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I s ainst the soft cushions of the sofa, and together we drew up a list of anyone that had touched any of the offending items

Alex ca that the spare key was actuallyThe perpetrator had obviously used it and then kept it after That knowledge made a little shiver tickle down ed at the moment to have taken it this far, who kno far she would take this and what else she would do Her having the key meant that she could come back at any time Maybe this time she’d hurt my brother, parents, or me I’d never felt so vulnerable and exposed as I did when that thought occurred toshe ied After they finished dusting the doors for prints and bagging everything up in clear plastic bags, Alex, Luke and I had our fingerprints done to rule them out of whatever they found on the ite, I was physically and e one eyebrow "Is there soht? The locks Maybe it’s best if you ements" She finally clicked the lid of her pen so I knew that they had everything they needed "Stay with relatives perhaps?" she continued

Luke sently "They can both stay at mine"

Alex seemed to stiffen at Luke’s words, a frown covered his forehead as he grunted what I assuratitude and love crashed overhis knuckle with my thumb

The police lady stood up and shoved her notebook into her pocket "I’ll put in a call to the veterinary clinic and put a rush on the toxicology report for your dog" She shifted on her feet as Alex stood up, holding out a hand for her to shake "I’ll be in touch tomorrow If you or your parents have any concerns then call me You haveelse"

I nodded in agree etting heavy The e down onto bring to mine?" Luke asked softly

I forced a s a bagintothat so and I didn’t really want to have to face that again I kneas just being silly, I knew that no one was in the house because Luke and the police had searched every nook and cranny of it, but just the knowledge that someone had been in my rooulped, hoping Luke wouldn’t think I was being stupid "Will you coo in there ontowards the stairs as dread settled into the pit of , just stood up and tookdeeply, I let hi the front door as we stepped into the hallway "We’re gonna go pack an overnight bag of Maisie’s stuff; ested

Alex nodded, his shoulders stiff, obviously not liking the fact that he had to accept help fro that if there were any other choice that Alex would insist we take it so that he didn’t have to play nice with Luke

As s carried me up the stairs, I purposefully kept my mind preoccupied hat I would need to pack so that I wouldn’t think about the sound that Chester’s dog tag had made when it slid out of the card and hit the floor, or the fact that the intruder had kept the key – possibly with the sole purpose of co back at a later date

When I stepped inthe card to still be there or so faltered as my heart see The e up to the point where I wasn’t sure if I wanted to ser, or curl into a ball and cry until I had no tears left

I gulped, htened on ently and forcing my face round toas he looked at s and leave You’ll feel better once you’ve had so a soft, tender kiss on ht I was dead on ed for this day to be over with I forced e of clothes for the following day, while Luke went into s We were done within a couple of minutes Alex was done a little while after, and so we locked the house and headed to Luke’s house for the night with Alex following behind in his own car