Garcia made a few notes. When he lifted his head, his eyes had softened. “I know this can be very rattling. Over the next couple days, go through your condo, see if anything is missing. Anything of value that can be sold at a pawnshop that we can trace. Let us know.”
“Okay,” Lottie said, meeting his stare again.
Garcia continued, “We’ve had a couple break-ins similar to yours in the area. I suspect that’s all that’s going on here.”
Wanting to ensure Lottie was safe, Hunt asked, “Whoever did this got through the building’s security?”
Garcia met Hunt’s gaze with a frown and nodded. “Appears so. Picked the lock and disabled the alarm system too. We’re combing through security videos now to see what we can find.” He scanned her condo before his stern brown eyes met Lottie's face again. “You said you are a dog walker?”
“I am,” she replied.
Garcia’s brows rose. “You live in a very nice condo for a dog walker, Ms. Harlow.”
Proving to Hunt that Lottie didn’t back down, she lifted her chin at the detective. “What does that have to do with someone breaking into my place?”
“It’s an avenue for us to look into,” Garcia told her, after making a quick note. “Perhaps one of your clients was being watched, and that’s how you became a target.” He paused to make another note and then glanced back with deeper suspicion before he let it go and shrugged. “It’s just a thought. Something to consider.”
“I guess it’s possible I could have been watched,” she agreed with a shrug of her own. “Nearly all of my clients are very wealthy.”
Garcia nodded in agreement. “Apparently, if you can afford this place on a dog-walker’s salary.”
Lottie sat very still. Too still. Lottie only afforded this place from the gifted money from Rhys for the shows she participated in at Phoenix.
But that was none of Garcia’s business, so Hunt asked, “Could Lottie give you her clients’ names to see if there is a connection to any of the recent break-ins?”
“Yes, of course.” Garcia folded up his notebook. “Make a list, and send them my way.” He rose. “Again, Ms. Harlow, please look around your home. See what’s missing. You’ll have to make a list for your insurance.”
“Will do, thank you.”
“I’ll be in touch soon.” Garcia gave her a final nod and then gave Hunt a gesture to approach him. Keeping his voice quiet, he said, “I’ve told her she should stay elsewhere for the next few nights, but she’s adamant about staying here.”
Another check mark on his list of things that weren’t adding up. If she were so unsettled about the break-in, of course she’d stay the night at a friend’s place. “It’s all right,” Hunt told Garcia. “I’ll make sure she gets somewhere safe.”
“Good,” Garcia said, offering his hand. “I take it you’ll want any updates.”
Hunt returned the firm handshake. “If you don’t mind, I’d appreciate that.”
“Not a problem. I’ll be in touch soon.”
“Thank you.” As Garcia headed for the open door, Hunt turned back to Lottie with a sigh. She watched him closely…carefully. He gestured to the front door. “Come on, let’s go for a walk and let forensics finish up here.”
Lottie released her legs that she’d been clutching. “Okay, yeah.” She rose, scanning the messy state of her condo, with exhaustion seeping across her face.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said gently. “It won’t take us long to get this in order when we come back.”
“You’re right,” she said. She took a step toward him. Then another. And another. Until she was close enough that he could draw her close and make them both feel better. “Thank you for coming. I really appreciate it.”
“You never need to thank me,” he said, fighting against the urge to slide his hand across her cheek. “You need me. I’m here. Always.”
Her sweet smile hit him right in the chest. In the best way possible.
He turned away from her and said to the cop at the door, “We’ll be back in half an hour.”
“Yes, sir,” the cop said.
Lottie slipped into some sneakers and followed him out the door. Halfway down the hallway, she laughed softly. “You must love all the ‘yes, sirs’ you get all day long.”
He chuckled, pressing the button on the elevator. “Nah, Lottie, I’d only like those words if they came from your mouth.”
