Sydney Valentine Mystery Series: Books 1-3 (Boxed Set) (A Sydney Valentine Mystery)

by Danielle Lenee Davis

  “Mac, are you still here?” Maybe she was asleep in my bed. I walked past the hall bathroom. Something wasn’t right. I went to the bathroom and turned on the light. Mac’s purse was on the floor, and the contents had scattered. “Oh, no.”

  I pulled my Glock out then called for backup. I listened for unusual sounds coming from inside the apartment, but I didn’t hear anything. Leading with my pistol, I crept back down the hall and into the living room. I scanned it and the kitchen. Then I checked the closets, windows, and the sliding door. Everything seemed normal. My heart pounded, and I reminded myself to breathe. I went back down the hall to my bedroom.

  The door was slightly open. I couldn’t remember if I’d left it like that.

  “Sydney?” someone called from the living room.

  I spun, holding my pistol out in front of me with both hands.

  “Sydney?” Theresa turned, saw me in the hall, and rushed toward me with her back against the wall, pointing her weapon at the floor. “Your door was open.”

  I nodded and moved into position on one side of the bedroom door. Theresa stood on the other. I held my finger up. She nodded. I pushed the door open with my foot and slid against the wall as I entered, flipping on the light switch as I passed. Theresa was right behind me, covering the other side where the bathroom was.

  I looked at my bed. “My comforter is gone.” I walked around the bed, scrutinizing the carpet. My hair shears lay on the floor. I kept them in the bathroom medicine cabinet, but I hadn’t used them in weeks. Several dresser drawers were open, and clothes hung over the edge and littered the floor. What was he or she looking for?

  The bedroom was small, and there wasn’t much to look at. Theresa pointed to the bathroom, and I nodded. I knelt and looked under the bed, pushing aside plastic bins containing my out-of-season clothing. A spool of green garden twine sat between two bins. Although I used twine for the vegetables and fruits I grew in my container gardens, I didn’t use that brand. I stood and scanned the room, searching for anything else out of place. I peeked in the closet.

  Theresa came from the bathroom and jerked a thumb in that direction. “It looks like some of the stuff from your medicine cabinet is in the sink in there.”

  I peeked in the bathroom. A bottle of ibuprofen, tweezers, a roll of dental floss, and a box of Band-Aids were in the sink, and some of the unopened strips had spilled out. I shook my head and left the bathroom, walking toward the window. Glass crunched beneath my boots. The cold night air flowed through the hole in the glass that was just big enough to fit a hand. Someone had cut a hole in the glass, reached through, and unlatched the window. This was a pro. We put our pistols back in their holsters.

  I studied the carpet near the door. It was crushed, and a path was leading out of the bedroom. Possible drag marks. “It looks like someone was dragging something.” I pointed to the floor then left the room, heading to the living room.

  Theresa followed me down the hall. “Did you check the living room, kitchen, and closets?”

  “I did.” The carpet was no longer smashed once we got to the living room. Except for the missing boxes, nothing appeared disturbed. I called Mac’s cell phone. It rang, and I followed the sound toward the end table. The mail we thought was suspicious and had set aside was missing from the coffee table. I picked up Mac’s phone. She’d sent a text to Mike, saying I had to leave and she’d be home by ten. That was over two hours ago. Mike hadn’t replied. Maybe he was sleeping.

  Theresa looked over my shoulder. “Whose phone is that?”

  “My sister’s. She was here when I left, and her car is outside.”

  “I’ve got to call it in and get the forensic techs here.” I paced the living room as I spoke to Dispatch. I called Mike, but it went to voice mail.

  Someone knocked on the open door, and Bernie came into the apartment. “I heard it on the radio. What happened? Did someone break in?”

  “I think Mac might be missing.” I removed Mac’s picture from a framed portrait on my table. “I need to file a Missing Persons report with suspicious circumstances.”

  A uniformed officer stepped through the open door. Theresa showed him to the bedroom.

  Bernie got out his notebook and wrote down a description of Mac. I told him what she was wearing when I’d last seen her.

  “Why do you think she’s missing?” he asked.

