Don't Say a Word - Barbara Freethy [76]
"Why? You haven't wanted to do anything else with me."
Julia sighed, wondering how long her sister's bad mood would last. "I'm getting really tired of your attitude, Lizzie."
"Likewise, sis," Liz said sarcastically. "By the way, the family, our family, if you still consider them family, wants to throw you an engagement party at De.-Marco's in a couple of weeks. Aunt Lucia wants you to call her and pick a date." "What did you tell her?"
"Nothing. I'm staying out of your so-called wedding plans."
Julia thought that was a good idea since she knew a conversation with Michael was long overdue. To her credit, she had tried to call him from the radio station, but he'd been out on his boat. She'd have to catch up with him later.
Julia and Liz walked up the stairs together. Liz seemed to have nothing to say, and Julia didn't know how to break the silence without drawing another sarcastic remark. "I wish we could be on the same side," she said as they reached their door.
"I'm on the DeMarco side. I don't know what side,, you're on."
Julia blew out a frustrated breath and opened the door. Her jaw dropped at the sight of their apartment. It looked as if a bomb had gone off. The room was in shambles. "Oh, my God!" She put a hand to her mouth, feeling like she was going to be sick. 190 Barbara Free thy "What's wrong now?" Liz demanded, pushing past her, only to stop abruptly and gape in amazement. "Someone broke in," she said, stating the obvious.
"I can't believe this," Julia said, dazed. Their home hadn't been just robbed, but ransacked. The drawers in their desk had been dumped on the floor. The CD cases were open and broken apart. The cushions on the couch and the upholstery on the kitchen chairs had been slashed. Fear swept through Julia at the violence of the burglary. She grabbed Liz by the arm. "They might still be here," she whispered. "We have to get out."
Julia looked toward the hallway and the closed bedroom door. They never closed the bedroom door. They turned and ran.
Chapter 12
Julia and Liz didn't stop running until they reached the sidewalk, where they drew in gulping breaths of air.
"We have to call the police." Liz reached for her cell phone with a shaky hand. "Oh, God, Julia, you don't think they're going to come after us, do you?"
"No, of course not." Her chest heaved as she struggled to calm her racing heart. "They're probably gone. I just didn't want to take a chance. Not after I saw what they'd done to the cushions on the couch and the chairs. They must have had knives."
Liz paled. "Let's get farther away," she suggested.
"Good idea."
When they reached the other side of the street, Liz made the call while Julia stared up at her bedroom window, which faced the street. She thought she saw the curtain move. Was someone in there watching them? She heard Liz talking to the police and knew she had to call Alex. She pulled out her cell phone and punched in his number, relieved when he answered right away.
"You have to come over," she told him, her lips trembling so hard it was difficult to get the words out. "Someone broke in to my apartment. They might still be there."
"I'll be right over. Stay out of the apartment, Julia. In fact, you should get yourself to someplace safe."
"Liz and I are across the street. She's talking to the police. It's the middle of the day. Nothing will happen to us here," she said, hoping it was the truth.
"Keep your eyes open," he advised. "I have a feeling this burglary wasn't random."
"I don't think it was, either, Alex. They didn't steal our stereo or our television, but they slashed the pillows on the couch like they were furiously angry or completely crazy."
"Or looking for something in particular," Alex said. "Do you have any idea what that could be?"
"I don't know. I can't think. I'm shaking."
"All right, relax. We'll figure it out."
"Maybe the swan necklace or the matryoshka doll," she said. "Maybe that's what they were looking for."
"Do you know if they were taken?"
"They're