Page 56 of Cause and Effect

“Can you watch the girls while Laurel and I meet Simon at the house?” Julian asked.

“Yeah. Sure. Come on, girls. We’re going swimming at my house.”

“We are?” Stella asked.

“Julian and I have to run an errand, so Parker is going to watch you while we’re gone,” Laurel told them.

“Yay!” Sophie exclaimed.

“Oh, by the way, bro. Can you call a tow truck and have Laurel’s car towed to the dealership?”

“Yeah. I’ll do it when I get home.”

“Thanks.” Julian patted his shoulder.

When Parker and the girls went to his house, Julian and I dressed and headed to mine.

“Laurel, Julian, I’d like you to meet Sameen. She’s one of our best forensic technicians.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” I smiled, shaking her hand.

We stepped inside the house, and Simon looked around. “You said the kitchen chair was pulled out?”

“Yes,” I replied.

“Sameen, let’s start with the table and chairs. Hopefully, whoever was in here wasn’t smart enough to wear gloves,” Simon said. “Laurel, do you know of anyone who would want to hurt you?”

“No. No one.” I shook my head. “I just moved here, Simon. I barely know anybody.”

“Simon, it’s a no-go for fingerprints. The person was obviously wearing gloves and careful,” Sameen spoke.

“Shit,” Simon sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Thanks, Sameen. I owe you one.”

“Now what?” Julian asked him.

“Well, there’s nothing we can do right now. There’s no evidence of a break-in, no prints, nothing. I suggest installing a security system with all the bells and whistles.”

“It’s a rental,” I said.

“Then call the landlord, tell them what happened, and say you’re putting in an alarm,” Simon said. “If anything else comes up, you know how to reach me.”

“You’re staying with me until the security system gets installed,” Julian said.

“I’ll be fine. Follow me,” I said, walking up the stairs. When I entered my bedroom, I opened the closet and pulled down a metal box from the top shelf. Opening it, I pulled out my gun.

“You have a gun?” Julian’s brows furrowed. “Are you licensed to carry that?”

“Yes. My father bought it for me and taught me how to use it after Jason died. I’m going to need a rental car until my car is fixed.”

“Nah. You don’t need a rental. Sam will drive you anywhere you need to go.”

“I have to drop the kids off at school in the morning,” I said.

“Okay. We’ll drop the kids off before heading to the office. But I really wish you’d stay at my place until we figure out what’s going on.”

“No.” I shook my head. “I appreciate the offer, Julian, but the girls will start to get suspicious, and they can’t know anything about what’s going on.”

“Laurel?” I heard my mom’s voice downstairs.

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