InSight

ask you another question.” Even though she knew it was pointless, she asked anyway. “Did you ever visit my home or leave emails on my computer?”
    “Huh?”
    She repeated the question.
    “No, Doctor Gallant. Why would I do that when I see you every week? Besides, I don’t know where you live. I tried to find your house once to bring you flowers, but I couldn’t.”
    Abby never really considered Jonah the intruder. He was a confused young man who needed attention and someone to care. When he said goodbye, the quiver in his voice tugged at her heartstrings. For some inexplicable reason beyond good judgment, she almost called him back but thought better of it. She’d discuss this matter with Don Weston. He’d recommend another psychologist for Jonah. She hoped additional therapy would help the boy put his life in order.
    Abby was at a loss. Jonah’s complaint about her conduct removed one element concerning her harassment. And nothing clarified that more than the email she accessed on the computer.
    Enough game playing. Now we play for real.
    * * * * *
    L uke picked up Abby from work. Daisy hopped in the back seat. When they arrived at Abby’s, Daisy seemed anxious. Luke put his hand across Abby’s chest, holding her in place.
    “I know we locked the door yesterday,” Luke said.
    Abby took a quick breath. “Oh no. What is it?”
    “Stay here with Daisy, and don’t move. I’m going to check the house.”
    Abby’s heart raced. She pulled at his arm and wouldn’t let go. “Don’t leave me standing here like a lamppost.”
    “Okay. Put your hand on my shoulder and hold on to Daisy.” They took two steps inside. “The place isn’t messed. At least not this room.” Luke led her into the study. “Shit!”
    Abby’s stomach took a dive. “What?”
    “Looks like someone splashed blood all over the computer. Stay here. I’m going to nudge the mouse with my handkerchief to see if there’s a message.” He moved away from her. “No message. The screen says there’s no operating system. The hard drive’s been erased.”
    Abby needed to sit down. She made it to the daybed and collapsed. “What could this person think is in my computer? And why come back? He could have taken the computer the night he broke into the back yard.”
    “I don’t know. Nothing makes sense.”
    “New locks don’t mean a thing to this guy. He walks in here like he owns my house.”
    Throbbing pain started in the back of her head and pounded its way forward. If she was no longer safe in her own house, where was she safe?

Chapter Twenty-Two
    A Change of Venue

    A bby’s emotions ranged from anger to feeling helplessly victimized. The frustration of the missing hard drive and lost files didn’t help. Fortunately, the files at home were duplicates of those at her office and were backed up regularly. She’d have Luke reload them. The embossed files were untouched. Luke was right. Nothing made sense.
    After Luke cleaned up the mess, he said, “You’re not staying alone in this house. You’re coming home with me.”
    A few years after the shooting, Abby tried to reclaim control over her life. She succeeded in part, but not completely. Dependence on other people was a fact of life for the blind. But this? She didn’t want a babysitter. Even Luke. Especially Luke, because then he might see himself in the role she most feared would drive him away. The White Cane.
    She bit back the frustration. “I won’t let this person push me out of my home. And what makes you think that whoever’s doing this doesn’t know where you live?”
    “He might, but my house is rigged.”
    “What do you mean, ‘rigged’?”
    “It means that once I set a keypad, no one can get within ten feet without activating sensors that set off blinking lights inside the house, and when I go to bed, I set a very loud siren. It’d scare the hell out of you, but I’d hear it.”
    “Are you expecting trouble?” she asked.
    “No, but I don’t like being at a disadvantage.”
    Luke’s deafness had cut him off from his world ― the world of police and thugs and murderers ― and had limited his ability not only to protect others but also himself.
    “You’re worried this is more than someone’s scare tactic, aren’t you?”
    “When this guy first started harassing you, the ethics complaint narrowed the field. As time passed, I doubted your nemesis was a patient or a friend. Then your ex-husband showed up, and the guilt fell on him. Now