Strange Medicine (Dr. Maxwell Thornton Murder Mysteries #1)(11)

My muscles were stiff as I climbed cautiously from the pool. Dripping and rattled, I dried my hands on my pants and pulled my phone out. I dialed 911 and spoke to the operator, who promised to transfer the call to the local authorities. I pulled on my pants and went inside, where I proceeded to go around to every door and window and double-check they were locked.

After about ten minutes, my doorbell rang. Through the blinds I could see the flashing of blue and red lights. I opened the door and found Sheriff Callum standing on my doorstep looking a little sleepy, but serious.

“You had an intruder?” His voice was even.

I nodded. “Yeah.” I hadn’t put my shirt back on, and I felt conspicuous. But I ignored that and stepped aside to let him in. “I was in the pool, and I saw them creeping around the house.”

“Inside?” He sounded alarmed.

A chill went through me. “Oh, God no. Sorry. Outside.”

He released a long breath. “Okay. Good.”

“I know this sounds nuts, but they were digging at the foundation.”

“Really?”

I nodded.

He strode to the back porch and then outside. He walked the length of the house, staring down at the foundation with his flashlight. “Yeah, someone was definitely digging.”

“That’s so weird.”

“I wouldn’t have noticed it if you hadn’t told me and I wasn’t looking for it though.” He sounded puzzled.

I hugged myself, relieved that I wasn’t alone at the moment. “I can’t figure out why anyone would do that.”

He shook his head. “You and me both.” He approached me, his mouth a grim line. “We don’t have many break-ins around here.”

“Okay.” I wasn’t sure what he was trying to say.

“Are you sure it wasn’t just an animal?”

I laughed, feeling confused. “What?”

He shrugged. “It’s dark out back. Maybe it was an animal rooting around for food.”

“The only thing tall enough would be a bear, and as far as I know, bears don’t dig with shovels.”

He didn’t smile. “Maybe there was no shovel.”

“There was. I heard the metal hitting the dirt, clear as day.” I chuffed. “Not to mention bears and people don’t really look alike. Not even in the dark. This was a human. A very quiet, stealthy human. Not a bumbling bear, looking for food.”

“Okay.” His voice was agreeable.

I relaxed a little since he seemed to believe me. “I mean, I’d rather it was a bear. But it wasn’t.”

He pulled his hat off and ran a hand through his hair. “What the heck could they have been up to?”

“No idea.” The scent of his coconut shampoo reached my nostrils. It annoyed me that I felt attraction to him, even as I was terrified about someone trying to burgle my house. I cleared my throat. “So, what happens next?”

“Well, he didn’t try to get inside. Right?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

“That’s good.” He flicked his flashlight to the base of the house again. “But whoever it was, they tried to cover their tracks.”

“Bears probably wouldn’t bother.”

His mouth twitched. “Probably not.” His expression became more serious. “At most this would be trespassing, and that’s if I had anyone to charge.”

I sighed. “I guess I shouldn’t have bothered calling you.” I bit my lip. “But I was pretty rattled. The way the person moved…” I shivered.

“No. It’s good you called.” He sighed. “I wish I had more to go on. I mean, if they’d left the shovel I could look for prints maybe.” He grimaced. “But I don’t really have a trail to follow.”

“I get it.”

His gaze dropped to my bare chest, and then he looked away.

I glanced around the yard uneasily. “This has me all agitated. Not sure how I’m going to sleep now.”

He pursed his lips. “If you make me a cup of coffee, I’ll hang out with you for a while. Just until you feel a little calmer and we can be sure the person isn’t lurking.”

Usually the last thing I wanted was company, but right at that moment, his offer sounded like heaven. I was still nervous and confused about why anyone would even bother with my house. There were tons of houses in the area… why mine?

I nodded. “Yeah. God, that would be great. I mean, you don’t have to stay all night or anything. But I am still nervous.”

“I would be too.” His expression was sympathetic.

I led the way into my kitchen, and I moved to the coffee maker. “You’re in for a treat. I don’t have anything but Kona coffee right now.”

He chuckled as he lowered himself into a chair at the table. “Sounds good.”

I ground the beans, poured water into the coffee maker, and turned it on. Then I faced him, leaning against the counter. “It concerns me that of all the houses in the area, this person picked mine.”

He narrowed his eyes. “It’s possible they thought the place was still empty.”

“I guess.”

“Which would rule out anyone local because I think it’s pretty clear every single person in town knows you’re here.” He grinned.