In her bedroom, the carnage was nearly as bad. Someone had emptied every dresser and desk drawer onto the floor and had taken all her clothing out of the closet as well as clearing those shelves, too. Even her shoes had been scattered.
The sense of being violated was so strong she sagged against the door jamb. “There’s no way I’ll be able to tell what may be missing in here until I’ve sorted through it all and put it away,” she said with a shaky voice. “I’m sorry. I can’t be of any more help than that.”
The officer who had been preparing to make a list put away his pad and pen. “All right. Just keep a detailed record and we’ll work from that. Pay special attention to missing jewelry and other valuables. I assume you’re insured?”
“I have a homeowner’s policy.”
He touched the brim of his cap. “Then we’ll be going. Let us know when you have the list ready. We’ll see ourselves out.”
“All right. Thanks.”
Steff felt as dizzy as she would have if all the air had been sucked out of the room. She took one deep breath, then another before whispering, “I hardly know where to begin.”
“Would you like me to stay awhile?” Trevor asked.
Part of her was still upset with him but a more logical facet of her personality insisted she acquiesce. “Yes. If you don’t mind?”
He shook his head and gave her a lopsided smile that reminded her of his younger days. “If I minded, Princess, I wouldn’t have offered.”
“You’re not just trying to be nice?”
“Yes, I am. But not because you’re a Kessler or because I think you’re rich. Okay?”
“Okay. And I apologize for comparing you to my father. If he were here right now he’d be berating me for not installing an alarm system.”
“It was a low blow to compare me to J.T.,” Trevor said, his smile spreading. “You really know how to hurt a guy.”
“Speaking of bad attitudes, when I told Dad how much I loved your new building in Savannah, he refused to listen. All he wanted to do was run you down by accusing you of having a police record. I told him you were straight and honest, but he just brushed me off the way he always does. I’m afraid Fowlers may get the library contract after all.”
“If they do, they do,” Trevor replied. “And if the subject comes up again, you can tell your father I haven’t had even a traffic ticket in over ten years.”
“I wonder where he got the idea you’d been in trouble?”
“I can guess. He and Nat Fowler are old buddies, aren’t they?”
“Yes, but…”
“No buts about it,” Trevor said flatly. “I had a set-to with some of Nat’s men not long ago at one of my job sites. Those guys got hauled off in cuffs, not me. I wouldn’t put it past the old man to turn the story around to his advantage.”
“Is there proof I could show my father?”
“Probably, but I won’t stoop to begging. If Whittaker Construction isn’t in the running for the contract, then so be it.”
“What did you think when you saw the blueprints?” Steff asked.
The initial astonishment on Trevor’s face quickly hardened into indignation. “What blueprints?”
“The ones for the library addition. They were sent out to everyone who asked for them and I know you were on the list because I checked. You must have received them.”
“No. I did not.”
Speechless, Steff shook her head and sighed deeply before making up her mind. “Okay. Here’s what we’ll do. You can follow me to the office right now and I’ll give you a set of plans. If you can have your bid ready in two or three days, I’ll make sure the trustees at least see it before they vote.”
“What about your apartment? This mess?”
“It can wait. I can hardly stand being here anyway,” she stated with conviction. “Besides, I still have that piece of wallboard in my car and I want to get it into locked storage at the office before anything happens to it.”
The expression on Trevor’s face reminded her of those cartoon characters with a flashing light bulb suddenly appearing above their heads. His dark eyes widened then narrowed in a scowl and Steff realized that she might have just hit on the reason for both their break-ins.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” she asked.
“If it’s about that initial we found, yes.” He began to look around the apartment as if expecting a prowler to pop out of the woodwork any second. “I think you should stay at your parents’ tonight. For safety.”
“I’m not staying here but I’d rather bunk on the floor in my office than go to their house,” Steff quipped, trying to lighten the mood and failing miserably.
“No good. You’ve had problems at work, too.”
“I know. I was just kidding. I suppose I could stay with Kate or Jennifer, or even Alicia.”
“Just about any place would be better than this apartment, at least until you get the locks changed and install a burglar alarm.” He grinned. “And don’t tell me I sound like your father again. It’s a sensible suggestion, not a mandate.”
“I know. And I appreciate your concern. If there’s a vacancy at the Mossy Oak Inn, I think I’ll get a room there for a few days. It’s close to work and I won’t be imposing on any of my friends.”
She gazed at the clothing on the floor and atop her stripped mattress. “I wish I could wash my things first, though. The thought of wearing any of them after all this gives me the creeps.”
“Then do that. I’ll follow you to my place and you can give Alicia whatever you want her to wash for you while we’re stashing that wallboard at your office. You know she’ll be glad to help. She’s probably pacing the floor right now, worrying about you, anyway.”
“When you’re right, you’re right,” Steff said, beginning to pluck items from the piles and stuff them into a suitcase. “And I think, when I do talk to the police about my missing or damaged items, I’ll also give in and mention the initial. They may want to see it.”
