Deception

"Who's on the phone, mom?" Rebecca asks, glancing up from the TV. She and Abby are lying over the top of Abby's favorite stuffed toy on the moss-colored carpeted floor, watching their favorite show. Julie usually uses this time to catch up on housework, but tonight, chores are the furthest thing on her mind.

"It's your daddy. He says he's on his way home."

"I hope he remembers the ice cream this time." He's promised to bring some home all week long.

"Why don't we go to the parlor on the corner instead?"

"The child's eyes light up. "Really?" Going out with Aunt Rachel is a treat all in itself.

"You deserve it for helping us solve a case today." Rachel spun a fictitious scenario to keep the curious child out of mischief.

"What about me?"

"I could never forget Princess Abigail."

"Rebecca grabs her Aunt's hand and yanks her toward the door." Let's go."

"And miss your favorite cartoon?"

Rebecca glances at the TV, turns, and says, ``We can watch it any old day."

Rachel laughs "ok then, let's go."

"Ah, Rachel," Julie begins, turning toward her friend. She glances at her excited children, then timidly asks, "Do you think you can stay until Jeff gets home?" Eyeing the large house, she shivers and adds," I don't want to be here alone." The detective grabs her friend's hands, squeezes, and says, "Of course, we can wait. Right, girls?"

Rebecca plops down on the floor, crosses her arms in front of her, and says, "I guess. "

"Keep acting like that, and you won't go at all."

"Please, mommy, please let me go."

"Knock off your attitude then. Julie shakes her head and says, "Kids."

Rachel laughs.

"You probably think I'm being a baby for acting this way."

"Hardly. It's scary to think someone invaded your safe space."

"I never dreamed it would happen here, in Berryville."

"It occasionally happens, but not often, thank goodness."

An officer steps up beside them. "Detective, ma'am, we didn't find any signs of forced entry, and according to the security company, their alarm is disabled. It has been since 10:02."

"I set it this morning before the girls and I left." Julie thinks back, then adds, "At least I think I did. Rebecca, do you remember me setting the alarm?"

The child chuckles and says, "You chased Abby out, saying she needs to put a little hustle in her bustle if she doesn't want the alarm to go off."

"I remember now. Abby said I was being silly and laughed all the way to the van."

The officer checks his notebook. "According to the company's records, it was set at 7: 45 and disarmed at 10:02."

Rachel turns toward her friend. "Who else knows this code besides you?"

"No one, well, except for Jeff, of course."

"Maybe Jeff came home and forgot to reset it."

Julie recalls how distracted Jeff has been these past few days. When she confronted him about it, Jeff apologized, saying the boss is putting a lot of pressure on him to land this campaign. "It's possible, I suppose."

"Daddy's here, Daddy's here," Abby chants.

"Hi, pumpkin." Picking up the child, Jeff hurries toward Julie. "I'm so sorry I scared you."

Julie shakes her head. With a confused expression, she asks, "Sorry, you scared me? I don't understand."

"I forgot an ad I'm working on, so I came home to get it. I was in such a hurry. I must've forgotten to set the alarm." Jeff feels terrible for lying to her, but he'd rather fib than tell her what's happening.

"That explains the alarm, but what about the door being ajar?"

"Maybe the wind blew it open. "

"Both of them?"

"You know how screwy the latches can be. You think it's hooked, but it's not."

Julie recalls how they've been given her grief the past few weeks. She's been meaning to fix it but hasn't found the time. "What about the photo on the lawn?"

"Doug said he took a photo of us on Saturday. He thought it would be a good addition to the scrapbook you're working on."

"Why would he go to all the trouble of taking a picture then leave it in the yard?"

"He claims he taped it to the door, so I think the wind must have blown it away."

Not completely convinced, Julie asks, "When did you talk to Doug?"

"Right after I hung up with you. He called to tell me the police are at the house."

"Oh." Julie sheepishly glances at her friend. "I feel so foolish for putting everyone through this."

"We'd much rather you come to us, and it ends up being nothing than taking a chance with your life."

***

Walking to the far end of the cabin, Luigi knocks on the office door. Like the other rooms in the house, it has an Italian-style decor with dark wood furnishing and floral design. "You wanted to see me, sir?" he asks, stepping inside. Luigi has been with the family since he was a young lad.

Discovering the boy was living on the streets of Sicily, Bruno took him in and raised him as his own. When he said he mentioned expanding his business to America, Luigi eagerly agreed to go.

Bambini looks up from his desk. Waving his son in, he reaches for his box of cigars. The particular import reminds him of his motherland. A county he misses and hopes to return to someday. Once his name is cleared. Luigi thinks their move to America was to expand the business, but in reality, he and his son were forced to flee. "Yes, come in, come in, have a seat. He offers Luigi a cigar.

Luigi pushes the box away as he plops down in the black leather chair.

"Suit yourself." Bruno lights the Toscano, then asks, "So, tell me, son, how did this Jeff guy do today?"

"He was a nervous fellow initially, but once he settled in, he did alright." He chuckles and adds, " He even tried to ditch your cop buddies on a back road, he knows."

"Not a scratch on the car?"

"He returned it in mint condition."

"Good, call him up, tell him I have another job for you two."

"Another one, sir?"

"We need to put fear in someone refusing to pay."

"I'll get right on it."

"And Luigi?"

"Yes, sir."

" I want you to take any measures necessary to get the job done, understand?"

Luigi smiles. He loves ruffing up deadbeats, especially when he knows he'll get a substantial return." Yes, sir."