Page 30 of Into The Rabbit Hole
They’d been here for over an hour, now, and have come up with nothing. And it didn’t look like they were anywhere further than they were when they first arrived. All she felt was the morbid atmosphere that lingered about the place. It didn’t feel good at all, and she wanted to be far away fromhere.
Wes took out his notebook and jotted something down. Chloe didn’t know what he could be writing. She folded her arms under her chest as she looked Wesover.
She’d arranged for them to see Wade in two hours and was really hoping they’d have something more than the nothing they’d found. Although she couldn’t wait to see him, she wondered what state he’d be in today, and she knew he wouldn’t be too thrilled to seeWes.
It didn’t matter, though. She’d always been taught to never turn away help, and even though they didn’t find anything, Chloe felt it was good that Wes took a lookaround.
He frowned at something, she wasn’t surewhat.
“Wes, I don’t know what you’re doing.” Chloewinced.
He looked over at her. “Assessing.” He said that like it was obvious. As if it was the most normal thing in theworld.
“It would help if you talked. I’m just standing here and I don’t know what you’re thinking,” she complained. It was frustration getting to her. “We’ve gotnothing.”
He sighed and rolled his eyes. “I’m thinking, woman. Sometimes it’s best to think then talk, but you wouldn’t know that since you talk then think.” He narrowed his eyes at her. She knew he was referring to her reaction earlier with theneighbor.
“I’m sorry. Please put yourself in my place. It was awful for me to hear someone talk negatively aboutWade.”
“I know, but you have to chill out. You can’t react or rushthis.”
She wanted Wade out of prison like yesterday. It was hard not to think about rushing, but Wes wasright.
“Okay, at least talk to me and do something like bounce ideas off me. I don’t have the investigative, technical mind you have. And I’m freaking out.” That was an understatement. She was so agitated she felt likescreaming.
“Okay. Look at the setting of this place.” He motioned to the three houses. Chloe followed his gaze and looked. “It’s perfect for getting up to no good and not getting caught. Apart from the window smashing, the neighbors wouldn’t have seen or heard anything unless, like our lady just now, they wereoutside.”
She agreed that was conclusive; both neighbors’ testimonies were thesame.
“So what do wedo?”
“I wanted to hear what they had to say for myself just to make sure nothing was missed. And look, the houses are about five meters apart on eitherside.”
That was all very observant, but she didn’t know how that would help them. “Wes, how is that relevant forus?”
He grimaced at her and frowned. “Woman, please. I’m setting the scene here so you can understand where I’m going with this. Look over there and there.” He pointed to both neighbors’ houses, motioning specifically to the high hedges that separated the houses. Next to the hedges were alleyways. “Our killer could have hid there and come through the windows, or a back or side door to the house. And look.” Wes now pointed to Merissa’s house, at the way her hedge curved in on itself and took a section of the front lawn. It actually enclosed the window on the left side of the house and seemed to be designed that way, even though she imagined it would block out most of the light coming inside. Chloe walked a little distance from Wes, trying to see what was inside the enclosure. She went right up to the police tapes and looked in. There was a little bench with an empty fish pond. It reminded her of something similar her parents had at their house in France. Wes joinedher.
“This bit here is perfect for our killer. No one would see him go into the house. My guess is he came through here and went around the back,” Wes explained. “There’s a camera there.” Wes pointed up to the front of the house. “And one there.” He motioned to the lamp post with a black box attached to it. That camera would have been able to pick up what was going on at the front of thehouse.
“We really need footage of what happened after Wade went into the house.” Chloe bit the inside of herlip.
Wes nodded, and he didn’t look as positive as he previously did. “We need that. Without it we can’t do much. Unless there are fingerprints or something else. I’ll see if I can speak to thedetective.”
Detective Fray. Chloe hadn’t met him yet, but she was sure they could speak tohim.
“Hey, at least we can point the police in a new direction they might not have thought of. That’s a good thing.” He was trying. She could see that he was trying forher.
“Thank you.” She released a sigh, trying to keep positive. Perhaps when they spoke to Wade something more could be added to their little investigation. She went to say more but had the distinct feelinglike…
She turned behind her and saw nothing. Chloe felt like they were beingwatched.
On the other side of the road was a park area that led into the woods. It was beautiful to look at with its lush green trees and grass but the eerie feeling she got when she surveyed the area prickled herskin.
“What’s wrong, Chloe?” Wes asked,turning.
“I feel like someone’s watching us.” She kept her voicelow.
“Yeah, they probably are. I got that feeling when we first got here.” Concern washed over hisface.