Chapter 340

Daisy’s POV

“You were right,” Victor admitted. He arrived at the mansion a few minutes ago and was taking off his suit to get ready for bed.

I sat up on my side of the big bed. “I don’t care about being right. All I wanted was for us to be on the same page and fight this threat to our lives together.”

Victor unbuttoned his white shirt. “I’m sorry it took so long for me to see it. Now we only have six weeks, or the council will replace me and repeal the new college admissions laws.”

“Six weeks is plenty of time,” I assured him. “And the council agreed to stand behind you while we work to uncover the identity of our foe. That is good news.”

He kissed me before sitting on the edge of the bed to remove his trousers. “I’m truly sorry, my love, I didn't take your advice before. I don’t know what made me think a huge problem of this type would disappear.”

“I understand why,” I said. “We have had too many obstacles to our happiness. I’m also tired of having to fight these threats constantly.”

“But we must continue the fight,” Victor said. “Giving up is not an option. Others are depending on us to continue to fight for them. We can’t let them down.”

“That’s true,” I said as I snuggled against him. “But we must think of ourselves too. We can’t let the stress and pressure destroy our relationship. We are stronger together.”

“Yes, we are stronger together,” Victor agreed as he climbed into the bed beside me. “And you are more important than anything else to me. Now we need sleep, my love. There are challenges ahead.”

We kissed, and I laid my head on his broad chest. The sound of his heartbeat lulled me to sleep.

After breakfast the next morning, Amy arrived with Heather in Mr. Gray’s new van. He hadn’t had time to have the restaurant’s name painted on it yet, so it was perfect for our mission.

Since Heather volunteered to help us, I planned for her to stay in the van and drive it away after an hour or two. Then Amy and I would stay at Lucy’s home in secret to wait for the burglar to strike.

Wearing yellow shirts and bandannas over our hair, we drove to Lucy’s home and parked the van on the street in front of the house where it could be seen.

Amy and I carried buckets and other cleaning supplies we borrowed from the maid's closet at the mansion and rang Lucy’s doorbell.

If anyone saw us enter the house, they would assume we were Lucy’s usual housecleaning service. It was the perfect disguise.

Lucy was overjoyed to see us at her front door. Amy and I went inside and began to clean in case the burglar was watching.

“Why don’t you girls sit down and have tea?” Lucy asked.

“We don’t mind doing some housework,” I said. “Amy and I have done plenty of cleaning. Besides, we must look like employees from your house cleaning service.”

“It’s not the first time I’ve run a sweeper,” Amy assured Lucy.

Amy began sweeping the living room carpet while I mopped the kitchen floor and spoke to Lucy.

“I saw the press release in the morning papers,” I said. “I have no doubt the thief did too. Was the decoy vase delivered?”

“Yes, The Association van left a few minutes before you and Amy arrived,” Lucy replied. “I put the vase in my workroom on the table. The key to the workroom is where I always keep it, under the ceramic sphere in the foyer display case.”

“Good. Don’t put the vase in the safe,” I said. “We want the thief to try to steal it.”

Lucy crossed her arms and shivered. “Ooh, the thought of that thief entering my home again frightens me. I’m grateful for you and Amy for being here with me.”

Lucy was truly frightened. She was a kind and gentle person. The robberies had been hard for her to deal with emotionally. I had to stop him from terrifying her anymore.

“After our other friend drives away in the van, why don’t you go somewhere?” I suggested. “If the thief thinks nobody is home, they will be more likely to strike again.”

Lucy uncrossed her arms and smiled. “My cousin has been asking me and Buddy to lunch for months, but I’ve been too busy. I’ll call her and see if she wants to meet me for a nice lunch.”

Amy and I cleaned Lucy’s house for two hours. Then we pulled some of the drapes and texted Heather to tell her to leave in the van.

Heather said okay and told me to text again when we were ready to leave Lucy’s.

After Heather drove the van away, I told Lucy it was okay for her to leave.

She wasted no time preparing to go out the door.

“You must act naturally while leaving the house,” I reminded Lucy as she grabbed her purse. “Do everything you normally would before going somewhere.”

As Amy and I stayed out of sight, Lucy turned off every light in the house before checking the back door deadbolt.

“Are you sure you and Amy will be okay?” Lucy asked with one hand on Buddy’s leash and the other on the front doorknob.

“We will be fine,” I assured her. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to tackle the burglar. Just take his photo. Plus, I want to see how they are getting into your house. I’ll call you when we’re ready for you to come back.”

“Thank you,” Lucy whispered. “Stay safe.” She walked outside, and we heard her engage the deadbolt with her key.

I listened for her car to leave before deciding where Amy and I should wait. If we stayed in the kitchen or the foyer, the thief might see us before they were inside the house.

We could be seen from outside the house if we hid in the living room. The large rectangular room had too many windows to be a good hiding spot and observation post.

“What about Lucy’s workroom?” Amy suggested. “That’s where Lucy put the vase. The thief will be sure to look there.”

“I want to know how they are getting into the house,” I said. “And I need to take their photo for the police. It would be difficult to hide in the workroom and take photos of the culprit.”

I signaled for Amy to follow me before going to the top of the stairs.

“We will be able to hear everything happening on the first floor and see anyone who enters the foyer,” I whispered as we sat cross-legged on the floor.

It was the perfect vantage point to see and not be seen. And every sound would funnel up the stairs to us.

“Now we wait,” Amy mumbled.

“Yep,” I agreed.

“What if the thief doesn’t take the bait?” Amy asked.

“I believe he will,” I replied softly. “You can go home if nothing happens before Lucy returns, but I’m staying. Lucy is too frightened to stay alone until the thief is caught.”

The minutes dragged by as we sat quietly in the equally silent house. After an hour, Amy began to squirm.

“Lucy insisted I drink tea with her,” she said. “Now I have to use the bathroom.”

I pointed down the upstairs hallway. “The second door, but don’t flush. The sound might be heard downstairs or outside.”

Amy gave me a thumbs-up and stood. She used the bathroom without making any sounds and returned to my side.

She sat on the floor next to me. “Come on, burglar,” she whispered into my ear. “My butt is half asleep.”

I giggled but cut myself off when I thought I heard a sound coming from downstairs.

I put my finger to my lips, and Amy nodded. She had heard it too.

I leaned forward on my hands and knees to listen and heard panting and a sliding sound. It was coming from the kitchen.

Was another dog coming through Buddy’s dog door? But a dog couldn’t steal a stone mask or a figurine.

A few seconds later, we heard footsteps coming into the foyer and saw a naked man walk to the display case. I was so surprised that I almost forgot to start taking photos.

The man was short, thin, and balding. It was the neighbor who had been petting Lucy’s dog!

He took the key to the workroom from the display case and let himself into the room.

I heard him chuckling as he returned to the foyer with the vase. I continued to silently snap photos when he turned and made his way to the kitchen.

“Stay here,” I told Amy and stood before padding down the stairs.

“No, Daisy,” Amy hissed. “Don’t go down there.”