Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
To get to Daphne’s apartment, one had to walk by Boomer’s. There were only four units on this floor, and Daphne’s was the one farthest from the elevator. Even if they’d come up the stairs, they would have walked by his place and the dogs would have let him know.
“They haven’t barked like that, and I was there since we got back at five thirty,” Lou confirmed. “Boomer’s right. There’s no way anyone gets by Puddles. He hates everyone but us.”
Puddles was scared of everyone, but his fear came out as loud barking and the occasional bladder bomb. He was an excellent early warning signal.
Daphne nodded, and her shoulders relaxed. “Okay. You’re right. The dogs are practically their own security system.”
“Yeah. You’re getting one of those in the morning. A security system, that is.” He pulled his cell and keys out of his pocket and nodded back toward his condo, handing Daphne the keys. “Go and settle into the guest bedroom. You two are sleeping at my place tonight. I’ll handle this.”
“I should talk to the police,” Daphne offered. “But I’ll put Lou to bed and I’ll wait until you tell me it’s okay to come down here. I need to grab some things if we’re staying overnight.”
At least she was being logical. “I’ll text you or come to get you. Don’t leave the condo unless I tell you it’s okay.”
She moved in and gave him a quick hug. “Be careful.”
Then she was holding Lou’s hand as Lou walked beside her. The whole time Lou looked back like she was terrified it might be the last time she saw him.
“It’ll be okay.” He waved Lou’s way and then called the police, explaining his girlfriend’s condo had been broken into. They assured him they were on the way, and then he called Hutch as he got to one knee and examined the doorknob and more specifically the locking mechanism. Daphne’s key was still in the lock, but he was more interested in the metal around the key.
“Hey, Boomer. What’s going on?” Hutch yawned over the line.
“Someone broke into Daph’s place.” He put the phone on speaker and took a couple of closeup pictures of the quite pristine lock. “I need you to pick up the CCTV cams around the building and send them to me. Send me the day, but I’m really interested in the hours I was at work.”
“I’m on it.” Hutch suddenly sounded more awake. “Are Daphne and Lou okay?”
“I’m also sending you some pictures. And yeah, they’re fine physically. They were with me all night,” Boomer explained.
“Nice,” Hutch said. “You call the cops?”
“Yeah. They’re twenty minutes out, though. I told them no one was here and the burglary probably happened hours ago.”
“Is that true or do you just want to kick the ass of anyone who happens to be in there?”
“Uh, both, but I don’t think I’m going to get lucky. I think whoever was here has been gone for a while. I’m also not seeing any marks that would tell me someone picked the lock.” He studied the frame. “The door is still solid. We’re fifteen floors up, so I doubt whoever it was came in through a window.”
“A good lockpick might not leave marks,” Hutch pointed out.
It would have to be a spectacularly good thief. “I doubt it. But they also didn’t force the door. I’ll talk to Daphne and try to figure out who has a key.”
Daphne seemed pretty careful, but she was also juggling a lot of balls. It wouldn’t be surprising if she’d once given her key to an employee or a friend to go and grab something for her. Lou also had a key. He would have to question her, too.
“Are you going in?” Hutch asked. “I’ll stay on the line if you are.”
Daphne had already turned the knob, but he was going to be careful anyway. Using only the key, he eased open the door and entered. “I’m in. Damn. Someone did a number on this place.”
He hadn’t gotten a good look inside when she’d first opened the door, but now he understood why she’d gone a pasty white. Anger flared inside Boomer because this was a complete violation.
Someone had taken a knife to her pretty yellow sofa and love seat. They’d dumped the contents of her bookcase and smashed up the frames of her pictures. Her TV was turned over, and her dishes were smashed against the floor of the kitchen, making an awful mess.
“Take some pictures. We can run them past Eve,” Hutch suggested.
That was an excellent idea. He did exactly that. Eve was a profiler, and she might have some insights into this level of spite. “Will do. I’m going to have the security guys install a system here tomorrow, though I don’t know that Daphne should come back for a couple of days. At least not until I’ve ID’d this guy. Hey, can you get me a report on her in-laws? She has trouble with them. And she recently fired a guy who didn’t go quietly. I think we should investigate this. No matter how bad this looks, you know the cops are going to file a report and move on.”