Speak No Evil by Tanya Anne Crosby

between them. She could have leapt at him and kissed his face ecstatically, except that his gun was drawn and the sight of it was enough to keep her rooted to the spot.
    “It’s just me in here.”
    “We’re clear out here, too,” he told her, “but stay where you are.” He kicked the door open and came in. “Could they have gotten into the house?”
    Caroline shook her head. “The inside door was closed, but maybe. I don’t know. The office door wasn’t locked.”
    “We’ll wait until backup arrives to search the house. Have you touched anything?”
    Caroline shook her head. “Just the phone. And the office door.” And the desk she was gripping right now, but that was obvious.
    “Good.”
    He flipped on the light and inspected the room. Aside from the broken glass, nothing seemed out of place. Papers were still neatly stacked on the desk, drawers were closed and books on the shelves were all in place. Flo had been a meticulous organizer and her office was no exception. But Caroline’s heart wouldn’t stop pounding.
    “Whoever it was must have gotten spooked, but we might get some prints off the door.”
    They fell into an awkward silence.
    What the hell did you talk about when your house had just been vandalized and your savior was the man you were supposed to marry, but didn’t because he cheated on you? Nothing. That was what.
    After what felt like the longest ten minutes of Caroline’s life, they finally heard the screech of car tires out front. Suddenly, there were men in uniform spilling into the room, three to begin with and a fourth moments later.
    “I checked the entire perimeter,” the fourth said. “Nothing.”
    Caroline decided it must be safe to leave her spot behind the desk, but Jack ushered her back, then led a group inside the main part of the house.
    A very tense few minutes later, one of them returned. “The house is clear,” he said and marched out the back door.
    Caroline heard yet another car pull up and a car door open and slam, followed by a deep bark and Savannah’s voice.
    Abandoning her spot behind the desk, Caroline ran out to reassure her sister. The instant she saw Savannah, she ran to embrace her, hugging her tight.
    Tango woofed at her in confusion.
    “Caroline! What the hell is going on here?”
    Caroline explained briefly what had happened and then demanded, “Where were you?”
    “I took Sadie home. We had a glass of wine. When I’d gone upstairs to call you down for dinner, you were so out of it you didn’t even stir, so I took Tango with me and let you sleep. When did this happen?”
    Caroline shook her head. “That’s the crazy part. I have no idea! I woke up from a dream, thought I heard glass breaking, but Tango didn’t bark and the house was quiet. I didn’t think any more about it. Then the doorbell rang, it was Jack, maybe he scared them off—I have no idea!”
    Savannah shuddered and hugged Caroline again. “Thank God you’re safe! Now slow down and tell me again what happened.”
    Caroline took a deep breath and told her the story once more, without the benefit of theatrics. They walked arm in arm into the house as yet another police cruiser came skidding to a halt in the driveway, lights flashing, spraying oyster shells from under the tires. At this point, she was starting to feel a little foolish, considering that no one had actually gotten into the house, and she had to wonder how much of the police response had to do with Jack, and how much had to do with the simple fact that her mother had been a respected pillar of the community. Thinking of the blow-off Karen Hutto seemed to be receiving, she felt a little guilty.
    Tango turned and barked as two more men launched out of the cruiser and Jack walked past them, greeting the newcomers. Caroline met his gaze only briefly and looked quickly away.
    Savannah gave her a meaningful look. “You know a girl was murdered just down the road last night?”
    Caroline shuddered and gave Savannah’s arm