Then I ask Caleb: “By any chance, did you send anyone to the Packard project to pick up some tools?”
“No.” He comes to stand in front of me. “Why?”
I tap a button on the phone. “Nino, you’re on speakerphone. I’m with Caleb.”
“Hey,” he says. “I got here this morning with Frankie, walked in, and stuff is gone. It looks like a break-in, but we weren’t sure.”
“I’ll be right there,” I tell him. “Why don’t you guys relax until I get there?”
“Sure thing, I’ll have my breakfast outside while finishing the crossword puzzle,” he replies sarcastically. I hang up on him.
“I’ll drive by there and see what’s going on, then call you,” I tell Caleb. I look at Sierra. “Hope you feel better.”
“Thank you,” she replies, her mouth stuffed with cake.
I drive to the Packard place and find Nino and Frankie sitting outside on the steps with cups of coffee.
“What do we got?” I ask, walking past them to the front door. The side of the door looks like someone pried it open with a screwdriver. Parts of the wood are broken on the side. “This is pretty amateur.” I step into the house. “What’s missing?” I look around as Nino comes in to stand beside me. The house was gutted after they found mold all the way behind the walls and in the air ducts. We tried to handle it without gutting it, but it was safer this way.
“The nail gun and the speaker.” I look over to the kitchen, where a makeshift table is set up with the plans to the house.
“The speaker?” There are more tools on the floor. “There are more expensive things to steal than the speaker.”
“Maybe they thought we wouldn’t notice,” he offers. “Either way, it’s missing. What do you want me to do?”
“Not sure it’s worth it to make a police report if it’s only those two things. Any damage to the house besides the door?” I look around.
“Not from what we can tell. It’s bare bones, so not much they can damage.”
My phone rings. Caleb is FaceTiming me. “You couldn’t wait for me to call you?”
“Sierra wanted me to call you,” he says. “She’s injured. Do you want her more injured?” I can see her sitting on the bed beside him, and she turns to look at him, confused.
“Throwing her under the bus when she got shot is a new low.”
“Didn’t even try to protect me,” she mumbles.
“Whatever,” he hisses. “What is it?”
“Probably some kids fucking around.” I report to him about the door and what was taken.
“Okay, the doctor is coming in,” Caleb says. “I’ll keep you posted.”
“Later.” I hang up, then turn to Nino and Frankie. “I’ll call Mikaela now and get the missing tools replaced. If you see anything else missing, let me know.”
“Will do,” Nino confirms as I walk out of the house and head over to the next jobsite.
The day gets away from me, and by the time I check my watch, it’s a little after five-thirty. I get home, making a beeline for the shower before walking to the kitchen. I pick up my phone, wondering if Collins is feeling okay. I still don’t even have her fucking number to check up on her. I open my fridge and take out the two steaks, and then make some rice and veggies.
I sit down to eat by myself, my head spinning around in circles, thinking about how the fuck to make this right. When I’m done, I take out a Tupperware and fill it with the steak, rice, and veggies, and put it in the fridge before dragging my ass to bed.
It’s only 7:45 p.m. I set my alarm for 3:00 a.m. again before I crash. I sleep the whole way through until the alarm rings, and I slap it off. I roll out of bed, heading to the bathroom before brushing my teeth and getting ready.
I stop in the kitchen, grabbing the food container and then heading to the truck. The drive there is as quiet as it was last night. When I arrive, her car isn’t in the driveway. Panic runs through me. I’m about to make my way over to the station when a car pulls up beside me. With a sigh of relief, I look over at Collins and her tired expression.
I grab the food from the passenger seat and get out at the same time she does. “Hi,” I greet awkwardly, holding up my hand.
“What are you doing here?” Her hair is tied up, and I can’t decide which way I like it more. Well, I know I really liked it when I was running my fingers through it.
