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“Do you have any idea when somebody could have accessed your cards?” I asked, turning my mind to the information I’d need to hunt down her stalker.
She was quiet for a moment, presumably thinking. “The only time I don’t have my purse on me is when I’m at home or your place and leave it in another room. Although I guess I leave it in the house while I play outside with Duke sometimes too.”
“Nowhere else?”
“Not that I can think of.”
I didn’t like it. That meant whoever had done this had access to Grace despite the additional security measures we’d put in place.
“Have you reviewed your security footage?” I asked.
“No,” she replied. “But I should have been alerted by the new security system if anyone entered the house while I was gone.”
“I’ll get Mehrtens to check it anyway.” Security systems were useful, but all computer-based programs had weaknesses. Perhaps someone had hacked them or otherwise skirted around the system to avoid setting it off. The other possibility, of course, was that the theft had occurred at my place. I didn’t want to believe it, but the fact was, my house didn’t currently have security in place beyond the basics. The main benefit of having her stay there was that most people would assume she was at home, and anyone outside of her daily life shouldn’t know who I was or where I lived. If they’d found us, it was because they’d been watching her and followed her there.
“I’ll look too,” Grace said. “I’m not in the mood to work now. I can’t stop thinking about how close they might have gotten to me.” Her voice dropped. “I’m scared, Nate.”
“Whoever this is, they won’t get to you.” My chest filled with deep certainty. I’d do everything I could to protect Grace.
“I hope not.” Her voice was strained. “But nothing we’ve done so far has stopped them. This almost feels like showing off. As if they’re just proving they can do whatever they want.”
“They can’t,” I bit out. “We’ll find them, and we’ll stop them from doing anything like this again.”
“I really hope so,” she whispered. “Do you need me to come in and make a formal statement?”
“Yes, but don’t come alone if you can help it. Bring Alice for support.” And to deter anyone who might be watching her from making a move.
“Okay, we’ll be there soon.”
* * *
The house securityfootage revealed nothing, and while I got a warrant approved for the ATM camera, the bank advised that they wouldn’t be able to provide the recording until Monday. I drove home at the end of my shift in brooding silence. Each time I failed to identify Grace’s stalker—or even find a clue to their identity—the worse I felt about it in my gut. It reminded me of how badly I’d failed Kennedy. We hadn’t figured out that the biggest threat to her safety was right under our noses until it was almost too late, and she hadn’t escaped unscathed. She’d been shot, and we’d almost lost her. I couldn’t let the same thing happen to Grace.
At the end of the day, I pulled up her drive and jogged to the front door. I knocked and waited. A few moments later, she emerged with Duke at her heels and both Alice and Kennedy close behind. She must have called Kennedy for support, since I hadn’t spoken to any of my brothers in order for the word to get back to her that way.
“Any luck?” Alice asked.
“Not yet.”
She grimaced. “How long is this person going to get away with causing trouble? It isn’t okay.”
“I know. I wish I had a different answer for you, but whoever it is, they’re careful, and following up leads takes time.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to insult you or your officers,” she said. “I’m just frustrated.”
“So are we,” I said. “Ready, Gracie?”
“Yeah.” She tried to smile but it was tremulous. She said a quick goodbye to Alice, then turned and gave Kennedy a fierce hug. Kennedy murmured something to her too quietly for me to hear and kissed her cheek. When they parted, Grace and I loaded into my car. Duke nosed the window, and I wound it down a crack for him. Grace stayed quiet until we arrived at my place and had gone inside.
“Did anything else happen today?” I asked. Her silence was worrying me.
“No.” She dragged her hand down her face, her expression so weary, I ached to comfort her. “I’m just tired of this. I feel like I’m always looking over my shoulder, but somehow this person gets what they want anyway.”
I pulled her into my arms and held her close. “We’ll find them.”
Somehow, someway, I would find them and make them regret causing Grace even an ounce of discomfort.
She rested her cheek on my shoulder. “I believe you. I just wish we had more to go on.”