“Good idea. As a matter of fact, I think you should turn it over to them ASAP.”
“You’re not going to tell me again that it was just a bad joke?”
Trevor shook his head as he glanced around at the mayhem. “No. This has gone far beyond any joke, even a bad one.”
Thankfully, the Mossy Oak Inn had had accommodations available. It was a five-star establishment and worth every accolade it received in guidebooks, from its stunning Gothic architecture and luxurious suites to its outstanding and varied cuisine.
At any other time Steff would have been delighted to stay there. But by the time she had finished at her office, collected her clean clothing and had returned to the inn, she was too exhausted to do more than just shower, crawl into bed and drop off to sleep.
The following morning she telephoned all the trustees except her father and they accepted her suggestion that the final vote on the library contract be delayed an additional week. She almost wished she could see her dad’s face when he found out that the others actually valued her opinion!
While Steff was at work, Alicia notified Cassie who called Kate who contacted Jennifer via Pastor Rogers at Magnolia Christian. By the time Steff was through for the day her friends had made arrangements to meet her at her apartment and have a cleaning party as well as another potluck. This time they had assured her they were taking care of everything. All she had to do was show up and give them directions on how she wanted her condo spruced up.
Steff was glad to have plenty of company, especially since she was still jumpy about reentering the ravaged suite. The one thing she hadn’t anticipated, however, was that Trevor might also be invited.
The women arrived together, bringing food, beverages and cleaning supplies. Just as Steff was ushering them all in and preparing to close her front door, she spotted a familiar pickup stopping at the curb.
“Oh, good, there’s Trevor,” Alicia said brightly. “After he told me what a mess your furniture was, I thought we might need so
me extra muscle so I suggested he drop by. I hope you don’t mind.”
Steff had to admit her friend’s choice was logical. “Not a bit. I suppose I will have to throw some things away. I could have them reupholstered but I’m afraid I’d always see them the way they are now and I’d never like them again.”
“I know I wouldn’t,” Cassie said. “Ugh. Nasty.”
Waiting at the door, Steff was surprised to see Trevor circle his truck and pull a stack of pizza boxes from the passenger side.
Her eyes widened as he approached. “Are we expecting more men?”
“Nope. Just me and your gang,” he said with a grin. “But if we’re going to work, I figured we’d need some real man food, not just those puny little salads you ladies always eat.”
In the background Steff heard the others laughing. “We actually eat real food from time to time, too,” she said.
“You certainly will tonight.” He carried the boxes through the living room and into the kitchen where Cassie and Alicia had cleared the countertop to accommodate the other offerings as well as his.
He unburdened himself then turned to face Steff. “I figured we could drag the worst of the ruined stuff outside and load it into the back of my truck for disposal, if that’s what you want.”
“Fine. Let’s do that right away. I’d rather nuke the pizza later if it gets cold than have to look at my living room the way it is.”
Motioning, Trevor led the way. “Okay, gang, I’ll take this end of the sofa and a couple of you grab the other side. Think you can lift it?”
Cassie giggled and winked at Steff. “Is he always this bossy?”
“No. Sometimes he’s worse,” she replied.
“Well, I teach P.E. and I have to exercise to stay ahead of the kids, so I know I can do my part.” Cassie hoisted the end of the sofa before Trevor did. “What’re you waiting for, Mister Tough Guy?”
As Steff watched them dispose of the couch and love seat she gathered up her slashed accent pillows and added them to the load. Brushing her palms together, she said, “Okay, that’s the lot. Let’s go eat.”
When Trevor hesitated she paused with him. “You’re coming back inside, aren’t you?”
“Do you want me to?”
“Of course.” She smiled, hoping her sincerity showed. “If you think you can stand being in the midst of a bunch of chattering women, we’d love to have you join us.”
“I’ve been listening to Alicia all my life, so I’m pretty used to it,” he gibed. “Besides, I want to ask your friends who they may have told about the initial we found on the wall.”
“You’re not accusing any of them!”
“No, no. But as you just said, women do tend to talk. They may remember mentioning it to someone who showed undue interest.”
“Like I did, you mean?” She made a face at him as they started back toward the condo. “If you’d listened to me in the first place and treated that initial seriously, we might have avoided all this.”
Thinking he was going to defend himself or argue with her, she was astonished when he merely said, “You’re right, Princess. I should have listened to you. I apologize.”
Trevor had been as tactful as possible while questioning Steff’s friends and they had taken his queries graciously, making him doubly grateful for the ingrained social refinement for which Southern women were well-known. Generally speaking, Southern belles could deliver a barb so smoothly that only a man who had been raised around them would be able to tell if they were being sweet or sarcastic. Or worse.
He, however, was more than aware of their nuances. That was why when Steff looked at him and drawled, “Bless his heart, you’ve got to love him,” he knew it was time to shut up and leave.
Giving her a lopsided smile, he stood and excused himself. “Okay, ladies. I guess I’ll be on my way. Is there any more trash to carry out before I go?”
“We put the last three bags in your truck already,” Steff said. “Thank you for everything.”
