off of me.”
“Is he likely to bite any of the other officers?”
“No. He’s not aggressive. I knew he was protective of me, but him attacking the guy was unexpected. I think he saved me.”
Officer Denton helped Mara to her feet and guided her over to the couch. She sank down and curled her legs under her.
“Is there someone you can call to come stay with you? Or take you to a hotel? Your house isn’t going to be quiet for a few more hours,” Officer Denton said. His partner, Officer James, was currently showing the crime scene tech the spare bedroom.
“I spent the past six hours with my friends and family. And I really want to find my dog. What about my window?” Mara cast a worried glance towards her guest room. A stiff breeze was currently invading her house and it wasn’t helping her nerves.
“We typically tell folks that they can board up the window themselves, but you don’t look like you’re in any shape to do that tonight,” Officer Denton replied. “I really think you should call someone. A neighbor?”
“The house next to me is vacant. I can go check across the street. They’re two college guys. They should be able to help.” Mara got up from the couch but the room spun around her and she sank back down again. “Or not.”
Officer Denton grabbed her arm. “I can take a couple of minutes and walk over there with you.”
“Thanks.”
It took an hour for the two college kids to secure her window, during which time the crime scene technician, a young woman named Daisy, processed her bedroom and the inside of the guest room. “What kind of dog did you say you had?” Daisy asked.
“Um, a husky. Why?”
“This doesn’t look like any dog hair I’ve ever seen.”
Mara sputtered. “He’s sort of a half-breed. A mutt. He saved my life,” she whispered.
Daisy made a skeptical harrumph .
Officer Denton wrote up his report at her kitchen table. He asked her questions from time to time.
“Do you think the man will come back?” Mara twisted the hem of her flannel pajama top with nervous fingers.
“There’s been a string of home invasions in North Seattle over the past month. Guy’s a coward. He targets women living alone. I’m surprised he bothered with you since you have a dog.”
“I, um, only got him a few days ago.”
The blond-haired officer nodded. “That’s probably why then. If he’d known, he never would have risked it. He usually leaves the women tied up in a closet. Terrifies them, but never seriously hurts them other than a few bruises. The strangulation . . . he doesn’t go so far that the women pass out. It’s a control tactic. Make the women understand that he’s strong enough to kill them and then he ties them up, gags them, and goes about his business. He takes jewelry, electronics, cash.”
Mara snorted. “Well, he would have been sorely disappointed. I’ve got less than fifty dollars in my purse, my laptop is relatively new, but my TV is mounted to the wall. I hardly wear any jewelry, and the most valuable thing currently in my house is probably my espresso machine. Dying really makes you re-evaluate your life choices. I don’t own a lot.”
Officer Denton looked away, uncomfortable. People usually did when Mara joked about dying. She chuckled. “It’s okay. Really. Laughing about it is good for me. Now, what am I supposed to do? Stay until you all are done? Go to a hotel? Both?”
“Most folks don’t want to stay in the home the night of a break-in. We do need you to stay until we’re done. But as soon as the crime scene tech clears out, you can go to a hotel. You’ll be allowed to pack a bag, or I can pack one for you if you know what you need.”
Mara gave him a short list of items. She wanted to go look for the wolf, but she was too tired to drive and the thought of calling Adam, Jen, or Lillian left her cold. They would insist she come to stay with them and she couldn’t feign happiness any more tonight. Each of them had begged her
“Is he likely to bite any of the other officers?”
“No. He’s not aggressive. I knew he was protective of me, but him attacking the guy was unexpected. I think he saved me.”
Officer Denton helped Mara to her feet and guided her over to the couch. She sank down and curled her legs under her.
“Is there someone you can call to come stay with you? Or take you to a hotel? Your house isn’t going to be quiet for a few more hours,” Officer Denton said. His partner, Officer James, was currently showing the crime scene tech the spare bedroom.
“I spent the past six hours with my friends and family. And I really want to find my dog. What about my window?” Mara cast a worried glance towards her guest room. A stiff breeze was currently invading her house and it wasn’t helping her nerves.
“We typically tell folks that they can board up the window themselves, but you don’t look like you’re in any shape to do that tonight,” Officer Denton replied. “I really think you should call someone. A neighbor?”
“The house next to me is vacant. I can go check across the street. They’re two college guys. They should be able to help.” Mara got up from the couch but the room spun around her and she sank back down again. “Or not.”
Officer Denton grabbed her arm. “I can take a couple of minutes and walk over there with you.”
“Thanks.”
It took an hour for the two college kids to secure her window, during which time the crime scene technician, a young woman named Daisy, processed her bedroom and the inside of the guest room. “What kind of dog did you say you had?” Daisy asked.
“Um, a husky. Why?”
“This doesn’t look like any dog hair I’ve ever seen.”
Mara sputtered. “He’s sort of a half-breed. A mutt. He saved my life,” she whispered.
Daisy made a skeptical harrumph .
Officer Denton wrote up his report at her kitchen table. He asked her questions from time to time.
“Do you think the man will come back?” Mara twisted the hem of her flannel pajama top with nervous fingers.
“There’s been a string of home invasions in North Seattle over the past month. Guy’s a coward. He targets women living alone. I’m surprised he bothered with you since you have a dog.”
“I, um, only got him a few days ago.”
The blond-haired officer nodded. “That’s probably why then. If he’d known, he never would have risked it. He usually leaves the women tied up in a closet. Terrifies them, but never seriously hurts them other than a few bruises. The strangulation . . . he doesn’t go so far that the women pass out. It’s a control tactic. Make the women understand that he’s strong enough to kill them and then he ties them up, gags them, and goes about his business. He takes jewelry, electronics, cash.”
Mara snorted. “Well, he would have been sorely disappointed. I’ve got less than fifty dollars in my purse, my laptop is relatively new, but my TV is mounted to the wall. I hardly wear any jewelry, and the most valuable thing currently in my house is probably my espresso machine. Dying really makes you re-evaluate your life choices. I don’t own a lot.”
Officer Denton looked away, uncomfortable. People usually did when Mara joked about dying. She chuckled. “It’s okay. Really. Laughing about it is good for me. Now, what am I supposed to do? Stay until you all are done? Go to a hotel? Both?”
“Most folks don’t want to stay in the home the night of a break-in. We do need you to stay until we’re done. But as soon as the crime scene tech clears out, you can go to a hotel. You’ll be allowed to pack a bag, or I can pack one for you if you know what you need.”
Mara gave him a short list of items. She wanted to go look for the wolf, but she was too tired to drive and the thought of calling Adam, Jen, or Lillian left her cold. They would insist she come to stay with them and she couldn’t feign happiness any more tonight. Each of them had begged her
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