Can’t Go Back by Webb Debra

Author:Webb, Debra
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Published: 2021-12-14T00:00:00+00:00

19

5:40 p.m.

Boothe Residence

Chablis Way

Birmingham

A walk through and around the Boothe home failed to produce any suggestion that an intruder had disturbed or attempted to disturb the property. It was full-on dark now. Flashlights had helped the final few minutes of their search, but in the end, there was nothing to see. Whoever the neighbor had noticed skulking around was gone now. Could have been a reporter or a blogger who had planned a segment on the latest headline tragedy. Or one of those people who just liked to photograph tragedy for sharing on social media. At this point the only crime was trespassing. The crime scene had officially been released.

Kerri glanced toward Crandall’s house. He waited on his front porch, the overhead light spotlighting him like the central character in a stage play.

“I guess we should let Crandall know it’s all clear,” Luke offered.

“Then we should get you home,” Kerri grumbled. “You’re supposed to be taking it easy.”

“I’m good.”

She shone her flashlight in his face. “No, you are not, so don’t lie.”

He held up a hand to shield his eyes. “All right, all right. I feel like I’ve been hit by a Mack Truck, and my ribs and head are aching something fierce. But this—what we do—can’t wait. We both know it.”

He was right. Except she could have done this alone. Should have done this alone. But that would have entailed taking the time to drop him by the house before responding to the call. Wouldn’t have worked.

Kerri shifted the beam of her light to the ground. “After we talk to Crandall, we’re going home. You’re taking a long, hot bath, and then you’re going to bed.”

“I can do that,” he agreed as they walked toward the neighbor’s house. “It would be a lot more fun if I didn’t have to do it alone.”

“You’re on limited physical activity, Detective.”

“We can work with that.”

She shook her head and moved ahead of him, calling out a hello to Crandall.

“Did you find anything?” Crandall wanted to know as soon as they had climbed the final step to his porch.

“We did not. But thank you for letting us know.”

Crandall looked from Kerri to Luke as he arrived at her side. The older man’s face scrunched with surprise. “What happened to you?”

“I wish I could say you should see the other guy,” Luke confessed.

Crandall rubbed his cheek as if he could imagine how much the swollen eye and bruised jaw hurt. “Being a cop is more dangerous than ever,” he commented. “I’m sure people like me don’t tell you often enough how much we appreciate all you do.”

“Thank you,” Kerri said, before redirecting. “Did you get a close enough look at the intruder to give us any details?”

He braced his hands on his hips and wagged his head. “Unfortunately not. He had on one of those dark hooded shirts and dark trousers. Maybe jeans. I’m assuming it was a man, since he was fairly tall.” He nodded to Luke. “Like your partner here.”

“Can you describe the vehicle he was driving?”

“I never saw a vehicle, which I found quite fishy.

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