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Moore snapped the cover shut on his tablet. “Hopefully, he left evidence behind. I’ll need to go over your house.”

She grimaced. “It’s locked.”

“Locked?”

“After he left, I tried to get back in, but he must have locked the door behind us. My keys and everything are inside.”

“Is there someone you can call who has a spare?”

“Oh! I guess I do.” She gave herself a mental kick. “It’s hidden in my backyard.” A must, as often as she misplaced her keys or locked herself outside. She set the remainder of her hot cocoa on the coffee table and rose.

“Hold up,” Shannon said. “It’s too chilly for you to be walking around out there barefoot.” She hurried down the hall and returned a moment later with a pair of flip-flops. “I’d lend you real shoes, but I’m pretty sure they’d be way too big.”

“These are fine. Thank you. And thanks again for letting me wait here.”

“Anytime.”

Allye slipped on the sandals and led the way outside and around the back of the house. Moore followed her, flashlight in hand, and illuminated the area for her. She pulled the key from its hiding place.

“Do you want me to unlock the door, or do you want to?”

Moore extended his hand. “I’ll take care of it. I need you to wait outside or back at your neighbor’s while I examine things, then we’ll do a walk-through together to see if you notice anything out of place.”

“Okay.” Allye viewed the dark backyard. She didn’t want to bother Shannon any more tonight, but staying back here alone would give her the creeps. “Is it all right if I wait on the front porch?”

“That’s fine.” Moore headed for the door, leaving her to make her own way there.

She wasted no time circling back to the front of the house. At least there was the bit of light from the street. And the deterrent of the flashing lights from Moore’s patrol car. She settled into the chair she’d sat in before and replayed the night’s events in her mind. A shadow moved at the edge of the yard, and she nearly jumped out of her skin. But it was just a tree blowing in the breeze. No one was skulking in the shadows, waiting to grabher. Not that she’d be able to see them if they were there. She really needed to retrieve her glasses.

But her attacker was out there somewhere. He knew where she lived, and he’d made her a target. Despite the borrowed hoodie, she shivered.

10

After what seemed like an hour,Moore joined Allye on the porch. She stood and accepted her key from him but kept one hand on the back of the chair to help keep her balance.

“What did you find?”

“Not much. I dusted for prints, and we’ll need you to provide yours so we can rule them out. It would be helpful if anyone who’s regularly in your house could do the same.”

“I can do that.” And she’d have to ask her family to as well—or maybe not. She’d been too tired lately to have anyone over. Any prints they’d left might well have been eliminated weeks ago.

“Everything seemed to be locked up tight,” Moore continued. “I didn’t find an obvious point of entry.”

“He locked the door behind us,” she reminded him.

He made a noncommittal grunt. What did that mean? Instead of commenting on her attacker’s odd action, he thumbed over his shoulder. “He had to have gotten in before that though. Did you have the doors locked when you went to bed?”

“Yes. At least, I think so.” She normally kept the doors locked at night, but with her memory lately, she couldn’t be absolutely sure.

Moore sighed. “If you’re ready, we’ll walk through together. Tell me if you notice anything out of place.”

Before she could respond, another car pulled into her driveway. She and Moore both turned toward the newcomer, who climbed from his car and headed toward them. Allye squinted, but she couldn’t tell who it was until he had almost reached them. Eric. The moment she recognized him, a bit of her fear and frustration ebbed away.

“I heard your address come over the scanner. What’s going on?” There was concern in his normally curt voice, and he seemed to be assessing her for damage.

“Someone broke into my house.”

“While you were at home?”