Page 17 of Heart of a Hero

“Less than one percent of credit card thieves are caught.” Brad sighed. “One of the Binley’s cards was used to purchase a TV online before it was canceled. Another one was used to purchase two computers. It was also an online purchase before the card theft was discovered and canceled.”

“High-priced items that can be resold quickly,” Mark surmised.

“The same for the Osters’ cards. Three online purchases for electronics.”

“And we’ve got no budget to do much tracing. Any chance the FBI will assist?”

Brad shook his head. “Not unless this turns out to be part of a larger ring of thefts.” He groaned as he leaned back, again cracking his neck.

“You okay?”

Brad snorted. “Yeah, I’m okay. It’s just that…” He looked around and lowered his voice before continuing. “Bess is a flopper at night. You know… she flops from side to side. But for the past couple of weeks, she can’t move much because of her leg injury, so she starts to turn, then groans in pain, which wakes me up, and I don’t go back to sleep until I’m sure she’s settled. I haven’t slept through the night in weeks.”

Mark thought of some of the men he served with. Brad, Aaron, and Sam had all found love in the past year. Then his thoughts jumped to Karen, whom he’d met for the first time when Bess was injured. Forcing his mind back to his partner, he noticed Brad’s wry grin.

“I’m not complaining that she’s in my bed,” Brad rushed to say. “I’ll just be glad when she’s healed.”

Nodding, Mark looked down at the papers in front of him, continuing their investigation. “None of the owners had a security system or a dog. But how the hell would the thief know that unless he or she cased the places first? Since there’s no commonality as to the homes, that doesn’t make sense.”

“The Binleys also had a diamond ring and an opal necklace stolen. These were lying on the dresser in the main bedroom upstairs. Also, a new tablet and his wallet were left on the kitchen counter, but her purse was in an upstairs closet. This house was broken into during the day. They live at the end of a long drive, so no neighbors were around to notice. But that means someone had to know they were gone. But why target them?”

Sam and Aaron walked into the bullpen and stopped at their desks.

“Heard there was another burglary last night,” Sam said. “Same MO?”

Mark nodded as Brad mumbled a curse. “Yes. It's the same kind of entry. Cash, cards, and prescriptions were taken. The owners were upstairs asleep, and nothing else was taken. They had an older television and an older version e-reader on the counter. Neither of those were taken.”

Aaron shook his head, “It’s like there’s no common denominator, is there?”

Brad cursed again. “Nope. Too alike to be random even though it looks random.”

“We’re starting to look for any connection we can,” Mark added. “So far, not the same activities. Not the same church. They don’t even shop at all the same stores.”

Shaking their heads, Aaron and Sam headed over to their desks, leaving Brad and Mark to call the homeowners again to ask more questions.Somewhere, there has to be a common thread. Mark sighed as he picked up his phone.

8

That evening, Mark fixed dinner while watching Benji play in the backyard. When he bought the house, he was surprised he’d found exactly what he needed. He’d told the real estate agent that he was sure he’d have to purchase land and build a home but hated the idea of renting for a year while the house was being built. The agent worked hard to find just the right place.

At that thought, he inwardly grimaced. She was attractive, divorced, and had no children, and she made it evident that she was all in to become involved with him. And while he appreciated her finding the house he purchased, he finally had to let her know in no uncertain terms that he wasn’t interested.

But the house was perfect. The main house was a large, two-story farmhouse. The living room and dining room were in the front, with a hall that split down the middle next to the stairs that led to the second floor. The back held a family room and eat-in kitchen. Upstairs were four bedrooms. There was a Jack and Jill bathroom between two smaller bedrooms, a hall bathroom next to the other smaller bedroom, and a master bedroom with an en suite. A laundry room off the kitchen was the entrance to the two-car garage.

He knew the house had more room than he and Benji needed, but Mark liked the idea of a large home that gave them more than enough room. The extra first-floor bedroom with en suite bathroom gave his dad a sense of his own space.

“Dad!” Benji yelled.

Mark looked out the window over the sink and waved.

“Come play with me!”

“You go on, Son,” Richard urged.

Mark glanced down at the meatloaf, ready to go into the pan. “You sure, Dad?”

“Hell, boy, all I gotta do is stick it in the oven after I douse a little barbecue sauce on top.”

Mark chuckled and nodded. “You’re right. I figure you can handle a lot more than that.” He washed and dried his hands before heading out the back door. When Benji saw him on the patio, his son raced toward him.

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