“No problem, Detective, I’m wide awake.” As he said so, Mark could swear his tone was
mocking.
“Look I’m sorry, I’ll catch you in the morning.”
“Really, Detective, I wish it weren’t so but I was awake. What did you need?” His voice
reflected the honesty of his words.
“Maya’s home has been broken into. Thankfully she wasn’t in it at the time, and neither
were any of her tenants. It doesn’t seem as though anything of value was taken except a gold necklace held sentimental value for Maya alone.” Mark filled him in succinctly.
“How is she? You said no one was in the home at the time?”
“No. She’s shaken up, mad as hell, but thank God, she’s not hurt. They made a real mess
of it in Maya’s wing, but it’s nothing that can’t be fixed. I’m taking her home with me and her assistant is staying with a friend. I’m going to be at the precinct early tomorrow and I wanted to give you a head’s up.”
Mark didn’t know how to proceed. He had no idea why, but his first inclination had been
to call the FBI agent. Oddly hesitant, he didn’t know how to voice his next request.
“Would it be alright if I had a look around? I could do so tonight if you’re taking Dr.
Richardson with you. I’d like to take a look at everything before it gets straightened back up if I could,” Nicolai volunteered.
“I’m sure Maya wouldn’t mind Agent Montgomery, but it can wait until the morning, I
wasn’t suggesting you come now, it’s too late.” Mark quickly assured him, relieved at the
agent’s request.
“Actually, Detective, I do my best work at night … alone. If it’s okay with Dr.
Richardson, I can be there in less than twenty minutes.”
“I’m sure it’ll be okay. I don’t think our prowler will return tonight, but we’ll leave the key in the mailbox. When you’re done, lock everything back up and bring the key to the precinct tomorrow.”
“No problem, I’ll be there shortly.”
“Thanks Montgomery,” Mark said.
The only response was the sound of a phone being disconnected. Mark turned around
when Dalia and Maya walked toward him. Maya must have packed her overnight bag as well,
because both women held bags in their hands.
“That was Agent Montgomery on the phone. He wants to take a look around. I told him I
didn’t think you’d mind. Is that okay?”
“No I don’t mind. I’ll be at Imani House all day, so he can get the key anytime he wants
to.” She was turning to key in the code on the alarm pad when Mark stayed her hand.
“He’s going to check it out tonight. He’ll be here in a few minutes. I’ll leave my key for
him to lock up when he’s done,” he said, when she looked at him questioningly.
Mark walked Dalia to her Corolla parked in the side garage. “Please take care of Maya,
this has been hard on her. I don’t know how much more she can take,” Dalia told Mark.
“You know I’ll take care of her Dalia. Be careful driving,” he assured her and closed her
car door. As she reversed out of the driveway and drove down the darkened silent street he
returned to the house.
“It’s been a long night, baby, why don’t we leave,” he urged her, as soon as he walked
back inside.
“Yes. I think that’s a good idea,” she said on a long sad sigh and followed him out after
he locked the door.
Mark stored her bags alongside his gym bag in the back of his Expedition before guiding
her to the passenger side. They’d been driving in silence for a while before Maya finally spoke.
“Why is Agent Montgomery looking now instead of in the morning? Did you ask him to come
tonight?” Her voice sounded hushed and weary in the dark. She turned her head and body toward him, in the soft leather seat.
“I called him when you and Dalia were getting your things together.”
“What is it?” she asked when he frowned.
“Nothing concrete.” Mark shook his head. “My first instinct whenever I need back-up is
normally Jordan.” He spoke slowly as though he were contemplating his words carefully before saying them. “This time my first instinct was to call Montgomery.”
“And why do you think that is?”
“I’m not sure. I’m not even sure I trust the guy,” he said, and immediately recanted. “No,
it’s not that I don’t trust him, I don’t understand him.”
He thought back on the odd way the agent investigated crime scenes and of his desire to
be alone while he did so.
“He’s good at what he does. I really believe that he can give us the insight into this
burglary that we need. Everything will be fine, Maya,” he sought to reassure her as he reached over and took her small hand within his, and kissed her open palm. “Everything will be alright, baby, I promise you.”
CHAPTER 41
Nicolai casually walked inside the house, closing the door after he’d let himself in. He
took a deep breath, and leaned back against the door’s hard surface, as though he could gain strength from the antique wood door. Reluctantly he pushed himself away, and walked
throughout the lit house.
The evidence of the burglary was everywhere, from strewn pillows, to overturned
drawers. Cabinet doors had been opened and emptied, and food dumped into the middle of the
floor in the large bright kitchen.
He took his time going throughout the house, careful not to touch anything until he was
ready to ‘hear.’ Nicolai’s gaze stole over the simple, yet beautiful furnishings. Fresh picked daisy’s sat unmolested on a side table, and haunting artwork hung framed on warm painted
walls, all of which showed the many facets to Dr. Richardson’s personality.
Nicolai continued walking methodically through her home, and waited until last to go
into her personal sanctuary; her bedroom. Upon entering, he could immediately detect a
difference in the atmosphere before he touched anything.
Analyzing the feeling, the best way he could describe it to himself
