Love Inspired Suspense December 2015, Box Set 2 of 2 Read Free Page B

searched her house? Strange. “Display what?”
    â€œShe was being secretive. You know how she is about the big reveal when she gets an idea. Why would anyone try to steal from her? The only things worth taking are the TV and her camera, although it isn’t a digital one like most people use today. Are they still there?”
    â€œThe TV is. I didn’t check for the camera in her darkroom, but Jake said that second bedroom was trashed like the rest of the house.”
    â€œReally, I can’t see someone taking it. It’s old. Not something that someone would steal. How about her food processor I gave her for her birthday?”
    Rachel remembered seeing it in the kitchen, in pieces. “It’s here.”
    A long pause from her aunt, then in a tight, low tone, she said, “Then something has happened to her.” Her voice sounded thick.
    Rachel peered out the front window, seeing headlights piercing the snowy darkness. “The police have arrived. I’ve got to go. I’ll be home as soon as I can. We’re probably overreacting.” At least she prayed she was.
    â€œRachel, let me know what’s going on. If you need my help, call. Are you sure I shouldn’t come over?”
    â€œYes, she might call you. Someone needs to be there. Besides, the police are here, and they’ll probably kick us out while they check the house. When we find Aunt Betty, she’ll need you and me to help her clean this mess up.”
If they find Aunt Betty
. She couldn’t rid her mind of that thought.
    Jake opened the door for the two police officers from town—the older man, Police Chief Randall Quay, and the younger one, Officer Steve Bates.
    The chief shook Jake’s hand. “It’s good to see you back home. What do you think?” He gestured toward the trashed living room.
    â€œI’ve searched the house as much as I could without disturbing anything, but there are some places I didn’t get to check. The closet in the second bedroom, the pantry and the back arctic entry.”
    â€œAunt Betty used the closet in the second bedroom as a darkroom.”
    The chief nodded once, then turned back to Jake. “Can you help me? Since you’re here, I’d like to send Officer Bates on up the road. We are shorthanded with this storm that moved in early. It seems to bring the crazies out.”
    â€œSure, I can help. Mitch here can track if we need that.”
    â€œBetty is a special lady. She taught me in Sunday school.” Chief Quay moved farther into the room while his officer left. He frowned, his gaze fixed on a broken vase. “She didn’t deserve this.” He pulled out a camera and started taking pictures of the living room.
    â€œI can cover the kitchen.” Jake started forward.
    â€œI appreciate it. We need to find Betty.” The chief turned to Rachel. “Can you make some calls to people she may know and see if she’s with them?”
    â€œI already called Aunt Linda, and she’s not with her. But I know a few others she’s close with at the fishery. I’ll give them a call.” Rachel pulled out her cell to use the list of phone numbers stored in it. She was relieved to be able to help and needed to stay busy to keep from fixating on what might have happened to her aunt. She picked up the phone and began dialing.
    * * *
    Jake carefully started on one side of the kitchen and made his way around it. Behind the island in the center in the midst of the emptied flour on the floor, he found footprints—one set, too big to be Betty’s, more like a man’s size eleven. He took a photo with his cell of that and anything else of interest. He refrained from touching anything in case the chief wanted to dust for latent prints.
    So far no evidence that Betty had been here when this happened—except her car parked in the shed. That would need to be searched, too. In fact, after he went through the kitchen