Smoke in Mirrors

suggest that it was time to call off the surveillance and start thinking about dinner when the front door opened again.
    Rhodes came back out onto the porch, dressed in running clothes and a windbreaker. He locked his front door, went to the porch railing and did some stretches. When he was finished he loped down the steps and set off.
    “No wonder he’s in such excellent condition,” Leonora murmured.
    “A man his age ought to think twice about running. Hard on the knees.”
    “His knees don’t seem to be giving him any trouble.”
    “Knees are tricky. You never know when they’ll go out on you.” Thomas dropped the small binoculars into the pocket of his jacket. “Wait here, I’ll be right back.”
    She glanced at him with a startled frown. “Where are you going?”
    “Long as I’m in the neighborhood and the neighbor in question isn’t around, I thought I’d seize the moment.”
    “To do what?”
    “Check out his house.”
    “What? You’re going to break in?” Her voice rose on the last two words. “Are you crazy? What if Alex returns unexpectedly? He could have you arrested.”
    “He just left for a run. He’ll probably be gone at least half an hour. Maybe longer. I’ll only be inside for a few minutes.”

    “I don’t think this is a good idea.”
    “Don’t watch, if it bothers you.” He started off through the trees.
    “Oh, no, you don’t.” She hurried after him. “If you insist on doing this, I’m going in with you.”
    He heard her muffled footsteps on the damp ground and came to a halt, turning to confront her.
    “No,” he said.
    “You can’t stop me, Thomas.” She halted. “We’re partners, remember?”
    The fierce stubbornness in her voice warned him that he wasn’t going to be able to keep her from following him. He could always come back later when she wasn’t around.
    “All right, forget it. It’s a bad idea, like you said.” He reached for her arm. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
    “I know what you’re thinking.” She stepped hastily out of reach, spun around on her heel and started toward the cabin. “You plan to come back some other time and do your little breaking-and-entering routine without me, don’t you?”
    “Damn it, Leonora, wait.” He caught up with her. “I agree with you. This is too risky.”
    “But that won’t stop you, will it?”
    He thought about picking her up and putting her over his shoulder. Somehow he didn’t think she’d go along with that plan.
    What the hell was a man supposed to do with a woman like this? He looked around. The oncoming night and the fog provided excellent cover. Chances were they were safe enough for the moment. If they went in and got out fast they should be okay.
    “All right,” he said. “We’re here. Might as well do it.”
    She surveyed the windows. “How do we get inside?”
    He reached inside his jacket, removed the small toolkit he carried on his belt and opened it. He selected two of the gleaming picks.
    “With these,” he said. “Now you watch out for Rhodes.”
    “Good grief. You planned this, didn’t you?”
    “I never do anything without a plan. I’m sort of obsessive-compulsive that way.”
    He mounted the three steps to the back door and went to work.
    It took less than thirty seconds to pop the lock.
    “Wow,” Leonora whispered. “Where did you learn to do that?”
    “I’m into remodeling, remember? You install and repair enough locks over the years, you learn how they work.”
    He pulled on his gloves and opened the door cautiously. He found himself gazing into a small room. A trash can loomed in the shadows. A pair of dirty boots sat on the floor. The shelves that climbed one wall held the usual assortment of odds and ends you expected to see in a storage room: A flashlight. Some batteries. A garden hose. Kitchen supplies.
    A bag of golf clubs stood propped in the corner.
    Behind him Leonora came to stand in the doorway. She glanced back over her shoulder and then followed him into the storage room.
    “Don’t touch anything,” he ordered.
    “Don’t worry, I’ve got gloves on, too, see?” She held up one sheathed hand.
    “We don’t want to disturb anything. No sense making him suspicious.”
    He eased the door closed with a gloved hand and went past her into a narrow hall that connected the bath and bedroom to the front room and kitchen. He halted to give his eyes time to adjust to the gloom.

    “Watch your step,” he said. “It really is dark in