Page 30 of High Country Escape

“Ms. Byrne?” Shane moved toward them. “I’m Deputy Ellis.”

“Thank you for coming,” she said.

“I understand you believe someone broke into your house,” Shane said.

“Yes. I came home and the front door was open. The lock had been broken.”

“Did you go inside?”

“No. I got back in my car and called 911.”

“Did you see anyone? Or any other vehicle, near the house?”

“No. But I didn’t stay there long. And it was dark.”

“All right. I’ll go and check it out in a bit. Where were you before you came home?”

“I was having dinner.” She glanced at Dalton. “With Dalton’s family.”

“How long were you away from home?”

She frowned. “About four hours,” Dalton said.

“Yes, that sounds right,” she agreed.

“You two wait here and I’ll go check it out,” Shane said.

When they were alone, Dalton put his arm around her. “Thanks for coming,” she said. “I feel silly now, dragging you out of the house. I’m fine. It just...shook me a little bit.”

“I’m glad you called,” he said. “I’m happy to help any way I can.” He had plenty of questions, but none of them had answers at this point—did she think this was the same person whose footprints she had seen in her flower beds? Did she think it was William Ledger? But if she wanted to talk about such things, he’d let her bring them up. He didn’t want to upset her further.

“I meant to ask you, are you in the wedding party?” she asked. “For your sister’s wedding, I mean.”

The abrupt change of subject startled him. But she was probably trying to distract herself, so he would do his part. “Uh, no. I think they’re just having a couple of attendants each. Ian has asked a couple of climbing buddies, and Bethany has two friends she grew up with to stand up with her.”

“That’s nice. The wedding sounds like it’s going to be beautiful. And Carter and Aaron are engaged, too? Have they set wedding dates?”

“Aaron and Willa are getting married in December but I haven’t heard many details. Carter and Mira are waiting until next summer. I’m pretty sure they’re going to be married in Santa Fe. That’s where Mira is from.”

“I’ve never been to Santa Fe, but I hear it’s beautiful.”

“Yes.” It was the kind of casual conversation he could have with anyone, but maybe that was the point—to keep any kind of real emotion at bay.

They fell silent, and he was grateful to see Shane’s SUV returning. “There’s no one at the house now,” Shane said. “Could you come with me? There’s something you need to see.”

They both returned to their vehicles and followed Shane back to the tiny house. Light glowed from every window of the house, and strings of white lights illuminated the trees around the dwelling. As soon as they were out of their vehicles, Roxanne’s neighbor, Kara, emerged from the house across the drive and hurried over. “What is going on?” she asked. “I saw the sheriff’s car over here and got really worried.”

“Someone broke into my house,” Roxanne said.

“Oh no!” Kara put her hand on Roxanne’s shoulder. “Are you all right? Did they take anything?”

“I’m a little shook up, but physically, I’m fine,” Roxanne said. “I don’t know yet if anything is missing.”

“Are you a neighbor?” Shane asked.

“Yes, I live over there.” Kara pointed to the blue house across the drive. “I’m so sorry this happened, Roxanne. That’s so upsetting.”

“Did you see anyone over here this afternoon or evening?” Shane asked.