mockery of Quincy’s earlier boasting, she skipped ahead to the intruder. Who could have gained access to her home and left without disturbing anything?
Or had they?
“I’d better check around and see if anything is missing before the police arrive.” Her briefcase and notes on the trial were in the alcove of her bedroom that she used as a study.
Everything was in place. Had this man been in her room? After all, she had not heard Isaac enter.
I was in an erotic trance with another man.
Retracing the route from the front door to the kitchen, she remembered the spare
key she kept inside the light fixture by the front door. She quickly checked.
“I know how he got in,” she told the others. “The spare key under the rim of the light fixture is gone.”
Four minutes after the call was placed, NOPD officers swarmed the building. David
arrived with another officer, followed by more uniforms and plainclothes detectives, dusting for fingerprints, asking questions, and trying to determine the point of entry. Chelsea told them about the key and David filled in the rest of the information in the midst of Isaac’s angry ranting.
“If you people knew this was going on, why the hell didn’t you take some kind of
precautions to keep her safe?” he asked of no one in particular. “Skip was right. Why the hell should she place herself in harms way for a fucking position? I’m not leaving here until somebody provides some answers.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll do our job.” David regarded Isaac with curious ire.
“The hell you say! Somebody came in here last night. Imagine what would have
happened if Chelsea had been here alone. Isn’t one woman in a coma enough for you people?”
Another officer addressed Isaac’s concern. “I’m Detective Barrett, Mr.
Charbonnette. I might be wrong, but I think the intruder did exactly what he planned to do. He probably wanted to send everyone into a state of frenzy, especially Ms. Constantine. Since this person had a key, I suggest you change the locks and use the alarm system at all times.”
“And what do you plan to do?” Isaac’s face was red with anger.
“We’ll do our best,” he answered. “Officers will be assigned to check in with Ms.
Constantine and make their presence more visible in this area.”
“What you really mean is that one of your boys will pass by on his way to the
donut stand. The rest of the time Chelsea is on her own.” Isaac kicked the armchair, sending a stack of magazines to the floor. “Why can’t you post someone here fulltime?”
“We can’t spare an officer full time, but if you do your part by making the place
less accessible, we’ll do our part by maintaining high visibility. I live close by and I’ll personally sweep the area as often as I can, become familiar with the vehicles that are usually parked here, and the people who frequent the neighborhood.”
“And at work?”
“That’s my area,” David said. “I can’t swear they won’t do something to her car,
but I’ll stick as close to her as I can. She’s has a handgun license. If you really want to help, take her out to the firing range and make sure she’s comfortable using it.”
“That’s not good enough.” Isaac spoke while dialing his cell. “I’ll hire fulltime
security for home and work. They can train you to shoot a pistol—”
“You will do no such thing!” Chelsea grabbed Isaac’s hand. “I appreciate your
concern, baby. I’m not taking this lightly, but let’s just see how things go. We’ll change the locks, install a safety chain, and I’ll use the alarm system when I’m here and when I leave. I have a gun and I do know how to use it.” She tried to lighten the mood. “I also took archery for three years. I’m damn good with a bow and arrow.”
Isaac was not amused. Skip and Dee stayed close to each other. David was the last
of the officers to leave.
“I’ll make sure you’re not alone here,” he
Or had they?
“I’d better check around and see if anything is missing before the police arrive.” Her briefcase and notes on the trial were in the alcove of her bedroom that she used as a study.
Everything was in place. Had this man been in her room? After all, she had not heard Isaac enter.
I was in an erotic trance with another man.
Retracing the route from the front door to the kitchen, she remembered the spare
key she kept inside the light fixture by the front door. She quickly checked.
“I know how he got in,” she told the others. “The spare key under the rim of the light fixture is gone.”
Four minutes after the call was placed, NOPD officers swarmed the building. David
arrived with another officer, followed by more uniforms and plainclothes detectives, dusting for fingerprints, asking questions, and trying to determine the point of entry. Chelsea told them about the key and David filled in the rest of the information in the midst of Isaac’s angry ranting.
“If you people knew this was going on, why the hell didn’t you take some kind of
precautions to keep her safe?” he asked of no one in particular. “Skip was right. Why the hell should she place herself in harms way for a fucking position? I’m not leaving here until somebody provides some answers.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll do our job.” David regarded Isaac with curious ire.
“The hell you say! Somebody came in here last night. Imagine what would have
happened if Chelsea had been here alone. Isn’t one woman in a coma enough for you people?”
Another officer addressed Isaac’s concern. “I’m Detective Barrett, Mr.
Charbonnette. I might be wrong, but I think the intruder did exactly what he planned to do. He probably wanted to send everyone into a state of frenzy, especially Ms. Constantine. Since this person had a key, I suggest you change the locks and use the alarm system at all times.”
“And what do you plan to do?” Isaac’s face was red with anger.
“We’ll do our best,” he answered. “Officers will be assigned to check in with Ms.
Constantine and make their presence more visible in this area.”
“What you really mean is that one of your boys will pass by on his way to the
donut stand. The rest of the time Chelsea is on her own.” Isaac kicked the armchair, sending a stack of magazines to the floor. “Why can’t you post someone here fulltime?”
“We can’t spare an officer full time, but if you do your part by making the place
less accessible, we’ll do our part by maintaining high visibility. I live close by and I’ll personally sweep the area as often as I can, become familiar with the vehicles that are usually parked here, and the people who frequent the neighborhood.”
“And at work?”
“That’s my area,” David said. “I can’t swear they won’t do something to her car,
but I’ll stick as close to her as I can. She’s has a handgun license. If you really want to help, take her out to the firing range and make sure she’s comfortable using it.”
“That’s not good enough.” Isaac spoke while dialing his cell. “I’ll hire fulltime
security for home and work. They can train you to shoot a pistol—”
“You will do no such thing!” Chelsea grabbed Isaac’s hand. “I appreciate your
concern, baby. I’m not taking this lightly, but let’s just see how things go. We’ll change the locks, install a safety chain, and I’ll use the alarm system when I’m here and when I leave. I have a gun and I do know how to use it.” She tried to lighten the mood. “I also took archery for three years. I’m damn good with a bow and arrow.”
Isaac was not amused. Skip and Dee stayed close to each other. David was the last
of the officers to leave.
“I’ll make sure you’re not alone here,” he
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