Page 67 of Night Falls on Predicament Avenue
Norah opened her mouth to respond with a yes and then snapped it shut. She was at a loss. She assumed it was still in her room.
Footsteps at the doorway alerted her and the officer. It was Detective Dover. He wore blue jeans and a sweatshirt, looking far different from his typical suit and tie. “I heard on the scanner. Thought I’d come over and make sure you were all right.”
Norah gave him a weak smile, and the officer gave Dover a rundown of the situation. Dover’s frown didn’t encourage Norah.
“Let’s go check out your room.” He extended a hand toward the stairs, and Norah followed him. “I’ve got it from here,” Dover told the officer. The two men exchanged some words and instructions before Dover and Norah moved on.
Once in Norah’s room, she went directly to the dresser where the music box had lived for years. The space where it sat was empty. She gave Dover a perplexed look. “It’s not here,” she stated.
Dover took her words into consideration. “Do you remember moving it to Harper’s room?”
“No, and I wouldn’t have,” Norah said firmly.
Dover’s eyebrow rose. “Why’s that?”
“Because it was Naomi’s. It was given to her as a gift a few months before she died.”
“Do you know who gave it to her?”
“No.” Norah stared at the spot where the music box should have been. “It was an antique. Naomi liked old things. I assumed some old lady at church gave it to her.”
“And the one upstairs is identical?” Dover inquired.
“I’d say it’s the same one,” Norah said. “But who would move it?”
“Harper?”
“She’s never been in my room. This part of the house is off-limits to guests.” Although that was a rather flimsy argument considering the kitchen was also off-limits and yet Sebastian and Harper seemed so at home there, no one thought twice of their using it. Just as Otto and Ralph routinely used the kitchen without permission. Still, no one ever came to the back bedroom. There was no reason to.
Dover nodded. “And are your doors kept locked?”
“Yeah, they—” Norah bit off her words. The other night when she’d seen the woman in the graveyard, the back door hadn’t been locked. She strained to recall if she’d locked it last night.
Dover read her face and sighed. “Let’s go check, shall we?”
In seconds, Norah knew that her sense of security had been shattered. The back door was again unlocked. Anyone could have come and gone without being noticed. “I don’t understand. How did it get unlocked?” She sank onto a kitchen chair.
Dover raked his hand through his hair, oblivious to how he gave Sebastian’s rugged good looks a run for his money. He lowered himself onto a chair near her. “Not sure, but I’m going to have an officer patrol the property for the next few nights.”
“You don’t believe it’s—” She stopped. Norah would sound outright silly if she said what was on her mind.
“The legendary ghost of 322 Predicament Avenue?” Dover finished, giving her a thin smile. “Doubtful. Not if actual objects are being moved. Only far-advanced ghosts have that ability—or so I’ve heard.”
“Isabelle Addington has had a century to becomeadvanced.” Norah’s observation was laced with irony.
Dover chuckled. “Well, be that as it may, the whole thing is suspicious. I mean, you reported the library card and the wallet, both of them Naomi’s. Now this? It’s all concerning. I don’t know it’s enough to reopen Naomi’s case, but—”
“But there’s a chance?” Norah leaned forward, hope shooting through her.
“A chance? Sure.” Dover seemed resistant to the idea. He narrowed his eyes. “I just don’t see it as likely. There’s no evidence those items were with Naomi the night she was killed.”
Norah wanted to argue. Dover hadn’t been on the force thirteen years ago. How would he know what Naomi was supposed to have on her person that hadn’t been found? Unless he’d read the cold case files. She relaxed a bit. That was it. He’d read the same files she had right now spread out on her dining room table.
He changed the subject back to the old ghost story. “Maybe Isabelle Addington is just trying to help.”
Norah studied his face and the casual way he lounged in the chair as if he’d been there many times before. Only he hadn’t. “Maybe,” she said. At this point, she wasn’t sure she trusted anyone anymore. Dead people or living ones.
“Are you coming back here?” Norah dared to ask. She would understand if Sebastian didn’t want to. Keeping Norah safe had been his side gig, but Harper? She should be Sebastian’s priority.
