Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove Series, Volume 3 Read Free Page A

hadn’t even occurred to Faith. Oh, dear…
    â€œNo…” The chill she’d experienced earlier returned. It felt as if her feet were frozen to the floor. For all she knew, someone could be standing in the other room.
    â€œAre you on a portable phone?” the operator asked, breaking into the frightening scenarios racing through her mind.
    â€œYes…”
    â€œGo outside and remain on the line,” the operator continued.
    Faith forced herself to hurry to the door, moving as quietly as she could, which was probably ridiculous since she’d been speaking in a normal tone earlier. Surely if theperson responsible was in the house, he or she would’ve already overheard.
    â€œI’m outside,” she whispered.
    â€œGood,” the 9-1-1 operator told her in a reassuring voice. “I have a patrol car on the way.”
    â€œThank you.”
    â€œDeputy Weaver’s estimated time of arrival is three minutes.”
    â€œI’m a friend of Sheriff Troy Davis’s,” she said and instantly regretted it. Troy was out of her life. Yet
he
was the person she’d wanted to contact when she realized there’d been a break-in. “I
was
a friend,” she amended.
    The phone beeped, indicating that there was another caller.
    â€œI think that’s my son,” Faith told the operator. “He wanted me to phone him back as soon as I’d reported the…crime.” She wasn’t even sure how to refer to it.
    â€œYou can return the call in a moment,” the operator told her. “Deputy Weaver should be there soon.”
    Faith sighed in relief when she saw the patrol car round the corner. “He’s here now.”
    The phone beeped again. “I’ll need to take this, otherwise Scottie will be worried.” She thanked the operator and clicked off, then waited to connect with her son.
    â€œMom, is everything okay?”
    â€œThe deputy’s here,” she assured her son.
    â€œAll right. I’m leaving now.” Unfortunately, Scott’s house was some distance from Rosewood Lane, and it would be at least fifteen minutes before he arrived.
    Still, once she knew Scott was coming, she felt as though she might collapse. As though she didn’t have the strength to remain upright.
    The deputy parked his vehicle at the curb and aftershe’d spoken with him, he stalked into the house with his weapon drawn.
    Clutching her purse, Faith stood in the driveway that led to the garage. Not more than a minute passed, although it seemed much longer before Deputy Weaver reappeared.
    â€œAll clear,” he told her.
    Nodding, Faith started for the house, but Deputy Weaver placed a restraining hand on her arm. “Do you have family in the area?” he asked.
    Faith nodded again. “My son, Scott, is on his way.”
    â€œThen I’d recommend you wait until he can accompany you inside,” the deputy said.
    She didn’t understand. “But why? You said whoever did this isn’t in the house anymore.”
    The deputy paused. “I don’t believe this is something you’d want to see by yourself,” he said. “I can go in with you, too….”
    Faith had trouble taking in his words. “You mean…the damage is extensive?”
    â€œYou’ll need to judge that for yourself.”
    â€œOh.” Faith didn’t know how to respond to that.
    â€œCan you think of anyone who might have a grudge against you?” the deputy asked.
    â€œNo,” she said, shaking her head, taken aback by his question. “I’ve only been living in the area for a couple of months. This is a rental. I…I didn’t want to inconvenience my son and his family by living with them while I searched for a house to buy.”
    Deputy Weaver nodded thoughtfully.
    â€œWhy?” she asked anxiously.
    His gaze was sympathetic. “I’m sorry to say it, but this looks