Hidden Deception by Leann Harris

Author:Leann Harris
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, Fiction, Religious, General
ISBN: 9781426820984
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2008-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Daniel and Raul arrived at Joyce’s house within minutes of the call. They’d heard the call on the police radio.

Raul scanned the room. “Did this mess happen today?”

“No. This mess is from a few days ago,” Elena answered.

His brow arched, he asked, “Then how do you know anyone was in here?”

“We heard them,” Diane answered. “And there’s a missing screen and open window in the upstairs bedroom.”

They all walked up to the room.

“You heard the burglar jump from the tree into the backyard?” Daniel asked.

“Yes.” Diane nodded her head.

They walked down the stairs. When they reached the bottom step, someone pounded on the front door.

Daniel glanced out and saw the patrolmen. Icenhour and his partner stood there. When Daniel opened the door, the patrolmen stared. Quickly, Daniel explained what happened. The patrolmen took down the report and left. Crime scene unit was called.

Daniel and Raul interviewed the ladies as they waited for crime scene. The unit made it within an hour and dusted the screen. There were no usable

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prints on either the downstairs window or the bedroom window.

“If you discover anything else, call,” Daniel told the women.

And although he included everyone, his eyes met Elena’s and held for a moment. She felt the connection.

“I will.”

They walked out of the house. Elena thought she heard Raul say, “You’ve got it bad.”

Elena and Diane worked at packing up the kitchen.

A knock at the back door stopped the women.

Diane answered it. Carolyn Ellis stood there.

“I’m here to help. I brought boxes and muscle.”

There were several of the men from the homeless shelter standing behind her.

“Okay. We’ve finished the kitchen and it’s ready to be loaded.”

Carolyn nodded and had the men start putting the boxes into the van.

“Has Frank Gleason shown up at the shelter again?” Elena asked.

“No. He’s done a disappearing act.” Carolyn shook her head. “He was just too good to be true.”

Moving to the living room, Diane asked, “Can

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you use any of this furniture?” A new sofa, a recliner, and coffee table sat across from a new twenty-seven-inch TV.

“I can.”

“Good. Once the guys take all the kitchen things, they can come back for these.”

Carolyn went back into the kitchen to talk to the men loading the kitchen. A short time later, Carolyn rejoined them and started packing up the room.

“When did Frank appear?” Elena asked.

Frowning, Carolyn said, “It was just before Joyce’s death. She worked one evening and ran into Frank. She didn’t indicate she knew him, but she left early that night.”

“He was her ex-husband.”

Both Carolyn and Diane stared. Carolyn opened her mouth and closed it. Diane shook her head as if she didn’t hear correctly.

“How do you know?” Carolyn asked.

Elena explained what Daniel had told her.

Carolyn collapsed onto the sofa. “That makes sense.”

“What do you mean, Carolyn?” Diane asked.

“Joyce acted like she didn’t know the man, but later in the evening, I saw them arguing. That’s when Joyce left early.”

“Did you tell the cops?” Elena asked.

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“No. I just now thought of it.”

“That’s important, Carolyn.

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