Snakes & Ladders Read Online Free PDF Page B

left-handed.’
    Felicia looked at the nails and agreed. Then she squatted down low and shone her flashlight through the frozen blades of grass. ‘Look here. There’s small bits of glass. Just tiny stuff. Cubes, really. But it’s there. It’s almost like someone broke the window, then boarded it back up and cleaned the mess.’
    Striker called up Dispatch, gave her the address, and asked if there were any recent break-ins reported to the house. When the answer came back no, he hung up and fixed Felicia with a stare. ‘When’s the last time you ever heard of a B and E guy repairing a place before he left?’
    ‘Never.’
    ‘Exactly.’
    He reached out again with both his hands, grabbed hold of the upper plank, and reefed back on it with all his might. The connection was strong, and it took several attempts before the nails loosened, but in the end the planks gave way and tore out of the frame. Striker threw the planks into the construction site, and looked in through the window.
    Behind him, Felicia made an uncomfortable sound. ‘We don’t have permission here, you know.’
    He turned around. ‘What?’
    ‘Technically, we’re breaking and entering this place. Maybe we should get hold of the property rep.’
    Striker let out a small laugh, one that pissed off Felicia – he could see it in her eyes. ‘I’m not waiting around here for three hours so some idiot can let us in the front door – and that’s if he even comes down here, and if he consents to us searching the place. Right now we’re going in under exigent circumstances.’
    Felicia raised an eyebrow. ‘Exigent circumstances?’
    ‘I’ll work it out later.’
    Before she could argue the point further, Striker used the last remaining broken plank to rake away the small teeth of sharp glass from the window frame. Then he shone his flashlight through the window.
    Inside was the living room. Thick drapes hung across all the other windows, keeping the place entombed in darkness. Clear plastic hung over the couch and love seat, and boxes filled with other unknown belongings were stacked in the far corner. No lights of any kind were on. Not even the stove or microwave clocks in the adjoining kitchen.
    ‘Looks like the power’s been cut here, too,’ he said.
    Felicia said nothing back. She stepped forward, right up to the window, then searched the darkness of the room and frowned.
    ‘Let’s call for a dog,’ she suggested.
    ‘And let some mangy mutt destroy any evidence left behind? Forget it, I’ll risk this one on my own.’
    ‘But Jacob—’
    ‘I’m going in, Feleesh. Just cover me, okay?’
    Striker took off his coat. He draped it across the window frame to cover any leftover slivers of glass that might cut him. Then he drew his SIG Sauer, ducked low, and stepped in through the window frame.
    The first thing he noticed inside the living room was the scent of dampness; it lived in the walls and unused furniture. The smell reminded him of an old folks’ home. He shone his flashlight around all four corners of the room, spotted nothing of interest, then stepped forward and peered into the kitchen. It was the same. Dark. Bare. Still.
    The place looked deserted.
    ‘Hold up,’ he heard from Felicia. ‘I’m coming with you.’
    He smiled at that. He knew she would come, in the end. She was stubborn, like always, but forever faithful. It was her best quality.
    When she reached his side, he motioned for her to cover their backs. She did. Once in position, Striker led them on. They slowly made their way to the west side of the house, then started up the staircase. They cleared each floor as they went, room by room, passing two bedrooms and a bathroom, then an office, master bedroom and ensuite on the top floor.
    Felicia looked around the area, cursed, shook her head. ‘This is the east side of the house,’ she said. ‘I don’t see any window.’
    Striker pointed up. He walked back into the hallway. Hanging down from the ceiling was a long