“Yes, but they aren’t hooked up yet,” he says, shining his flashlight on the newly installed security camera above the door. “Looks like the owner just put it in recently.”
“Great way to advertise to criminals,” I grumble, taking a look around.
I don’t see anything that points to them actually entering and stealing anything.
A deep sigh escapes my lips as I continue to scan the area. “This is starting to really irritate me. We need to find a way to put an end to these break-ins and robberies. Our town needs to feel safe again.”
It’s odd, nothing seems out of place here. All the other shops that were broken into had goods stolen. This is just a broken window. Once Jane comes down here, she can assess if anything is gone.
Did their presence go unnoticed, or did someone witness their actions? Or perhaps they were startled and fled before stealing any items.
As the snow continues to fall heavily, it blankets the scene, concealing any potential evidence. Footprints, tire tracks, and any trace of the thieves would be obscured by now.
Frantically, I reach for my phone.
“Randy, it’s Andrew. Sorry to disturb you. There was a break-in at Timeless Tales.”
“Is Jane alright?”
“Yes, thankfully she wasn’t here at the time. Can you bring me some supplies from my house?The snow is already removing any evidence outside, and it’s going to remove any evidence we might have inside if we don’t get this window covered.”
“Of course. Is the spare key still hidden under the rock?”
“Yeah, it is.”
“For a cop, you’d think you’d know better than to leave it in such an obvious spot. I’ll be there soon.”
I send Randy a list of necessary items and comb the area for any hints or clues that might aid in solving this crime.
I begin pacing around, seeking for anything, anything at all that could give me a lead on these midnight hoodlums. My mind is a whirlwind of thoughts. The broken window, the snow waltzing in like an unwelcome guest, obliterating any trace of our trespassers.
A tap on my shoulder startles me, and I turn to see the familiar emerald eyes.
“Jane!” I throw my arms around her in relief. “You didn’t text me you were home, then I heard the dispatch report this address, and you weren’t answering your phone.”
“I’m sorry,” she says, returning my embrace. “I fell asleep the second I laid down in bed. I didn’t even plug in my phone.” I release her slightly, and she looks around. “Wow, they got me too, huh?”
“Yeah, seems like it.” I don’t want to release her just yet. The scent of her, the feel of her in my arms is a comfort for my frayed nerves. “I was really worried about you, Jane.”
“I’m sorry, Andrew,” she apologizes again, focusing her gaze on me. There’s a mixture of guilt and worry in her eyes. “You should’ve seen your face when you turned around and saw me.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been that scared before.” I’m unable to hide the emotion in my voice.
“I’m perfectly fine, Andrew. I’m safe.”
I sigh, releasing my worry. “Can you tell if anything is missing?”
She shrugs lightly. “It doesn’t look like they stole anything.”
“Unfortunately, the window display is another story,” I confess, gesturing towards the fallen snow and shards of glass on the ground.
Her expressive eyes widen in horror. “Oh no...the first editions...”
“We might be able to salvage them, but we can’t touch anything until a thorough investigation is done.”
She nods, her lips pressed into a tight line as she inspects the mess before us. The cold gusts of wind sweep up the flakes of snow, peppering them onto the books and the carpet, creeping into every crevice of the quaint bookstore.
“Go give Officer Anders your statement,” I instruct, pointing towards him. “Randy is on his way with supplies for us to cover the window.”
