Family Bonds- Ava and Seth (Amore Island Book 5), Natalie Ann [world of reading TXT] 📗

that. The fact that her bedroom door was opened more than it should made her pause and wonder what was going on.

Could she have been so nervous about her family cookout that she rushed out leaving it that way? She didn’t think she was because it was almost second nature at this point.

Normally she might brush it off, but since her identity was stolen she was being more cautious. Her first instinct was to go into her room and see if anything had been touched, but she didn’t. Instead she went upstairs where there were more doors. All those doors should be shut the same exact way, closed but not clicked shut.

They weren’t. All four doors were closed shut and there was no way she’d do that. Ever.

She took a deep breath and walked back downstairs with her heart racing and went outside to her car pretending like she might have forgotten something. If someone was watching the house she didn’t want them to think she knew something wasn’t right.

Of course that would change when they saw people at her house because she was calling Mac first. Probably silly to call the chief of police, but it’s what she was doing.

When she was around the corner, she pulled her phone out and called Mac. He picked up on the first ring. “Sorry to bother you on your day off,” she said.

“Which means you wouldn’t call me if there wasn’t a problem,” Mac said. “What happened?”

“This is crazy. I know it is. But I think someone was in my house while I was gone today.”

“Any signs of forced entry?” he asked.

“No. I mean I unlocked the door and went in, but my bedroom door was opened a quarter and it never is. I didn’t go in because it just seemed off to me. Then I went upstairs to check out the rooms up there and all four doors were closed shut. I never close a door fully. Never have.”

“Where are you?” he asked. “I’ll come over right now.”

“I’m just driving around. I left the house as if I forgot something. I didn’t know if anyone was following me or watching the house and didn’t want to alert them. Can you come over in your vehicle and not the police SUV? Maybe they won’t know who you are if I’m being watched.”

“Yeah. Don’t go back home. Not yet. Let’s meet up and then I’ll follow you home and we’ll walk through what you did.”

“Should I call Griffin?”

There was a sigh on the other end. “The chief in me wants to say no, that I’ve got it covered, but the cousin in me knows that he should probably be brought in. He’s got more reach than me and, to be honest, it might be nice to have a second set of eyes.”

“I’m not sure if he’s even around or available,” she said. “Maybe I should check with Eli first before I call his employee.”

“You know as well as I do that Eli will have Griffin come over. And I’m not sure Griffin is anyone’s employee, but that is another story. Anyway, give me an address to meet up.”

She told him where she was parked and waited, then placed a call to Eli who then handed his phone over to Griffin. She explained the same thing to him and he said he’d be on the way. Since he was at the other end of the island it would take longer, but at least she felt like she was doing something.

When she saw Mac pull in behind her in the parking lot, she put the car in drive and then pulled out, him following her. She moved back into the garage, him parking on the other side of the two-car driveway.

“It’s so good to see you,” she said with a big smile on her face. “I’m glad I saw you. Come on in for coffee.”

Mac just rolled his eyes at her, but played along. She pulled her key out and slid it in the lock and turned it without touching the handle and got the door to open, then pushed it with her foot.

When they were inside, Mac, said, “Did you touch anything other than the door when you came in?”

“No. Griffin is on the way too.”

“That’s fine, but I’m not waiting. Text him and tell him to ring the doorbell like he’s a guest,” Mac said. She pulled her phone out and did as Mac said, then watched when he pulled his gun out and put it to his side while they were on the back porch. What the hell? Why didn’t she realize there might be someone in the house? Now she felt like an idiot! “Why don’t you go back to the garage. I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary when I pulled in. I doubt you are being watched other than a nosy neighbor. The street is clear of cars. Did you notice any when you pulled in that were parked in the road?”

“I hadn’t paid attention. There is normally one or two now and again, but not often.”

“Stay out here or wait in the garage by the car where you can leave if you need to. You can get out. I’m not blocking you.”

She had wondered why he didn’t pull right behind her but on the other side. Now she knew.

She was nervous before walking into the house but now it was magnified with Mac in the house with his gun and she was standing here wondering what the hell was going on.

He came out a minute later. “Come on in. It’s clear. There doesn’t seem to be anyone here. It was stupid of you to walk around when you felt something off.”

“Yeah, I’m realizing that now.”

He nodded his head. “You’ll have to let me know if anything is missing or moved in your room.”

“Did you open the doors upstairs?” she asked.

He held up a rag. “Yes, barely touching them. Bri and Sidney’s old rooms are still empty, Kayla’s