  “She was here when I left.” I paced in the living room. “Her purse is on the floor in my bathroom, and her stuff fell out all over the floor. Her car is parked outside, and her phone is still here. She’s gone.”

  Theresa came into the living room, carrying a pink Nike sneaker. Her face was grim. “I doubt this is yours.”

  “It’s Mac’s.” My gaze shifted to the sofa where she’d laid her hoodie. “Her jacket is gone. She had a pink velour hoodie when she got here. She took it off and laid it on the sofa. She must’ve been getting ready to leave.”

  Bernie took the shoe from Theresa and put it in an evidence bag. “Did you call Mike?”

  “I called and got his voice mail. I’m going over there now. I don’t want to do this over the phone.” I headed toward the door.

  Bernie shoved his hand through his hair. “I’ll handle your apartment.”

  Theresa followed me toward the door. “I’ll go with you, Sydney.”

  I held up my hands, palms facing her. “No. Stay here. I saw Mac’s car key on the floor in the bathroom. Maybe you can check her car or start canvassing the neighborhood. Please.”

  “All right. Will do.” Theresa glanced at Bernie then went down the hall toward the bathroom.

  Fifteen minutes later, I used my key to Mac’s house and unlocked the door. I didn’t want to ring the doorbell and wake Josh. Mike was asleep on the living room sofa, and a movie played on the television. He must’ve tried to wait up for Mac. A dimly lit floor lamp sat at the end of the sofa where he slept. I turned the television off. Mike woke up and squinted at me.

  “What’s going on? MacKenzie?” He rubbed his eyes and blinked. “Sydney?” He sat up; his hair was smashed on the side, and he had a crease on his cheek.

  I sat on the sofa. “Mike, did Mac come home tonight?”

  He frowned, shaking his head. “What? No, she was with you.”

  “Right.” I took a deep breath. “She was with me, but I had to go out. She was still at my apartment when I left.”

  “I don’t understand.” He stood and walked toward the hall. “She might be in bed. She didn’t want to wake me.” He was gone before I said another word.

  He came back, scratching his head. “Where is she?” He stood in front of me.

  I studied my feet for a moment then looked back up at him, shaking my head. “I don’t know, Mike.”

  “What do you mean, you don’t know? Where’s my wife, Sydney?” His face had paled. He plopped on the sofa and ran his hands through his hair.

  I had my notebook out, resting on my knees. “Did you talk to her at all after she left here?”

  “Why the hell are you here asking me these questions? Go find my wife!” He stood up and paced, his breathing erratic.

  “Mike, this is now a Missing Persons case. I need to determine what happened.” I patted the sofa. “Please, sit down.”

  He continued to pace. Muffled crying came from Josh’s room. We turned toward the sound.

  “Missing person? Maybe she’s on her way home now.” His voice came out in a rush. “It’s late, but she could’ve stopped for groceries or something. She asked me to get milk today, but I forgot. Yes, I bet that’s it.” His eyes looked desperate, but hopeful.

  “Mommy! Mommy!”

  Mike sighed. “I’ve got to go to him.” He turned, took a couple of steps, then looked back. His eyes glistened as he stood there. “What am I going to tell him?”

  I shook my head and bit my lip, trying to hold it together. “I don’t know.” Once again, my sister was in trouble because of one of my cases.

  He let out a shaky breath and
shuffled toward Josh’s room.

  My phone rang, and I answered it.

  “Sydney, the techs found fresh blood on the door jamb in your bedroom,” Bernie said.

  I stared at the carpet. “Ah, man.”

  “Do you know her blood type?”

  My heart raced and pounded in my ears. “It’s A positive, like mine.”

  “All right. That’s a start. Did you have a bedspread on your bed?”

  “A blue comforter. It’s gone.” I got up and walked to the dining room, trying to keep my voice down.

  “I don’t want to think about why.”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat. “He wrapped her body in it and dragged her out of the room.”

  “I hope she’s not wrapped in the comforter, Syd.”

  “I wonder if that means the abductor wasn’t strong, maybe a woman.” Maybe Jen Conrad. Billi definitely hadn’t done it.

