Rancor: Sinister Attachments, Book 1 (Haunted)

TWENTY-THREE

After the police had left the house, Maggie locked up and drove to Cedar Creek Trailer Park to confront Jess. The sun was high in the sky by the time Maggie turned into the park. Kids were riding bikes on the narrow paved roads and seniors were sitting on their trailer decks enjoying the sunny day. When she approached Jess's trailer, she noticed her car was not in the driveway. She was stopping and knocking at the door anyway.

Maggie drove up to the steps and turned off the car. She reached into her purse and turned on her phone's voice recorder. Even though she had no idea if it was legal to record someone without his or her knowledge, she needed proof Jess was guilty.

She walked up to the door and knocked. There was no answer. Knowing Jess was not home, she thought about going into the trailer just to do a little investigating. Maybe she would get lucky and see the jewelry and coin sitting on the counter. She knew that was highly unlikely but worth a try. Looking around she saw no one watching, so she turned the doorknob; it was locked. She had a key to Jess's trailer just as Jess had a key to her house. Then it occurred to her, is it considered breaking and entering when you have a key? Is she breaking and entering? Was Jess really breaking and entering? What about the permission aspect? Maggie sighed, without catching Jess red handed with the goods, it was probably useless pressing charges. Just as Maggie could say she was stopping to pick up something she had left in the trailer when she lived there; Jess could say she was checking to make sure things were all right at the house.

Maggie unlocked the door and pushed it open. She walked into the trailer and closed the door. The smell of cigarette smoke hung in the air. "Jess, are you here?"

Not hearing an answer, she walked further inside. The living room had empty beer cans sitting around, and the kitchen counter had an old piece of chocolate cake that was attracting a line of ants. So far, nothing looked like Jess had sold the valuables and was living the high life.

She walked to the bathroom and then to Jess's bedroom. Should she look in dresser drawers? It would be a definite invasion of privacy, but then, she did steal from Maggie and have an affair with her husband. At least that is how things seemed to be.

The month that Maggie had lived with Jess, she had never went into her bedroom or looked through her things. Part of Maggie felt awful for thinking her friend was a slut and thief, but the evidence was there; at least in Maggie's eyes. She walked up to Jess's nightstand and slid open the small drawer. Inside were lip balm, hand lotion, a condom, and various insignificant things.

"What are you doing?" Jess said, from behind her.

Maggie pushed the drawer closed and turned around. She had not heard Jess come into the trailer, and now she was the one caught getting into personal items. She had to think of something to say, and quick. "Oh, hi, Jess. I am . . ."

"Why were you looking at my stuff?"

Maggie could not tell if Jess was angry or just putting on a show. "I'm sorry. I left my pendant here and I was just looking for it. I thought maybe if you found it you may have put it in there for safe keeping." Not a bad lie, she thought.

"I haven't seen a pendant. What does it look like?"

Gosh, now I have to expand my lie. "It looks like a butterfly."

Jess shook her head and walked into the kitchen, taking a can of beer from the fridge. "Do you want one?"

"No, I have to get back to the apartment."

Jess snapped the can tab open, walked into the living room, and sat on the lumpy sofa, propping her feet on the coffee table. "I'll call you if I find the pendant."