Shirlee McCoy - When Silence Falls

And that was something Piper did not want to be noticing. She had enough men in her life. One more would just complicate things.

She turned away, yanking her purse from the passenger seat and calling over her shoulder, “Sorry I wasn’t here when you arrived. Have you been waiting long?”

“Just a few minutes. I was a little early.”

“And I’m a little late.” She grabbed her briefcase, shoved the door closed with her hip.

“Rough day?” He pulled the briefcase from her hand, started toward the house.

“I’ve had worse. How about you?”

“I guess I could say the same. The photo shoot was easy. Dealing with my father, not so easy.”

“How is he?”

“Better physically. Mentally is a different story. I thought moving him back here would help. So far, it’s just made things worse.”

“Have you been back long?” Piper followed him up the stairs to the front door.

“About a month. I…” His voice trailed off. “Your door is open.”

“What? It shouldn’t be. I locked it before I left this morning.” Her pulse sped up as she sidled close, leaned past Cade’s arm and watched as he pushed with one finger and the door creaked inward.

“Go get in the car.”

“But—”

“Go. If I’m not out in ten minutes, call for backup.” The hard tone of his voice had her moving, hurrying back to her GTO, watching as Cade disappeared inside her house.

Seconds ticked by. Then minutes. She was supposed to wait ten, but Piper didn’t think she’d make it five. She grabbed her cell phone, clutched it in her hand, ready to dial 911. Was Cade okay? Should she call for help and then go inside?

Before she could decide, a figure rounded the corner of the house and Piper’s heart lurched, settling back into place as she recognized Cade.

She scrambled out of the car, searching his face, trying to determine what he’d found. “Did you see anyone?”

“Nothing. It doesn’t look like anything was touched, either. Want to come in and see?”

She did, and followed him into the house.

He was right. Everything looked just the way she’d left it. Her quilt thrown over the couch. A book sitting on the end table. A glass in the kitchen sink. A few crumbs on the counter. In the morning room, the mahogany wood of the piano gleamed in the sunlight that streamed through the window. Piper walked into the office, her bedroom and the bathroom, and found each in order, nothing out of place, nothing missing.

Finally satisfied, she grabbed a soda from the refrigerator, offered one to Cade. “So, what do you think?”

“It doesn’t look like anyone was here. The door was locked, just not closed all the way. Is it possible you didn’t shut it when you left?”

“No. I shut it.” She thought back, trying to remember the moment she’d closed the door. She’d been carrying her purse, briefcase, bagel, soda. “Then again, I was in a hurry and I had a lot in my hands. It could be I didn’t pull hard enough and the lock didn’t click.”

“Or someone was here, but doesn’t want you to know it.”

“Why? That doesn’t make sense.”

“Things don’t always make sense, Piper. If they did, police work would be a lot easier.” Cade took a swallow of soda, trying to decide how much he should say. “Most likely this is exactly what it seems to be—a locked door that wasn’t shut tightly enough.”

Piper relaxed at his words, the crease between her brows smoothing. “Good. The thought of someone snooping through my house while I’m gone is creepy.”

“I agree. Which is why getting a dog is such a good idea.”

“About that…” She shifted, turning away to grab a towel and wipe crumbs from the counter. “I’m not sure a dog will fit my lifestyle.”

“I guess that’s your choice to make.”

She glanced over her shoulder, meeting his gaze. “So you’re not going to argue with me?”

“No.”

“Try to convince me I’m wrong?”

“Should I?”

“I guess not, though every other man in my life would.”

“Then it’s good I’m not any of the other men in your life.”

She smiled for the first time since getting out of her car, her face lighting, her eyes silvery gray. “I’m sorry you came all the way over here for nothing.”

“It’s not a problem. I was on my way home, anyway.”

“Are you close?”

“Just a few streets over. Off of Main Street.”

“And you moved in there a month ago? I can’t believe I didn’t hear anything about it. Usually news spreads like wildfire around here.”

“Between my work and Dad’s physical therapy I’m gone more than I’m home, so there’s probably not much news to spread.”

“I can sympathize. I probably wouldn’t be home at all if I didn’t teach piano lessons here.”

“This used to be your uncle’s studio, didn’t it?”

“I’m surprised you remember.”

“How could I forget? Seth had carpool duty the year he got his license. We’d pick you up from school and drop you off here. Then interrupt whatever we were doing to come back and bring you home.”

“That’s right. I’d forgotten. But now that you mention it, I seem to recall a few very tense car rides.” She was smiling again, her face soft with memories, her fingers tapping against the kitchen counter.

She’d grown into her fey eyes and stubborn chin, grown into the gangly arms and legs that had been too skinny when she was a teen. Now, dressed in white slacks and matching jacket, a vivid blue tank top in some silky material beneath it, she looked like the accomplished professional she’d become. A very attractive professional, and Cade wasn’t sure he was comfortable with the change.

Nor was he comfortable leaving her alone in the house when his gut said there was more to the open door than there seemed to be.

So maybe now was the time to try a little persuasion.

He straightened, placing his empty can on the counter. “If you’re sure you’re not interested in going to the SPCA, then I’d better head out.”

“I’m sure.”

“Good. Too bad for the dog, though.”

“What dog?”

“The dog you would have been giving a home to.”

Her eyes narrowed, her fingers stilling. “You said you weren’t going to try to talk me into it.”

“Actually, I said I wasn’t going to argue with you, or try to persuade you. And I’m not.”

“Then what do you call what you’re doing?”

“Presenting the facts.”

“And they would be?”

“You’re alone in a house at the end of a very secluded street. Your house is about as secure as an open safe in the middle of a den of thieves. Last night, someone came very close to breaking into one of your windows. Today, you came home and found your front door open.”

“You said—”

“I said it was probably nothing, but that doesn’t mean it was. A dog will serve as a deterrent and an early warning system. If anyone gets within a few hundred feet of the house, you’ll know it. You’ll have added security and the dog will have the home it needs. Sounds like a win-win situation to me.”

For a moment she was silent. Then she shook her head, amusement flashing in her eyes. “You’re good. Really good. My brothers would have beaten me over the head with their opinions. Then demanded I do what they wanted. You’re just standing there as relaxed as can be, waiting for me to make the right choice for me and for some dog I haven’t even met yet.”

“Is it the right choice for you?”

“I don’t know, but now I feel obligated to check it out.” She looked disgruntled, but not altogether unhappy, amusement still dancing in her eyes, her fingers tapping a rhythm on the counter once again.