  “Then again, why carry someone down the hall when it’s easier to drag them? Why didn’t they just leave her there?” Bernie asked.

  “Maybe she saw the person and he or she wanted to get rid of her? Still, why not kill her and leave her in the bedroom?” I kept an eye out for Mike. He didn’t need to hear this.

  “Those are all good questions. I just don’t know the answers. I filed the Missing Persons report and put out a BOLO for her. How are you doing with Mike? Has he spoken to her?”

  I hoped the Be On the Look Out helped find my sister soon.

  “Mike thought she was with me. Josh woke up crying for Mac, and Mike’s with him now. Did Theresa get anything from Mac’s car or the neighbors?”

  “Nothing from the car. It was locked. She checked out the car’s interior, and everything seemed okay. One of the neighbors said he saw a dark vehicle he’d never seen before parked near his assigned parking space, but he didn’t pay it much attention. He figured it belonged to the person in that apartment, who he thinks works evenings. Theresa and a uniformed officer knocked on the door, but nobody answered.”

  “Which apartment was it? Maybe I know the occupant.” I doubted it since I only knew one or two of my neighbors.

  “It’s the building next to yours. Coincidentally, it’s apartment 2A.”

  “That’s the same apartment number as mine!” My heart raced. “Is it a coincidence, or did the perpetrator make a mistake and go to the wrong apartment?”

  “Why would someone park in the spot for the apartment he or she planned to hit? Your computer and TV are still here. I don’t think it was a mistake. You were the target.”

  Mike came down the hall, his face red and blotchy.

  “He’s coming. I’ll fill you in later. Bye.” I disconnected.

  Mike stood before me. His eyelashes were wet. “Was that Bernie? Did he find her?” It looked as if he was holding his breath.

  “Not yet.”

  He shrunk into himself and sat on the sofa. “I just lied to my son. He asked where his mommy was, and I told him she had to go to work.” He sighed then sat up straight, narrowing his eyes. “This has to do with your job, doesn’t it?”

  I scooted closer to him and reached out. He moved away.

  “Answer me. Please.” His voice quivered. “I need to know.”

  “It looks like someone broke into my apartment, and Mac was in the wrong place.”

  He shook his head then dragged his fingers through his hair and left them there, propping his elbows on his knees. “How could being with her twin sister ever be the wrong place, Sydney?” He stared at me, biting his lip. “How? Tell me.” His eyes pleaded.

  I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Mike. We’re trying to find her.”

  He shook his head slowly. “I told her not to go, but she wanted to help you. We’re supposed to go to Disneyland tomorrow.” He glanced at his watch. “Today. We were going today. What am I going to tell Josh? He’s been talking about it for weeks.”

  “You’ve already told him she had to work. Go with that. Maybe you could take him anyway.”

  He glared at me. “Are you out of your mind?”

  Possibly. “Okay. Then tell him she’s still working. We’ll find her, Mike. Is there anything else you can tell me? Were you getting along? Any arguments?” I pulled out my notebook.

  “Only about you. Like I said, I didn’t want her to go.”

  “Have you left the house since I was here earlier? I’m sorry, but I have to ask.”

  He stared at my notebook. His eyes narrowed, and he looked away. A flush crept up his neck. He jumped up and rushed to the door. “Get. Out.” He opened the door. “Our marriage is fine. Go find her. I’ll call your parents to let them know.”

  I hadn’t called my parents because I’d held out hope that she’d come home. As I left, I remembered my last conversation with Mac, and my heart broke. I sat in my car, unable to see through the tears. I’d snapped at her for asking about my relationship with Brad. After a while, I got myself together and headed home.

  Chapter Eleven

  I arrived home to find uniformed officers on the street, going door-to-door. Bernie and Theresa were sitting in my living room. He was on the phone, and she was writing in a notebook.

  Theresa looked up. “Everybody just left. Was her husband able to tell you anything?”

  “No. I’m going to take a look around here then go search for her.”

