Page 29 of Shattered Secrets

Swallowing a sob, she nodded, even though the other woman couldn’t see her. “Thank you, Carol.”

Their call disconnected, and Scarlet gingerly rose from her hiding spot, careful not to jostle Daisy’s arm. Her sweet little girl clung to her like a monkey.

“Why don’t you stay where you are for another few minutes,” Chase said, holding out a hand, halting her. “There’s plenty of glass here.”

When she nodded, he moved away from the door. Another man took his place. Unlike Chase, who wore his uniform, Sheriff Quinn O’Conner was clad in jeans and a wrinkled T-shirt, and his hair was mussed. Obviously, he’d been asleep when she’d made her call to 9-1-1.

“Let me get you both a pair of shoes before you come this way. Where are they?” Quinn asked in his steady, everything-is-under-control tone.

She wasn’t going to lie. That tone helped. Hell, knowing Quinn and Chase were with her helped. Because holy shit, she’d never been so terrified. And that was saying something since she’d been involved in some god-awful situations.

Scarlet blinked as she realized Quinn was staring at her.Answer the man!“Oh, sorry. Our shoes are in the closet by the front door.”

With a nod, he vanished back inside.

She sighed and shifted Daisy to her other hip.

“Mama? I gotta go potty.”

Eyeing the glass fragments on the balcony, she ran a hand down Daisy’s back. “Can you hold it for just a little bit?”

Fortunately, Quinn reappeared.

“Here, I’ll hold Daisy while you get these on,” he said, placing Scarlet’s pink Converse at her feet. As he straightened, he heldhis arms out to her daughter. And Daisy clung even tighter to her.

He held his hands up, and Scarlet shot him an apologetic smile. “How about you put her shoes on”—Scarlet nodded to Daisy’s sneakers, which he held in one hand—“while I hold her?”

“Deal,” he said, giving Daisy a comforting smile. “Hi, Daisy. I’m Sheriff O’Conner. I’m going to help put your shoes on so your feet don’t get cut on all this glass. It’s a mess inside too, so make sure you keep your shoes on, okay?”

Daisy didn’t say anything, but she tipped her head in a little nod.

Once Daisy’s shoes were on, Scarlet stuffed her feet into her Converse and carefully followed Quinn back inside, still carrying her daughter. The crunch of glass beneath her feet turned her stomach.

Upon stepping into her bedroom, she froze. The dresser drawers were hanging open, and the small bin of makeup and toiletries she kept on top was tipped over. She didn’t have much, but what she did have was spilling onto the carpet.

“Mama, I gotta go,” Daisy whimpered.

Snapping back to attention, she asked Quinn, “Can I take her to the bathroom?”

“Of course,” he said. “We’ll talk when she’s done.”

After helping Daisy in the bathroom, Scarlet tried to put her down in her own bedroom—which, thankfully, looked untouched—but her little girl clung on. Not that Scarlet could blame her. It had been a frightening night, and frankly, she wanted Daisy as close as possible.

Draping one of Daisy’s favorite toddler blankets around her shoulders, Scarlet went into the living room. She hadn’t looked at it when she’d taken Daisy to the bathroom, but now there was no avoiding reality. The living room appeared as though it had been tossed. Like on TV when the bad guy was searching forsomething. Couch cushions upended, cabinet doors wide open, drawers emptied, Daisy’s crayon bin spilled onto the carpet...

“There was no one here when we arrived,” Quinn began. “However, at the downstairs entrance, there was an obvious forced entry.” He gestured to her front door, which looked to be hanging on one hinge. “The apartment next door was also broken into and ransacked. Deputy Chase is over there checking that out. At first glance, there doesn’t appear to be any renters staying there, but do you know if there are?”

“Nobody right now,” she said, swaying back and forth as she tucked Daisy’s head under her chin. “Mr. Wayland shares the rental calendar with me.” Quinn’s eyebrows lifted in question, and she explained, “For security. He said he feels guilty renting the place out when it’s just me and Daisy here alone.” She shrugged. “So I know that no one is supposed to be checking in until next Friday.”

“That makes sense.” Quinn examined her living room. “Can you take a look around and see if there’s anything missing? Your purse, electronics, jewelry... That kind of thing.”

She inclined her head toward the clunky television. “Looks like they didn’t want that relic.”

He scoffed. “More like they couldn’t lift it. They took the flat-screen off the wall at the other place.” He scanned the room once more, and his smile vanished. “I’m sorry this happened, Scarlet. Take a look around. I’m going to go check in with Chase.”

The second Quinn stepped out of her apartment, she tensed, all her worry and unease returning in full force. What if the person who did this wasn’t gone? What if?—

No. Focus, dammit!

---