Page 14 of Hacker Salvation

“I hope she finds your mom.” Annabella’s eyes shifted from me to the squad car. “Why are the cops still here?”

“They’re probably still collecting evidence.”

Annabella let out a frustrated sigh next to me. Her hands were clenched into fists. “I just want to get things out of my house.” She threw the passenger door open and stomped up the driveway to her house.

I held back the smile I wanted to release. Annabella was a spitfire and had a temper. I jogged the couple of steps to catch up to her. We didn’t need her getting arrested for yelling or assaulting a cop.

An officer stood at the doorway with his arms crossed.

“I want to go into my house,” she said firmly.

“We’re still processing the home, ma’am.”

Annabella rolled her eyes. “Really? Ma’am? You know who I am. I don’t care if you follow me to make sure I don’t touch anything I’m not allowed to. But I want into my house to get clothes.”

An older officer walked over. “Let her in.” When the younger man started to protest, the older gentleman held up a hand. “We’re packing up to leave. The house is no longer a crime scene.”

Annabella pushed past the younger officer and walked toward the stairs. I followed her as she passed a bedroom with crime tape and headed farther down the hall.

“Where are you going?”

She glanced over her shoulder. “My room.” I must have looked confused because she explained. “We don’t sleep in the same room. I told you last night I was his beard. Nate is gay. We never shared a bed and never will share a bed.” She shrugged. “I may need money for my defense since Brock told me mine and Nate’s accounts are frozen. I plan to take what money we have here in the safe.”

Even though the police said they were leaving, an officer followed us into the bedroom. I wanted to tell him to go, but that might make it look like we were hiding something. Annabella grabbed a pink roller bag from the closet and started throwing clothes into the bag.

The officer standing in the doorway cleared his throat. “Why do you need a bag if we cleared the house?”

Annabella stopped packing and looked at me. “He’s right. I can stay here.”

I shook my head fervently. “You are not staying here. We don’t know if someone tried to kill Nate. What happens if they come back for you? It’s not safe.” I turned toward the officer. “And you should know that more than anyone. Do you have any leads?”

He didn’t say anything but just continued to write as Annabella packed her bag. Her eyes were trained on the suitcase.

I walked over to her. “Keep packing, and we will get back to Daisy’s.”

“Am I putting them in danger? I don’t want anything to happen to Daisy. She’s already been through so much.”

I reached up and wiped a tear from Annabella’s cheek. “Nothing is going to happen to you or Daisy, but staying here is not safe. We don’t know what happened, and we need to talk about everything with Brock.”

Annabella nodded and continued to pack. She went into the bathroom to grab a couple more items. Once she had her clothes packed, I picked up the bag and followed her down the hall. She stopped at the doorway to Nate’s room and took a deep breath before walking in. I noticed bloody footprints on the white carpet.

Annabella walked toward the closet and moved the small dresser next to it to reveal a floor safe. She spun the dials on it a couple times before I heard the safe click open. She opened it with no problem, which should’ve helped ease the mind of the officer. He stood at the door, watching everything she did. We all leaned over the floor safe, and Annabella frowned.

“The money is essentially gone.” She shook her head and pulled out one single stack. Nate had left a note on it for her. “Emergency money, darling. You know, like you just have to have that Prada purse.” He’d signed it with a winky face.

Annabella put the money in her purse.

“You can’t take that,” the officer said.

I stood up and blocked his path. “I’ve let you follow us around like a lost dog, but the officer downstairs said the house had been cleared. I don’t know why you’re here. She hasn’t been charged with anything, and this is her house.”

The officer stepped back and crossed his arms. He looked like he wanted to say something. Instead, he nodded and left the room.

I reached out my hand and helped Annabella get up off the floor.

“Why do the cops seem to have an issue with me?” she asked.

“That’s a good question. You did say earlier that Nate’s dad is friends with the sheriff. Let’s get your stuff and go. Do you have everything?”

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