Page 90 of Little Bitter Truths
He stepped back, eyes wide.“You’re serious?”
“I am.”
“Whoa.How’d you come up with that one?”
“The more I look into this case, the more obvious it is to me.”
“That explains why there’s a patrol car parked here 24/7.”
“Four nights ago, someone broke into Mia’s house.If you ask me, it was the same person who killed Wren, coming back to finish the job.But I was here, so they couldn’t.”
“You were here, but you didn’t catch him?”
“I tried, but no, I didn’t.Next time, he won’t get away.I’ll make sure of it.”
34
Mia walked downstairs with an overnight bag over one shoulder.She paused in the kitchen, glancing out the front window at Adrian’s house.The tension she’d had at the start of the day when she learned Renee was coming to visit had subsided some, though it wasn’t gone.
“How did your talk go with Adrian?”she asked.
“He has more grit than charm, but he answered all my questions, even though he could have refused.It’s obvious he’s hurting over the fact that his dog is missing.He said Moose means everything to him, that the dog’s his whole life.”I paused, then added, “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“The bag you left on his front porch, did it include a threatening note?”
She set the overnight bag on a chair at the bar and bit down on her lip.“I thought he might have said something to you about that.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“I guess I was embarrassed.I hated the way he acted about it.Every time I confronted him, he brushed me off like I was overreacting.I was tired of it, and I thought if I pushed him a little harder, he’d take me more seriously.I wasn’t threatening him.”
“You told him to keep his dog off your lawn or there would be consequences.Before, I couldn't understand why he jumped to the conclusion that you took Moose.I understood why he was frustrated with you, but the accusation felt like a stretch.Now that I know about the note, I can see how he got there.”
She threw up her hands.“I was angry, so yeah, maybe I took it too far.”
“Do you think Adrian allowed his dog to keep coming into your yard on purpose?”
“Oh, I know he did.”
There was genuine frustration in her voice now.
“He’d walk Moose past multiple lawns,” she said, “and somehow that dog always ended up relieving himself on my property.Seems deliberate to me.”
“Do you think Adrian has something against you?”I asked.
“I think he has a bone to pick with everyone.You’ve met him.You’ve seen what he’s like.He’s condescending and rude.Every conversation with him feels like some weird competition, like a battle for power and control.”
She took a few breaths in and out, attempting to calm herself.
“He asked about you and how you’re doing,” I said.
She raised a brow.“He did?I’m shocked.”
“He also said he doesn’t think you took his dog.”
“Well, that’s not true.”
