What happened?”

Zach explained about losing his key and finding the door open, then showed Deputy Owen the mutilated bear. “Nothing else was disturbed,” he said. “It’s really strange. And unsettling.”

“I noticed the front door didn’t look forced,” Owen said. “Is there any other way for someone to get in?”

“I didn’t think of that.” Zach looked to Shelby.

“We should check,” she said, wishing she had thought of that before.

They followed Owen through the townhouse, but the back door and all the windows were still secure. “I think someone stole Zach’s key and used it to get in,” Shelby said.

“Any idea who?” Owen asked Zach.

“I had a couple of strangers approach me this afternoon,” Zach said. “Both people I had helped on Search and Rescue calls. I guess one of them might have taken the key, though I don’t know why.”

Owen wrote down the information on Todd and Janie, then bagged the bear as evidence. “Any idea who might want to frighten you?” he asked Zach.

Zach shook his head. “No.”

“Zach’s sister was in witness security after she testified against Charlie and Christopher Chalk in Houston,” Shelby said. “Her murderer may have worked for the Chalks. There’s the possibility they’re targeting Zach now.”

“I don’t believe it,” Zach said. “They don’t have any reason to go after me.”

“I used to work for the Marshals Service,” Owen said. “I know about your sister’s case. I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Did you know Camille?” Zach asked.

“I met her once, before she was relocated. She had a good reputation in the office—smart and just a really nice person.”

Zach nodded. “That was Camille.”

“Why did you leave the Marshals Service?” Shelby asked.

“This is a better fit for me,” he said. He nodded to Zach. “We’ll be in touch. Call us right away if anything else happens that seems off or threatening.”

He left. Zach dropped onto the sofa and rested his elbows on his knees. He looked exhausted. “I’ll need to change the locks tomorrow,” he said.

Shelby sat beside him. “You shouldn’t stay here tonight.”

“I’ll be okay.” He glanced to the door. “I’ll wedge a chair under the door knob or something.”

“If you have a pillow and some blankets, I’ll make up a bed here on the sofa,” she said.

He straightened. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I’m not going to leave you alone.”

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