Cyrus by Kenzie Cox Read Free Book Online Page B

nodded. “He doesn’t know anything about anything except beer and gambling. The only thing he cares about is poker night with his buddies.”
    “I see.” I frowned. A delivery guy who spent his time hanging out with his buddies wouldn’t be likely to know anything about security systems. Though one never knew what kind of friends he played poker with. They could be anything from high stakes players to card sharks.
    Chase walked over to Katrina and kneeled in front of her. “It would help if you gave us a few more details about him. His background check was lacking in information.”
    She pierced him with her dark gaze. “What exactly is it you want to know?”
    Chase turned his attention to her bruised eye, and his shoulders tensed as he gestured to his own. “He did that to you?”
    “I didn’t do it to myself,” she said flatly.
    “Bastard,” he spit out.
    “More like coward,” Katrina said and turned to look out the window. “He couldn’t stand the fact that I wanted to leave.”
    “Is this the first time you’ve tried?” Chase asked gently.
    She jerked her head back and stared him in the eye. “Yes. It’s also the first time he’s ever struck me, so stop looking at me like I’m some sad victim.” She pushed the blanket off and stood. “I don’t know what’s going on with him, but he’s had a personality change recently, and that was the reason I was leaving. No one deserves to live with someone who’s angry all the time. Only now he’s upped the stakes by using his fists, and all I want is for him to go away and leave me alone so I can get on with my life.”
    Admiration filtered over Chase’s expression as he watched her. I’d already learned that she was tough as nails and wasn’t taking shit off anyone. In a way her attitude wasn’t that different than Melinda’s, but they expressed it in very different ways.
    “Anything else I can do to help you with your job, Mr. Doucet?”
    Chase’s expression went blank as he jerked back, likely surprised by her sudden jab. “Not right this moment, but if I think of something I’ll let you know.”
    She nodded, grabbed her mug, and with her head held high, she disappeared into the other room.
    “She’s a little touchy,” Melinda said in a hushed tone.
    “I can’t say I blame her.” Chase straightened and met my eyes. “Ready to take a look at the damage?”
    “Sure.” I cast a glance at Melinda. “We’ll be right outside if you need anything.”
    She waved one perfectly manicured hand. “I’m sure with you two prowling around the grounds, no one will be stupid enough to bother us girls.”
    Shaking my head at her apparent lack of concern, I followed Chase outside and over to the electrical box.
    He pointed. “The wires have been cut. But only the ones for the security system. Nothing else. Whoever did this knew what they were looking at.”
    I crouched down and studied the snipped wires. He was right. A pro had been here. The lock on the box had been picked, leaving it perfectly intact, and the wires had been cleanly cut. Neither the box nor the system had been damaged in any other way.
    “And what about the window?” I asked Chase.
    “Also professional.” He jerked his head and I followed him around the corner. “It was scored before they broke it using a crowbar.”
    “Surveillance?” I asked. 
    “We got them on video. It was two guys, but they both wore ski masks.”
    “And they took off when Melinda hit the panic button?” I studied the ground, looking for any clues they may have left.
    “That’s what she said. Unless you want to give that dog credit.” He gave me a wry grin.
    “Yeah, I doubt it.” Everything about the attempted break in felt off. There was nothing in Katrina’s husband’s profile to indicate he had any sort of the sophistication required to pull off an organized break-in. I’d expect something closer to a brick through the window accompanied by a dash-and-grab if he was going to go after