Page 73 of Silent Deception
CHAPTER TWENTY
Last Saturday, Ryanhad asked her out for tonight, and she’d been looking forward to it all week. Not because of the food or the ambiance—or the chance to get away from her usual routine on a Friday night.
She’d been looking forward to spending time with Ryan.
But he didn’t call during the week or stop by. And at four o’clock today, he’d called the clinic to give his regrets with just a vague mention of a family obligation.
Cody had been so excited about going to Nora’s for a long trail ride that Kristin couldn’t change his plans. So she’d waved goodbye as Nora’s truck bounced away down the long gravel road to the highway.
After rambling around her old house restlessly for an hour, she grabbed her purse and drove into San Antonio to explore the quaint Riverwalk shops.
With Ryan, it would have been fun just walking down the street, people watching, and listening to music filter out of the coffee shops. Alone, she felt empty. As if she’d left a big part of herself behind.
It wasn’t, she admitted, a welcome revelation. In less than eight weeks Ryan would be leaving and taking her heart with him, something she’d wanted very much to avoid.
By ten o’clock she’d driven back to Nora’s ranch to pick up Cody, and now they were back on her own front porch. Scout met them with anxious whines, his body quivering. Strange. Had he encountered a pack of coyotes nearby? Some other wild creature?
Vaguely uneasy, she tested the front door—still locked tight—then peered through the glass into the darkened living room.
Everything was just as it should be, with nothing out of place. The TV still stood where it belonged. Even her digital camera was still perched on the fireplace mantel.
Just your imagination.She stepped inside and flipped on the lights with her other hand on the reassuring cell phone clipped to the waist of her Levi’s.
“Can I stay up and watch a movie?” Cody pleaded. “It’s Saturday night!”
“Bedtime, kiddo—soon as you take your bath.”
“Aaaw, Mom!” But despite his apparent misery, she’d seen him yawning all the way home and knew he was tired.
“You and Aunt Nora rode for three hours while I was gone. I’ll bet that bed of yours will feel mighty good tonight.”
After putting away her groceries, she checked the lock on the back door and turned out the kitchen light, then headed to the den while Cody filled the tub.
An unexpected, cool draft wafted over her stocking feet as she touched the door. Hesitant, she pushed it open and took a half step back. Across the room, the lace curtains swayed fitfully on the night breeze.
Shealwaysclosed every window before she left home.
She’d set up a small home office in the corner of the room, and now the filing cabinet drawers hung open. Papers were strewn everywhere.
It hadn’t been the wind, and it clearly hadn’t been some stray animal after food. An intruder had been searching for something.
She instinctively grabbed Nora’s rifle from the top shelf of her bedroom closet, loaded it, and rapidly checked every room and closet.
There was no sign that the intruder was still here. But if she’d scared him away by arriving late at night, he might come back thinking she was easy prey.
She grabbed her cell phone, hitting the speed dial for 911, and reached Cody just before he stepped into the bathtub, and ordered him back into his clothes, pronto.
He regarded her with frightened eyes. “Why?”
“We’ll be fine, honey. I think someone might have been in here while we were gone. I’ve just called 911, so the sheriff or his deputy should be here soon.”
Keeping him at her side, she double-checked the locks on every door and window, closed every blind, and switched on all of the lamps until the house was ablaze with light. Then she stood with him in the living room, her heart hammering in her chest.
She managed a smile. “Kind of an adventure, don’t you think?”
“Can I watch a movie?”
