“But it won’t be the same.”
The sting of tears in her eyes took her by surprise, and she turned her head to stare unseeingly out at the dark landscape. She didn’t want to admit no other gift could replicate the rush of pleasure she’d felt when he bought the mermaid for her. She’d felt so special in that moment, so seen.
Every glass piece was unique, too, and even if she tried, Amelia would never fully duplicate it. Torie swallowed down the lump of despair in her throat. Was she some kind of child that she’d cry over the loss of a gift? Growing up, her dad had always taught her to straighten her shoulders and face adversity square on. And she’d done just that, so why did such an inconsequential theft strip away her courage?
“You feel violated,” Joe said. “There’s something so personal about a theft like that.”
She gave a jerky nod. “Maybe that’s it. I don’t think anyone has ever stolen from me before. It’s much more shocking than I expected.”
Beside her, Hailey clasped Torie’s hand. “I’ll give you my turtle necklace.” Her voice quavered.
“Oh honey, that’s so sweet of you, but I’ll be okay. Like your dad said, insurance will pay for it, and I can buy another mermaid and globe.”
“You’re sure?” Hailey’s voice settled into a more usual cadence. “I’d give it to you so you don’t cry.”
“You’re the sweetest little girl I ever met, but you keep your special necklace. Your daddy got it for you.”
“Okay.”
The shuttle driver pulled up at Torie’s cottage and let them out. Joe tipped the driver. Torie gaped when she spied the front of her cottage. Her front door stood open, and it looked like every light in the house was on. Her bike leaned against the front.
Joe turned toward a car stopping in front.
“Here comes Craig now.” Joe intercepted the state police officer. “It appears someone has broken into her house. The thief took her bike, but it’s here now.”
Craig’s hand went to the butt of his gun. “I’ll check it out.”
Torie didn’t want to stay behind, but Hailey needed someone with her while the men advanced to the front door and went inside.
It seemed forever until Joe reappeared from inside the cottage. “No one’s inside, but the mermaid and globe are on the coffee table, Torie.”
“What?” She rushed past him into her cottage and spied the glass items.
That same detestable song was playing on her Apple TV. If she ever heard “Games People Play” again, it would be too soon.
Chapter 13
Joe wanted to smash the box playing that stupid song. What was this guy’s problem and why was he tormenting Torie? Had he picked her for a reason, or did he get his kicks by terrorizing women? The whole thing steamed him.
Craig exited the bedroom to the right of the living space. “All clear there. Doesn’t look like anything was disturbed, but you’ll have to check for yourself, Torie.”
She looked a little pale sitting on the sofa, where she held the glass mermaid on her lap. Hailey had fallen asleep beside her. “I’m a neat freak, so I’ll know if any of my things have been disturbed.”
“The other bedroom is okay too,” Joe said. “Whoever it was came in to set the glass items and turn on the music.”
Craig took out a notebook and pen. “Tell me everything that happened tonight.”
It was over an hour later by the time they’d gone through all their movements, and Craig dusted the door for fingerprints. Joe noticed Torie’s slow movements and her lids at half-mast. She had to be exhausted.
“That it, Craig? My truck’s in the hotel parking lot and you can dust it. Torie needs to get to bed.”
Craig nodded. “I think I have enough for now. I’ll dust the truck for prints, but I doubt our perp left anything, and I suspect any prints from the door or your truck will belong to one of you.”
“You know what this means, don’t you?” Torie asked. “The person behind this has to be following me.”
Joe had hoped she wouldn’t land on that conclusion, but it was obvious. “Agreed. You need to be careful. In fact, I’m not sure you should be staying alone.”
“So far there hasn’t been any direct threat,” Craig said.
Joe gave him a withering glance. “You know as well as I do that stalkers often progress to violence. You could move into a room at the hotel instead of staying here alone.”
She chewed on her lower lip. “I really like this cottage, but I’ll admit I’m jumpy. I see every shadow and hear every creak.”
Joe picked up the globe and examined it. It seemed unharmed. “Anton would arrange for a room for you.”
She nodded. “I suppose you’re right. I’ll see what I can do tomorrow. It’s already ten, and I’m exhausted. I have to be at work at seven tomorrow, and I don’t want to pack tonight. It seems overwhelming.”
“I don’t think you should stay here alone tonight,” Joe said. “I’ll stay in the spare room with Hailey. I don’t think anyone would dare break in with a man here.”
“Probably not,” Craig agreed. “That’s a good idea.”
“I hate to put you out,” Torie said. “Hailey should be in her own bed.”
“Once she’s asleep, she’s dead to the world. There’s a king bed in the spare room, plenty of space for us. We can go home first thing in the morning to get cleaned up.”
“Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur,” Torie said.
Joe blinked, then grinned. “I took Latin too. ‘One’s friends are known in the hour of need.’”
A pleasant warmth spread from his midsection at the realization she considered him a friend. It was a start.
He put down the globe and went to lift his daughter from the sofa. She didn’t stir, and her head lolled onto his chest. Her mutter didn’t make sense, and he knew she wasn’t awake.
Torie sprang up and went ahead of him to the bedroom door. “I’ll turn down the covers. The bedding is clean.”
She stepped into the room and yanked back the quilt and the pink top sheet edged in lace. “Not exactly the sheets a guy would want to sleep on. You can sleep in my room if you like. At least the sheets are navy.”
He lowered his daughter and gently set her on the bed. “Color doesn’t bother me.”
If he even slept at all. He always carried his SIG Sauer M11, and he planned to rest with one eye open just in case. He pulled the covers over Hailey and backed out of the room, then eased the door closed behind him. He walked Craig out to the porch.
The porch light came on and pushed back the shadows around the cottage. “Thanks for coming, buddy.”
“You bet. It’s very peculiar for sure. I’m still not convinced the guy is out to get her.”
“He’s bold—someone could have seen him breaking into my truck. The hotel is right there, and a guest could have seen him.”
“It’s not well lit because of the sea turtles.”
True enough. “Okay, you got me there. But still, staff and workers would have been moving around the grounds. The shop employees are all close too. Someone could have seen something.”