She was a smart woman.
He tapped the stack of papers. “I guess we need to go find Mr. Whiskers.”
FOUR
Sam unlocked the door and hung her keys on the designated hook on the wall to the left. Bella’s keys weren’t hanging where they should be. “Bella?”
She turned and flipped the deadbolt, then tossed her bag down next to the recliner and toed off her shoes before wandering down the hall.
“Bella, you didn’t hang up your keys.”
She was constantly reminding the teen to do simple things. Keys got hung on the key hook so they didn’t get lost in the tornado of clothing littering her bedroom floor.
Bella’s bedroom door was open, and the light was off. Unease filled her gut. It was after six. She should be home.
Sam flicked on the light in case Bella had lain down and fallen asleep after school. It had been known to happen. Although not so much now that she was in high school.
Bella’s bed was a mess, the comforter was halfway off, and three different shirts lay crumpled on top.
How were they sisters?
Sam liked her things to be neat and orderly. Everything had its space. Keys on the hook. Clothes in the closet. Bed neatly made every morning.
No sign of Bella’s backpack either. She pulled her phone from her pocket and started to dial Bella’s number but was interrupted by the doorbell.
That better not be the police bringing her home.
Wow.That was a huge jump from vaping in the bathroom. She dismissed the thought.Long day much?
Sam peered through the peephole to see who it was and spotted her landlord on the porch. She stepped back, undid the deadbolt, and opened the door. “Dr. Torres.” She didn’t know what kind of doctor he was. She just knew he’d introduced himself as a doctor when they’d met the first time.
“Good evening, Ms. Williams.” Dr. Torres smiled. He was a slender man in his fifties with some gray threaded through his black hair.
She looked past him, hoping to see Bella strolling up too, but it was just the doctor. “What can I help you with?”
He never stopped at their house—especially not in the last month or so. Maybe something was wrong? He didn’t micromanage, pretty much left them alone. Of course, she’d been a good tenant and not given him a reason to make appearances. Except for the time the water heater had gone out.
He ran a hand through his hair and glanced around, as if nervous. “I just wanted to stop by and let you know that I’ll be going out of town for a little while and to give you some contact information for the man who will be handling all of my rental properties while I’m gone. His name is Daniel White.”
“Sure, come in and I’ll get a piece of paper and pen.” She stepped to the side to let him in, then scanned the street again. Couldn’t this have been a telephone call? She needed to find hersister. They’d lived here six years, and this was the first time he’d shown up unannounced.
“No need for you to write anything down. I’ve got it all right here.” He held out a piece of paper the size of a postcard, his smile a little too brittle.
She took the paper and read over it.
“Just keep paying your rent like normal. But if you have any issues or maintenance needs, give Danny a call.” He tapped the paper in her hand. “He’ll help you out.”
“Okay, I will.” She kept the frown to herself. That would be the worst-case scenario, right after she looked for how-to videos on the internet or asked one of the guys from the station for help. She didn’t want strangers in the house with Bella here. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d had Dean come fix something.
“While I’m here, is there anything that needs to be taken care of before I leave town?” He looked around the living room, probably checking for evidence they’d gotten a dog or something. Why else would he be nosy?
She didn’t have time for this. Not with her sister MIA right now. “Nope, everything is fine.” She shook her head. “I should go. My sister will be home soon.”
“Good. Good.”
“Knock, knock,” a woman’s voice called from behind Dr. Torres.
He stepped out of the way, revealing the woman the voice belonged to. Aubrey, the Marshals’ office admin, stood next to the handsome marshal from the motel shooting.
