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“How could they have gotten in without setting off the alarm?” I asked. “When was the last time you saw the scrapbook? Could they have stolen it weeks ago?”
She shook her head. “It must have been during the past couple of weeks because I last looked at it soon after Blair and Tyler arrived in town.”
“Which means it happened after we installed extra security.” I reached for her hand, needing the contact. “They shouldn’t have been able to get to it.”
Kennedy hesitated, and when I glanced at her, she was biting her lip. “Well, there is one way they could have gotten access without setting off the security system.”
I frowned. “What’s that?”
Her eyes lifted to mine, wide and frightened. “If they did it while I was there. I usually deactivate the alarm when I’m home.”
I closed my eyes. “He was there at the same time as you. Shit.”
She clutched at my arm, and I curled it around her body. “That’s not everything.”
I swallowed. What else could there be?
Her entire body was tense, her muscles rigid. Her jaw muscle flickered a couple of times, and then she opened her mouth. “I still have the key you gave me back then. I kept it inside the scrapbook. So that might be how they got into your place. I didn’t notice any broken windows out front.”
Part of me wanted to freak out. Whoever the stalker was, they might now be able to enter and leave my home at will. But the knowledge that Kennedy had kept my key all this time prevented me from going over the edge. I liked the thought that she’d held onto hope that we’d return to each other. She’d never given up on us, even if I had.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I never thought this would happen.”
“It’s okay.” I tucked her against my chest. “I’m sorry you’re being targeted like this. It’s sick.”
Was I angry my house had been trashed?
Hell yes.
I was devastated. I’d spent years trying to turn this place into a home, and my progress had been set back. But on the other hand, perhaps a fresh start was what Kennedy and I needed. It sucked that it had to be this way, but if I thought of this as cleansing my old life, getting rid of bitterness and regrets, maybe I could get through the rest of this God-awful evening without screaming.
“I need to call Nate,” I said, letting her go. Yet another mess to hand over to my brother. He wasn’t going to be impressed.
ChapterForty-Four
KENNEDY
After Nateand Constable Mehrtens arrived at Liam’s place and declared it a crime scene, we weren’t able to collect any of his belongings to take with us. I could tell it bothered Liam, and I hated that I’d brought this mess into his life. He’d been settled here in Destiny Falls, and then I’d come along and turned everything upside down.
“Where to now?” I asked as we stood outside his house.
“Well, if we want to be absolutely sure there’s no chance of you being left alone at any time, I know one place we can take you.”
I raised a brow. “Where?”
“Mum and Dad’s place.”
A breath got caught in my chest. Heather and Eugene had both been friendly to me recently, but I was still the woman who’d broken their son’s heart. I wasn’t sure they’d want me under their roof. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
He grimaced. “It’s the best we’ve got unless you want to go back to the cottage.”
“No, thanks.” A ripple of dread skated along my nerves at the thought that the stalker had been in my home while I was there. If they’d wanted to hurt me, I’d have been a sitting duck. I’d been completely oblivious while they’d pawed through my things and taken my most precious belongings in the world. How had I not heard or sensed that something was wrong?
“Let’s go, then.”
I offered Liam my keys. “Do you mind driving? I’m having trouble focusing.”
My mind was too busy conjuring all sorts of alternative scenarios and what-ifs.
