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"Yes, this is Dani."
"Hello," he said. "I'm Kade Beckham."
"My mother's tenant," Dani said, giving him a sharp look and a curt nod.
"I didn't realize you rode a motorcycle," I said, drawing his attention back to me. "I thought the truck was yours. Or maybe it's my mother's."
"The truck is mine. I use it when I move my art pieces. Otherwise, I prefer my bike, which I usually keep in the garage. Your mother drives a Honda. It's in the garage. I guess you haven't been inside."
"No, I haven't."
"Are you all right?" he asked. "Why are you standing out here?"
"The door to the house is open. I think someone broke in. We just called the police. Have you been in there since you left this morning?"
"No, I haven't."
As Kade finished speaking, a police car came down the street. As two officers got out, Dani told them that someone had broken into the house and that the owner of the house had been shot and was in the hospital. Dani went into her typical take-charge mode, which was fine with me since I didn't feel like going over the story again. The officers asked us to wait in the driveway and then entered the house with guns drawn.
"Did anyone notice if my door was open?" Kade asked.
"I didn't look. I'm sorry. I was rattled."
"Understandable. I'll find out soon enough. It's good you weren't here. Where were you?"
"At the hospital. Someone attacked my mom this morning. He tried to unplug the machines that are keeping her alive."
Kade's jaw dropped as he removed his sunglasses. "Are you serious?"
"Yes. And he got away. Maybe he came here after that. I don't know." I looked into his shocked dark eyes. "Someone wants her dead, Kade. It wasn't a random attack yesterday or today."
"When did you move in here?" Dani interrupted.
"About a month ago," he said, turning to Dani.
"And my mother got you a show at a gallery?"
"She put in a good word for me, but my work speaks for itself."
"One of his paintings is in Mom's house," I told Dani. "It's beautiful and dark and very emotional. I can see why she was drawn to the piece. She always loved art. Remember all those trips to the museum?"
She frowned. "Of course I remember. I was beyond bored. She made us go the first Saturday of every month. The only part I enjoyed was when she went to buy snacks and we'd get to paint in the kids' room." Dani gave Kade another suspicious look. "How exactly is my mother supporting you?"
"That's between me and her," Kade replied.
"Well, we can't ask her," Dani retorted. "Is it a secret? Is she your sugar mama?"
"Dani," I said, surprised by her callous comments.
Kade's lips tightened and there was anger in his eyes, but he said nothing, and the silence became very uncomfortable. Fortunately, that silence was broken when the police officers left the house.
"We didn't find anyone inside," one officer said. "But the house was torn apart. Someone was looking for something. Do you know what that might be?"
"I have no idea."
"We checked in with Inspector Greenman," the officer continued. "He'll be over to check things out shortly. In the meantime, he asked if you'd stay out of the house until he arrives."
"All right," I said. "We'll wait out here."
