Free Mint Juleps and Justice by Nancy Naigle Page B

She’d learned to tread lightly around those discussions to avoid his rants.
    “Keith can be a little…unpredictable. You never really know which mood or attitude you’re going to get from him.”
    “What’s he do for a living?”
    “He’s a computer guy. He works for a government contractor out West, but he works from home. He can do his job from anywhere.”
    Mike nodded, encouraging her to continue.
    “The trouble all started when I was still living and working in Virginia Beach. I figured he had kept a house key or something. Plus I was so close, it was easy for him to come over and mess with my mind. Snip a phone wire, siphon my gas, and put goldfish in the hot tub we had…stupid stuff. Not dangerous. Just a hassle more than anything. I thought maybe it was sour grapes because I was living in our house. When the job opened up in Adams Grove, I put in for a transfer.”
    “But it’s still happening? The mischief, I mean. Even after you relocated?”
    Brooke ran a hand through her hair, dipping loose strands behind her ear. She looked up at him and their eyes caught for a moment too long. “Yes.” She swallowed. What color crayon would those blue eyes be? “At first it seemed so crazy I didn’t tell anyone. But then stuff kept happening and I called the police. Keith’s been in my house in Adams Grove. I can’t prove it, but I know it. Things have been moved or shuffled around. Potted plants toppled. I smell his aftershave. That kind of thing.”
    “Things moved? Do you lock your doors and windows?”
    “Yes. I’ve even had the locks changed and upgraded, but it hasn’t helped. I’m no domestic goddess, but everything has a place. I started getting freaked out, so I started a list to be sure it wasn’t in my head and to see if there was a pattern.”
    “Did you?”
    Her brow wrinkled. “Did I what?”
    “See a pattern?” Mike asked.
    “Oh, no. It’s just a really long list.”
    “And that’s why you’re here. Can I see the list?”
    “Sure.” She dug the notebook out of her purse. “It was all little stuff…until yesterday. Yesterday he went too far. If I hadn’t gotten home when I did…my dog would…” Her gestures showed her frustration, and her hands slapped her thighs as she let them drop to her lap.
    Mike leaned back, elbows on the arm of the chair. “Your dog?”
    “She’s fine, thank god. You have a dog. You know. They’re like family.”
    He nodded.
    “If anything had happened to Stitches…”
    “Stitches is the dog?”
    “Yes. She was a stray. She had stitches across one of her legs when I found her, so I named her Stitches. I notified all the local vet clinics, but no one ever claimed her. Who loses a dog that just had surgery?” she rambled. “Anyway, that isn’t important, is it? When I got home from work yesterday, Stitches was outside in my hot tub treading water.” She pushed back the tears that threatened to spill.
    “Could it have been an accident?”
    “No. She was in the house when I left that morning. I’ve gone over it in my head a hundred times. I have no idea how long she’d been out there. She could’ve drowned. That’s when I called Connor and got your name.”
    “And this happened in the house here in Adams Grove?”
    She nodded, biting back tears. Still the thought of something happening to Stitches scared her. “Yes. Just last night. I haven’t lived here that long, but I’ve called the police practically every week over things. Adams Grove is not turning out to be the safe place I’d hoped it would be.”
    “Well, let’s fix that.” He raised a brow. “How do you think he got into your house?”
    “I haven’t the foggiest idea. No sign of forced entry. Again.” She shrugged. “I confronted Keith last night about this. He swore it wasn’t him, but I don’t believe him. He’s recently become obsessed with us getting back together.”
    Mike jotted a couple of notes on the pad in front of him.
    “You’re frowning. What? You