  “It seems like the intruder wore gloves. They didn’t get any useful prints from the glass or around the window, like they might’ve been wiped down. I’d think your prints would be there. Is this a random break-in? Do you know what he or she was looking for?”

  “The boxes of mail from Mega Star. They’re gone.”

  Theresa frowned. “What was in the boxes that was so important? It’s just mail. And how the heck did they know you wouldn’t be here?”

  I shrugged. “No idea.” We hadn’t gotten to the smallest box. I wondered if Billi had included something that wasn’t supposed to be in there. As far as how he or she knew I wouldn’t be there, I didn’t notice anyone watching me leave earlier that night, but I wasn’t looking, either. “Do you know if they’ve started searching anywhere else, like Morrison Park?”

  Theresa watched me, eyes narrowed. “They are, and I’m headed there too.” She got up and reached for me, as if to give me a hug.

  I moved away. “All right. I’ll be right back.” I went to my bedroom and checked the two windows. Forensics had placed a piece of cardboard over the hole. The other window was unbroken. I got down on my hands and knees, being careful of any remaining glass shards. I crawled to the door and spotted a broken fingernail, from a thumb. It was about a half-inch long and had pink-and-white polka dots on a red background. It was Mac’s, and it was embedded in the beige shag carpet. Forensics had missed it. I sat up, leaned against the wall, and placed it in an evidence bag. My eyes burned, and I bit my lower lip to stop it from trembling.

  Theresa cleared her throat. “What’s that?”

  “Mac’s broken nail.” I sniffled and looked up at her. “Let’s go.” I stood and left my room.

  Bernie was still in the living room and sliding his phone in his pocket. “The blood by your bedroom door is A positive.”

  I nodded. I knew it would be. “It’s not mine, so it must be Mac’s. I’m going to Morrison Park to look for her.”

  We all drove down in our own cars and parked in the lot near the park’s baseball field. Before leaving the car, I called my parents and told them what was going on and that we were searching for Mac. I promised to keep them informed. I grabbed a flashlight and hurried to join the others. Dozens of flashlights flickered and sprayed the park. Officers and K-9 Units roamed through the brush. The temperature had dropped, and I shivered, but I kept at it until we’d covered the entire area. We found no evidence of Mac having been there. They planned to try again the next morning.

  Bernie tried to guide me to the parking lot. “Sydney, you need to go home, get some sleep.”

  I shook him off. “I can�
�t.”

  “You’re no good to her or anyone if you don’t get some rest.” Theresa nudged me. “Come on, let’s go. We’ll start again when it’s light out.”

  I looked at the sky. “That’s a couple of hours.” I sighed. “All right.”

  “I’m not going anywhere tonight, by the way,” Theresa said. “I’m staying with you.”

  We went back to my apartment, and Bernie went home.

  “I wonder what was so important that they’d risk getting caught.” Theresa was making up the sofa bed. “How did they know you wouldn’t be here?”

  “You already asked me that. I don’t know the answer.” I took a couple of steps toward the hall then spun to face her. “Because they knew I’d be at Teena’s? I’m also wondering how whoever took the letters knew where I lived. I’ve been thinking about George. When we were interviewing him, he didn’t seem too upset about Teena’s death.”

  “Are you thinking he was at Teena’s and killed Billi? I doubt he knew where you lived, though.”

  “I don’t know.” I sat on the sofa bed. “When I left the station after we spoke to him, I saw him standing near a light post, staring at me and grinning while I waited at the traffic light. It was creepy.” I told her about the restraining order and going to Javier’s.

  “Okay. Maybe we need to find that guy.”

  “It might not be him. It could be someone else. Maybe Jen Conrad.” I thought for a moment. “Hey, how did you get here so fast tonight?”

  “I was on my way home from a friend’s who lives a couple of blocks from here. She had a death in the family.”

  “You don’t have to stay.” I studied her. “You should go home to your own bed. I’ll be fine.”

  Theresa shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

  “Go home, Theresa.” I stood. “I don’t think anyone will come back. They got what they wanted.”

  “All right.” She grabbed her purse and dug out her car keys. “If you’re sure.”