They walked through the space, took a few notes, and exchanged glances that said more than their words. “Nothing here suggests a break-in, ma’am,” one of them said gently. Rose didn’t argue. She just watched them leave, her jaw tight.
Sleep didn’t come easily to her that night. Her eyes kept flicking toward the shadows in her room. Every gust of wind outside made her flinch. Hours passed. She must have drifted off eventually—but then it came. A shrill metallic screech, far away but unmistakable, tore her from sleep.