Page 657 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

She went around the room and pulled down the blinds, then ran a tired hand through her hair and went to the phone. Her fingers dialed his number almost by instinct. She let it ring at least a dozen times. No answer. Tears boiled over and she slammed down the phone.

Sydney sat on the couch and tried to control her shaking body as the realization of the night’s events soaked like rubbing alcohol into an open cut. This was no random break in. Someone knew exactly what he wanted and had taken it. Avery’s journal and the articles were gone. Any clues she might have found were lost. She shivered as a more terrifying thought pierced her mind. Someone knew who she was.

The phone rang. Kendall’s voice came over the line. “Sydney, have you been trying to call? What’s wrong?”

“My house got broken into tonight.”

“What? Are you all right?”

A lump formed in the back of Sydney’s throat. The compassion in his voice made her wish he was here.

“It happened while I was at work.”

“I’m on my way.”

“What happened to you?”

Sydney looked up as Sean barged into her office. “What’re you talking about?”

He pointed, and then sat in a chair in front of her desk. “You’ve got dark circles under your eyes, like you haven’t slept in a month.”

“Well, if you must know, my house was broken into last night.” She watched his face for a reaction. At this point, she wasn’t sure whom to trust. She was relieved to see genuine concern in his eyes.

“Syd, are you all right? Were you there?”

“No, it happened while I was at the outlying woodlands on a wild goose chase.”

“I got your call. What was that all about?”

“I’m not sure. Timothy McWhorter called me yesterday and said there was a dangerous situation I needed to check on.”

His eyes narrowed. “What kind of situation?”

“I’m not sure. He wouldn’t tell me over the phone.”

“Why didn’t you call Joe Slaton?”

“He was out of town.”

Sean shook his head. “No he wasn’t. I spoke to him yesterday afternoon.”

“What?” She thought back to the phone call. Like a fool, she believed every word the man had told her and hadn’t even bothered to validate anything. Then again, why would she? She couldn’t possibly know it was all a ruse.

“Sydney, Timothy McWhorter hasn’t worked for Chamberland for several months.”

The air left her lungs. She shook her head so hard that hair slung in her mouth. “No, that’s not possible. He called me yesterday.”

Sean’s eyes met hers. “I don’t doubt that someone called you, but I can assure you it wasn’t Timothy McWhorter.” He studied her face, which was growing paler by the minute. “What was stolen?”

“Huh?” Sean’s voice cut through her thoughts. “Oh, nothing.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Nothing at all?”

She nodded.

“Let me get this straight. Someone called you from the woodlands, and you went out there. And while you were gone, your house got broken into?”

“I know it sounds crazy, but that’s what happened.”

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