“It feels weak.”
“It isn’t weak to be shaken after being violated.”
“I keep thinking about the photos.”
“I know.”
“Why would someone look through those?”
Vanessa doesn’t answer right away, and that is answer enough. A knock sounds at the suite door before she can say anything else. My body reacts before my mind catches up, coffee sloshing dangerously close to the rim of the mug as I turn toward the sound.
“Ms. Stone?” a man’s voice calls from the hallway. “Daniel Mercer.”
“It’s the security guy,” I tell Vanessa.
“Put me on speaker. I want to hear what he says.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Kara.”
“I’ll call you back.”
“You better.”
I end the call and cross to the door, checking the peephole even though I already know Mercer is on the other side. He stands there in another dark security polo, tablet in one hand, expression calm but serious. I open the door just enough to let Mercer step inside.
“Good morning,” he says. “I’m sorry to disturb you this early.”
“I was already awake.”
“I wanted to update you in person,” he says. “My team did a more detailed exterior review overnight. Your primary panel will need replacement, and we’re recommending new smart locks, re-coded access points, additional cameras at the rear of the property, and an upgraded interior monitoring grid.”
It feels too early for so many technical words.
“How long?” I ask.
“Realistically? Several days for immediate repairs. Longer if you approve the full retrofit.”
Several days, possibly longer. My stomach tightens at the thought of returning to that house before every shadow has been checked and every lock has been changed.
“We can continue providing overnight coverage,” Mercer adds. “But I’m going to be direct with you. Until we know whether this was random or targeted, I don’t recommend you stay there alone.”
“I keep telling myself it had to be random,” I say.
Mercer’s expression stays professional, but the pause before he speaks tells me more than his answer does.
“Random intruders usually look for items with immediate resale value,” he says. “Electronics. Jewelry. Cash. Designer goods. This person left those things alone.”
“But took a knife.”
“And disturbed personal items.”
I look away because hearing him say it out loud makes my stomach turn all over again. It’s like the gravity does not sink in all at once. Mercer lowers his voice slightly, not patronizing me, just trying to keep things anxiety-free.
“Distance is not an overreaction, Ms. Stone. It gives us time to repair the property and review the footage without you trying to sleep in a place that no longer feels secure.”
I grip the coffee mug tighter. “My friend has a rental contact in Sunbreak Harbor.”
