Flashpoint by Stephanie Newton

Author:Stephanie Newton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2010-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Driving the street that ran along the beach after her twenty-four-hour shift used to be a time to unwind, a time Lara treasured. Even a glimpse of the sparkling surf and emerald-green ocean had always been like taking a deep breath.

Lately, though, she didn’t seem to be able to get her mind off everything going on. Today, instead of out there in the foamy surf, her heart had been at the hospital with her baby sister.

The news was good. Emmy was doing a little better, her blood pressure more stable. If she continued to improve, they’d move her out of ICU in the morning.

Matt hadn’t been at work today, instead sending Brian from B shift to fill in for him. But he’d texted her that he was working on some leads. He wanted to talk to Emmy together later. And he would pick her up at six for dinner.

What she needed was a bubble bath and an uneventful night in front of mindless television. She definitely didn’t need a night with Matt’s picture-perfect family, no matter how nice Mrs. Clark was.

Lara pulled into her driveway, rolling slowly to a stop. Something wasn’t right.

Glass lay in glittery shards on her front porch. She ran for the house, leaving her car door standing open. “Mom?”

She knew she shouldn’t go in the house, but her mom had been home. Quickly, she pressed 911 and told the dispatcher her address. “Someone broke into my house. The front window is broken and the door is cracked.”

The dispatcher called for police units in the back ground. “You weren’t home when the break-in happened?”

“No, but I think my mom might’ve been home. I need to go in the house to check.”

The dispatcher’s voice remained calm and brisk. “Ma’am, I’d advise that you stay on the porch until the officers arrive.”

Yeah, she’d advise that, too. Her stomach revolted. She dropped the phone and ran for the bushes.

After a few minutes, she picked the phone up. “I have to check. I’ll stay on the line.”

The front door was cracked open. The glass had come from the window, but everything in her house had been trashed. Every picture was in pieces, every cushion tumbled onto the floor. “Mom?”

A footstep crunched on the glass outside. She ducked into the hall. She wanted so badly to tell the dispatcher that someone was at the door, but she couldn’t risk it. Instead, she pushed the end button on the phone and cut off communication with the only person who knew she was here. Her heart slammed against her ribs, clammy sweat breaking out on her forehead. She flattened herself against the wall, trying to keep her breathing quiet.

From her hiding place in the hall, she heard the intruder enter her living room. Slow footsteps ground on the broken picture frames.

“Lara?” Matt’s voice was steady, but because she knew him she could hear the undercurrent of stress. “Lara, where are you?”

She let out the breath she’d been holding and stepped out. “I’m here.”

“I heard the call on the scanner.

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