Gabe normally didn’t like riding shotgun, and when El parked outside of Kenna’s house, he jumped out before her patrol car came to a stop. He charged ahead to Kenna’s one-bedroom bungalow. Painted a bright orange, the familiar building stood out in the complex of four bungalows. He stopped in the driveway that ran between the buildings.
“Not the best neighborhood, is it?” El asked as she stepped up beside him, a large toolbox-like evidence kit in her hand.
With El’s fresh perspective in mind, he took a look around. He’d been there countless times over the years and had really stopped paying attention to the sketchy neighborhood. Each visit, he’d checked out Kenna’s building to look for security and repair issues and ensure she and Lucy stayed safe.
Today, he could see the peeling paint on the houses around them, lawns needing mowing, weeds popping up in the grass, and long crumbling sidewalks.
“Neighborhood’s sketchy, and I didn’t really like her living here, but it was all she could afford on a daycare teacher’s salary. I tried to help by supplementing her salary, but she refused to take any money from me.”
“Sounds like she might’ve been too proud.”
“I’m not sure if it was pride. Her parents kicked her out when she was sixteen and told her she wouldn’t amount to anything. So paying for everything on her own was like proving she could succeed.”
“I can see someone doing that.”
Gabe nodded as memories returned. Nearly every one of his visits there had been a positive experience he’d looked forward to each time. Sure, Kenna had hard times, and he’d come here to help her through them, but in the end, they could always find something to laugh about.
He wouldn’t be laughing today, and the only reason he would return again would be to go through her things and pack them up. After all, he was the only invested person in her life besides Mrs. Z., who lived next door, but Kenna had to be seeing someone to have gotten pregnant. Or it was another one-night mistake.
“What about security cameras?” El asked. “I don’t see any.”
“Another thing I wanted to do for her, but she wouldn’t let me. Due to her limited finances, we didn’t usually exchange Christmas gifts, but I tried giving her cameras one year. She said she couldn’t afford to reciprocate and made me take them back. Wouldn’t even let me do a doorbell camera, but she promised to save up for one.”
“That’s unfortunate, but understandable from her point of view.” El set down her kit, got out disposable gloves, and handed a pair to Gabe. “Let’s get to the search.”
He slipped them on. El followed suit then retrieved his key from the bin. He’d surrendered it so she could come and go from here as needed.
On the small stoop, she made ready to insert the key, but stared at the door. “Four locks. Only one key.”
“What in the world?” He joined her on the stoop and stared at them. “She’s never had more than one lock. Let’s check the back.”
He jumped from the stoop and jogged around the side of the house to an equally worn door in the back. “Four locks here too. Not sure what to make of it.”
“Seems like she was afraid.”
“Yeah.” Gabe’s gut clenched. “Why didn’t she tell me about this?”
“Maybe it’s a new situation, and she planned to mention it when she got to the inn.”
“Could be.” He pointed at a long window. “I’ve always managed to get in here.”
He didn’t wait for her to stop him, but went to the window. He jiggled it, then jimmied the lock with a key from his pocket until it gave way.
“Seems a shame to install that many locks on the doors when there’s easy access like this.”
“Not so easy. You have to know the trick for it to work. I’ll go unlock the door.” He slipped through the opening and unlocked the back door so she could enter through the mudroom.
She glanced at him. “Are you sure you’re okay to do this search?”
“I’ll be fine,” he replied with confidence he didn’t feel.
She eyed him for a long moment, that intense law enforcement stare, and gave a sharp nod. “Follow me. Don’t touch anything until I tell you it’s okay.”
“Got it.” He filled his lungs with oxygen and followed her inside.
She led him down a short hallway to the main living space. The combination living area and neat and tidy kitchen smelled of Kenna’s favorite green apple incense. He studied the kitchen then her living room, her personality in every object. He figuredseeing her lifeless body had plummeted him to rock bottom, but being here cemented the raw emotion in his heart. She would never be coming back here. Maybe not Lucy either.
His knees turned to liquid. He grabbed the island countertop.
