Texas Showdown

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Maria knocked on the door a little harder than she’d planned. Her nerves were still heightened so she took a few deep breaths to calm herself. Focusing on treating this incident like an investigation calmed her a few notches. She could easily slip into her role at the FBI and shelve her emotions.

There was no answer.

“I’m calling him right now.” Dave’s phone was to his ear. “If that was his pet, he’ll want to know right away.”

Maria knocked again.

Nothing.

The neighbor didn’t answer his phone, either. Didn’t that get the hairs on the back of her neck to stand up.

“Guess he’s not around,” Dave said after leaving an urgent message and then ending the call.

“I want to talk to him the minute he responds,” Maria said.

“And I have a few of my own questions,” Austin stated.

Dave nodded. “I’m sorry this happened. That could’ve turned out pretty bad.”

“It’s a good thing I came home when I did.” Austin rubbed the scruff on his chin. “Have you checked your key ring?” he asked Dave.

Dave unclipped the set of masters from his belt loop and fanned the couple dozen keys, stopping to account for each one. “They’re all here.”

Maria’s gaze traveled from the keys to his belt loop. She trusted Dave, especially given that the manager had asked her for help with his background check. He’d been clean. She liked Dave and didn’t want to look at him as a possible suspect. Experience had taught her not to take anything for granted. People could have a solid background and then end up tempted by the right offer.