Page List


Font:  

"I'm not sure 'scared' is the word. The first time, he tried the front door, and as soon as I turned on a light, he took off. The second, I saw the new motion detector light up the backyard. I thought it was just a cat, so I didn't freak out. I was still awake that time, watching a show on my laptop. I looked out, and there were footprints. It was when we had that freak snowfall a few weeks ago."

"The police seem to believe it was the same person each time."

She nodded. "I think so. There were prints the other times, too. First through the back garden and then under the living room window."

"The same prints?" Gabriel asked.

"The police couldn't say that conclusively--the snow ones had melted, and the first set were less distinct. But they were the same size and seemed like the same tread." She crossed her arms again. "I'm sorry. I guess all this doesn't mean much, considering the intruder isn't the person who...who shot Alan. I don't mean to go on. It just..." She looked at me. "It feels like he's responsible, though I know he's not. I am. I just..."

She straightened. "Enough about the security."

"Actually, this is helpful," I said. "In a potential case, Gabriel would need to establish the situation. The fear that you were living under."

"I wasn't--" A pained smile. "I shouldn't say that, should I? Otherwise, how do you explain...?" She shook her head. "I will explain. But first, the problem is that we weren't living in terror. We were living in defiance."

She waved us into the living room, where we sat.

"We didn't think it was an intruder. Not your garden-variety thief anyway. I haven't told the police that. It wouldn't help my case. After the first time, we did wonder why he just stole my purse. It was almost as if someone wanted to spook us rather than actually rob us."

She settled into the chair, getting comfortable. "When the next attempt came, Alan and I grew suspicious. It really didn't seem as if someone was trying to break in."

"Just spook you."

She nodded. "Yes. And all three happened while Alan was at work. While he was known to be at work. The busiest nights of the week."

I shifted forward. "Can you think of someone who might target you? Anything you tell us will be kept in complete confidence."

A humorless smile. "You mean whether I was having an affair and our intruder was my spurned lover?"

"Not necessarily. Maybe someone was paying you undue attention. Things like that can escalate, from the point where you don't want to sound paranoid to the point where you regret not feeling paranoid enough."

"True. But no. There wasn't a spurned lover or rejected suitor or mystery stalker. This wasn't about me. It was about Eclipse."

"The restaurant?"

She nodded. "What did someone stand to gain by pretending to break in on Saturday nights? Getting Alan to stay home."

When neither Gabriel nor I said a word, she said, "My husband needed to be at Eclipse. Having him there ensured everything ran smoothly on the busiest nights of the week. He was the captain of the ship and the face of the restaurant itself."

"So you thought someone was trying to make him stay home on the busy nights. To damage the business?"

"I know it sounds ridiculous, but restaurants are cut-throat operations. Most close in less than a year. Even one as successful as Eclipse wasn't exactly running in the black."

Gabriel met her gaze. "You are telling me that you feared a competitor was attempting to sabotage a failing business?"

She visibly bristled. "Eclipse isn't failing, Mr. Walsh. That's how newer businesses operate. How long did it take you to break even with your law firm?"

"Two months."

Her mouth opened. Then it closed.

"These are questions a prosecutor or the police could put to you," I said. "You need to be prepared."

She eased back. "Yes, of course. I'm sorry. In the restaurant business, it may take years to break even, and the chances of it ever being wildly successful are slight. It's a labor of love. A chance to live a dream. Putting Eclipse out of business means another restaurant gets those patrons and increases its own chance to survive. Having Alan stay home on the busiest nights could be catastrophic. Which is why he insisted on continuing to work."

Gabriel said nothing for so long that Heather began to squirm and shoot glances my way.

"All right," Gabriel said finally. "I will accept that someone might have been harassing you in an effort to convince your husband to stay home. But if you s


Tags: Kelley Armstrong Cainsville Fantasy