“They will be.”
He ran a hand over the dark scruff covering his masculine jaw before shooting Logan a text asking for him to put a call into the authorities When he was finished, Archer returned his focus to the woman still standing before him.
“I can’t believe an upscale neighborhood like this doesn’t have some sort of security patrol.”
“Oh, it does. And they do a lovely job keeping the area safe and in perfect order.” She offered him a sarcastic grin beforeadding, “As long as you have the right last name…or you’re not a presumed killer.”
Disapproval shadowed his handsome face as he shook his head in disgust. “Bet they’ll still expect their HOA payment on the first of the month, criminal charges or not.”
A soft chuckle fell past her lips. “I’m actually surprised there wasn’t a notice to vacate waiting for me.”
“They can do that?” Those dark brows arched high.
“Oh, yeah. It’s a clause in the contract for every piece of property in the neighborhood. Get enough signatures on a petition, and you’re basically forced to sell. As long as the HOA board deems the reasoning behind said petition is valid.” She crossed her arms at her chest. “Probably safe to say, being a suspected murderer fits into that category.”
One corner of his kissable lips curved, and suddenly Cassie wanted to know what he looked like with a full-blown smile.
Did his mouth stretch wide? Did he show his near-perfect teeth? When he let himself go and smiled,reallysmiled, did those entrancing eyes of his light up with joy?
Despite his reason for being here, she found herself hoping she got the chance to find out.
“What’s the code?”
Cassie blinked herself back into the moment. “I’m sorry?”
“Your security code.” He shifted over to the electronic pad mounted near her door. “I want to make sure the place is locked up tight before I take a look around.”
“Oh. Right.” She rattled off the numbers.
“This system’s shit,” Archer announced bluntly. “I’ll have a couple of my guys come by first thing tomorrow to install one of ours.”
She wasn’t surprised in the least. “Russ picked that one out when we built the place. I tried to tell him we needed something more, but he insisted it was enough.”
“It is…until it isn’t.”
“That’s exactly what I told him.” But like with most everything else in their tumultuous marriage, Russ got his way.
Russ.
A blanket of sadness fell over her. Not because she was still in love with her late husband. That ship had sailed a long time ago. But even after everything the man had put her through, Cassie couldn’t bring herself to believe Russ deserved what happened to him.
No one deserves to die like that.
“Hey, you okay?”
Archer’s concerned tone pulled her from her thoughts. Forcing the distracting emotions away, she managed to blink back a few unexpected tears before they could fall.
“I’m fine.” And wasn’t that just about the biggest white lie she’d ever told? “You said you wanted to look around.” She made a swift change in subject while removing her coat and purse and hanging them on the ornate coat rack and umbrella holder in the corner near the door. “Come on. I’ll give you the nickel tour.”
Turning, Cassie started with the area of the house she assumed Archer would want to see first. It wasn’t until she reached the end of the long hallway that she caught her first glimpse of the mess.
The place was a wreck. Cushions tipped off the couch and loveseat. The drawers of her end tables open, their contents having been rummaged through. And the kitchen was even worse.
Nearly every cabinet and drawer had been left open. Even the dishwasher and oven doors were only half-closed. Glasses, plates, and saucers scattered the countertops, and from what she could see from where she stood, Cassie was almost certain the contents of her junk drawer had been unceremoniously dumped in the middle of her granite-topped island.
“What the hell?” She swung her widened gaze to Archer’s. “Someone broke into my house!”
Probably one of those damn reporters trying to find something to get them in the top spot on the six o’clock news.