Page 36 of Little Bitter Truths
I told him about the figure dressed in black moving through the neighborhood and how that person had turned around and taken off just before reaching Mia’s house.I explained that Giovanni and I had followed in pursuit, only to lose sight of the mystery person.When we returned, we spotted a shadowy figure through Mia’s front window.I described Mia’s scream, the frantic barking from Coco, and how I’d pounded on the door before Giovanni shot out the window so we could get inside.
“It’s a good thing we entered the house when we did because Mia had just seen someone standing in her bedroom doorway,” Giovanni added.
“What happened after you went inside?”Foley asked.
“The intruder fled,” I said.“Mia thought they went out the back.We checked.By the time we got outside, no one was there.Giovanni was going to drive around, see if he could find the intruder, but when he got to the car, two of the tires were slashed.”
Whitlock gave a low whistle.
“Walk me through your theory again,” Foley said.“The one about Mia being the intended target.”
I gave him the short version.
The photos on the piano.
The resemblance between the sisters.
The autopsy clue from Silas, and the idea that Wren may have been lifted after the shooting so the killer could get a better look at her face.
The fact that one of the sisters had a birthmark below her ear and the other one didn’t.
When I finished, Foley tugged at his chin the way he always did when he was mulling something over.
“I’ll admit, when she told me earlier, I thought it was one hell of a leap, though there was also some merit to it,” Whitlock said.
“And now?”I asked.
“Now I think someone tried to come back and correct their mistake, if it was one.”
Foley crossed his arms.“If your theory is right, then we’ve been looking at the wrong victim.”
“Not wrong,” I said.“Just not the intended one.”
“Same difference,” he muttered.“If Mia is the target, then the question shifts.”
“Shifts to who wants Mia dead, and why,” I said.
“Which means we need to start digging into Mia’s life.”
“Work, personal history, dating history, neighbors, finances,” I said.“Anyone she’s crossed.Anyone with a grudge.”
“I like where you’re going with it, but for tonight, let’s give it a rest.”
“I agree,” I said.“I can’t imagine Mia’s in the right headspace for questions.I’ll talk to her in the morning after she’s had more time to process everything.”
Whitlock rubbed his hands together.“In the meantime, I’ll have a patrol car circle the area so if the intruder comes back, they’ll know we’re not taking any chances.”
“They were supposed to already be doing that,” Foley said, sounding annoyed.“I want them to do more than circle.I want officers parked in front of the house until I say otherwise.If Mia leaves, they follow.”
One of the officers approached and gave Foley a quiet update about the backyard gate, which he’d noticed had been left open.They talked for a minute, and when the officer walked away, Foley placed a hand on Giovanni’s shoulder.“Thank you for getting inside when you did.The two of you saved a woman’s life tonight.”
Giovanni gave a slight nod.“Any man who knows a woman is in danger should act.It wasn’t a complicated decision.”
Whitlock smiled.“One of these days you’ll have to teach me how to be that cool under pressure.”
“All right then,” Foley said.“We know more than we did an hour ago.So, let’s secure the scene, process what we can, keep a couple of officers here, and speak to Mia as soon as she’s feeling up to it.”
As our group huddle broke apart, Whitlock checked in on Mia, asking if he could get her anything.Silas stood near the open window, chatting with a member of his team, and Foley ran a hand over his bald head, lingering for a moment as if deep in thought.
