Murder in Pittsmeadow by Denise McGee

Author:Denise McGee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Denise McGee
Published: 2018-10-08T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Nicki Attacked

LAUREL

I watched Aaron's eyes close and sighed. It seemed like my life since the blast revolved around watching him sleep. I sighed again and looked up to see Nicole watching me.

"C'mon," she said. "We'll go back to your place and get you some clothes. I heard you tried to get in today but wasn't allowed.

I smiled in relief. "Thank you. I didn't really want to go back there alone."

"Understandable," Nicki said. "I guess it goes without saying that we'll take my car."

“And yet you did.” I smiled.

We chatted easily on the trip to my home. Nicki knew I was nervous and she tried to keep my mind off what we'd find by telling me dance gossip. I'd met Nicki when I'd been doing research for 'Foxtrot in Florence' two years ago. It'd taken place at an international dance competition so I'd come to her for details. We'd been friends ever since.

When we pulled into my driveway, I steeled myself to enter my violated home – all our easy talk forgotten. I wasn't looking forward to this. In the back of my mind, I was wondering if I would have to sell my home since I no longer felt safe even visiting.

I took a deep breath, lifted my chin and exited Nicole's car. I could do this.

The first thing I noticed upon entering was the silence. There was no hum of electronics. Even the A/C fans weren't blowing. Nicole crunched across the debris on my porch into the living room behind me. Her inhalation of breath was loud in the stillness and I realized I'd been holding mine.

The icemaker kicked on in the kitchen, making me jump. Nicole crouched, reaching for the gun she'd locked in her car. She grinned at me sheepishly. I didn't mind. My grin matched hers.

"I can’t believe there’s still power,” I said.

“I think your lines are all underground.”

I nodded and looked thoughtfully at the door. I'm gonna need to get a better alarm system, I guess," I said.

"What did you have before?"

"Door and window locks." I laughed at myself, but it wasn't that big a town. I never expected to need more.

Nicki shook her head at me in disbelief then took a good look around. "You wanna try and do a little cleaning while we're here?"

"Not really. I'll need a crew for this." I looked at Nicki, "You don't know a cleaning service, do you?"

"On my salary?" she laughed.

"Maybe Cheryl can recommend someone."

I moved down the hall toward my bedroom, sweeping glass marbles away with my boot before stepping. I hadn't had a chance to peek into the room when I'd done the walkthrough with Aaron, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I opened my door and a startled gasp escaped me. Nicole was at my side a moment later. She peered into the room and whistled.

"Someone wasn't happy."

It looked like a knife-wielding maniac had whirled through my closet like a cartoon Tasmanian Devil. Everything I'd had hanging was sliced, torn or ground into the remains of the Ficus tree I'd been growing in the corner.

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