“You’re quite welcome.” His gaze caught and held hers. “Walk me out?”
“Of course.”
Trevor waited until they were alone at the curb before he glanced back at her condo. “Are you planning on sleeping in there tonight?”
“No way. I booked the room at the inn for a week. I wasn’t sure how long it would take to clean everything and I didn’t want to have to move back here too soon. I may never feel right about this place again. Every shadow makes me jump and even the telephone ringing gives me the shakes.”
“I can understand that.” He took her hand. “Whatever you decide, be careful?”
“I will. You, too.”
She’d entwined her fingers with his and seemed loath to let go, so he tarried. “Remember, you promised to give that initial we found to the police.”
“I didn’t exactly promise.”
Trevor squeezed her hand. “You’ve got to stop worrying about what your father will say and start being logical, Steff. This break-in was only the most recent incident.”
“I suppose you may be right.” She sighed. “Okay. I’ll stop by the station tomorrow or the next day, after I’ve sorted through the last of my belongings and take care of everything. So far, I haven’t found a single thing to report missing.”
“All the more reason to inform them about the scrap of wallboard. That has to be what started all the trouble.”
His brow knit thoughtfully. “I’ve been giving this whole mess a lot of thought. I’d like to try to set a trap for whoever has been causing us all this grief and I may use the initial for bait.”
“Wait a minute. Do you want me to turn it over to the police or not?”
“I do. I plan to make up a fake to use in place of the real one if we decide we need it. All I ask is that you keep this idea to yourself until I’ve had a chance to figure out exactly what I’m going to do. And when.”
“You’re going to set this trap at my office?”
“Yes. Our friend, whoever he is, seems partial to the basement there, so that’s where I’ll wait for him.”
“Do you think that plan will work?”
“It should, especially if I’m right about who’s been involved. Even if my suspicions are wrong, the idea’s still a good one.”
“I don’t know.” Steff folded her arms and hugged herself in spite of the warm evening temperature. “I think I should be there with you as backup, just in case.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Why not? I’m every bit as capable as anyone else. I could hide and snap a picture of whoever showed up so we’d have concrete proof.”
“And then what?” Trevor asked, not bothering to hide his displeasure. “I don’t want you anywhere near that building when I spring my trap. Whoever it is could be dangerous.”
“I doubt that,” she argued. “He’s had plenty of chances to hurt us and all he’s done is destroy property.”
“And maybe follow you all the way to Savannah and back. This subject is not open to discussion,” Trevor said flatly. “You are not going to be there. Period. Is that understood?”
Although Steff nodded before she turned and headed for her apartment, he got the uncomfortable feeling she wasn’t nearly as genuinely acquiescent as she was acting. He grimaced. What else was new?
If he’d had his way, he’d have become her shadow until they had some answers to their ongoing puzzles. The trouble was, as long as Steff was convinced that she could handle everything herself, there was no way she’d ever agree to let him.
Trevor’s only real concern was that the bad guys might be able to get closer to her than he could.
TEN
S teff was worried about Trevor putting himself in jeopardy, but she was positive he wouldn’t try anything for at least another week or so because he was involved in the Vacation Bible School program every evening. Then again, so was she, which meant she wasn’t free to do any amateur sleuthing, either.
It had occurred to her that since sh
e knew every nook and cranny of the college she should be the one to set and spring the trap, assuming they were right about the reasons for the break-ins and their stalker took the bait.
Her only real problem would be coming up with a fake piece of bait the way Trevor had suggested. He might have access to other scraps of old board, but she didn’t.
The way she saw it, the only way she could catch the perpetrator herself was to employ the real piece of wallboard. As long as she kept it near her, day and night, she figured it would be safe enough. Besides, that would also delay the moment when she had to admit she hadn’t been in full control of the situation and keep her father out of her hair for a while longer.
There was a slim pocket in the carrying case for her laptop computer, and that was the hiding place she chose. Everyone was used to seeing her lugging that computer case to and from work so it wouldn’t seem out of the ordinary if she continued to take it with her wherever she went.
Satisfied, Steff checked her watch. It was nearly five and she was due at the church before six, so she would need to hurry. She closed her computer files and reached for the case containing her laptop and the precious board, then scooped up her purse and headed for the door.
She smiled and shook her head as she pondered the evening she was about to have. “I must have been crazy to say I’d do this,” she mumbled. “But I promised Alicia, so I’ll go.”
However, by the time she’d driven across campus to the magnificent stone edifice that was Magnolia Christian Church, she was having serious second thoughts. The parking lot full of cars did nothing to change that. Her milieu was a boardroom or a ballroom. Being in church had never felt quite right to her.
She parked off to one side, checked to make sure there were no little blue compacts following her, then sat quietly in her car, contemplating. She sure wished she understood children the way Jennifer or Kate or Alicia did. Trevor had been joking when he’d said he might not survive a class of six-year-olds, but she actually felt that way. All she knew about kids was that they were little and confusing. And usually messy.
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