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Pat frowned. “It’s not the damn wind doing this. The system better not be that sensitive.”
“Not possible, really.” Aaron said as he tapped the tip of the bat against the ground. “The wind wouldn’t have set off our inside alarm at the same time as yours went off outside.”
Pat’s frown only deepened. “That sounds coordinated.”
Lila offered one possibility... the one she hoped they’d grab on to. “We used your alarm company. Could it be a bug in the system?”
“We pay too damn much to lose sleep over nothing.”
Kitty patted her husband’s arm in a way that suggested she’d calmed him down using the gesture before. “Pat, it’s okay.”
“It’s not.” But some of the anger left his voice.
Lila wasn’t ready to abandon her theory. “Does anyone else on the street use the same company?”
Aaron waved off some neighbors who were milling around out front before his gaze shot to Lila. “What?”
“Well, if it’s only alarms from one company I do think it’s a bug. Tomorrow we could see if anyone else’s system is going off or malfunctioning. If not—”
“The alarm company can come out here and rip this one out.” As soon as Pat’s voice rose, he brought it under control again. “Sorry. I just don’t get it. It worked fine for two years.”
“We’ll check the video tomorrow and see where we are.” Kitty shot Lila a warm smile. “Come over for coffee and we’ll review the alarm data together.”
“Perfect.” Because that’s exactly what Lila needed.
Chapter Ten
Present Day
GINNY SAT AT THE OVERSIZE DESK THAT TOOK UP HALF OF THEspace in her home office. Really,theirhome office. She shared it with her husband, Roland. Ever since he’d been promoted to dean of admission at Ithaca College he spent more time in the office and less at the desk his father had made when Roland graduated from college.
The job required long hours and carried a lot of stress. Whining parents. Whining students. Grumpy professors.
They both suffered from career frustrations and rounds of thoughtless comments from coworkers, and they shared the burden in private. They’d been together through every loss and success since they’d met as undergrads at Howard University. The deaths of both sets of parents. A miscarriage. Her injury at work. His promotion. Her promotion. Four moves. Their beautiful son.
She’d told Roland about the new case of the missing teacher.As expected, he rolled his eyes and mumbled something about “pathetic men” not living up to their responsibilities. Roland stood firmly in the Aaron-Payne-went-for-a-joyride-and-is-afraid-to-come-home-now camp. She still wasn’t convinced.
Her fingers moved over the keys as she searched for more background on the Payne family. The clicking sound of typing filled the still room. She ignored the shiver spinning through her but tightened the thick robe around her to help fight off the chill.
The door creaked open, and Roland peeked in. He let out a dramatic exhale, as if she didn’t know his position on the concept of too much work and not enough sleep.
“You’ve been on the computer for two hours.” He crouched down next to her chair and balanced his cheek on her arm, right near her exposed wrist.
The rough edge of his scruff against her bare skin had her smiling. “Maybe I was in the mood for porn.”
“If so, you should share.” He straightened up until he was on his knees, half leaning into her side and the chair as he stared at her computer screen. “But what’s really going... ah, okay. I see you decided not to let this case go tonight.”
Her fingers dropped from the keyboard and she turned to him. “This guy’s mom died in an accident. Then his dad died. Now he’s gone missing.”
Roland frowned as he pushed her reading glasses up for her. “You think it’s all linked?”
“No.”
He kissed the sleeve of her robe. “Then I don’t understand why I’m sleeping alone.”
“Can one person be that unlucky?”
“I thought you said he could be out with a girlfriend or driving to Vegas or doing something fun.”
