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can handle this.”
    “They’re police officers,” Myra said, as if imparting new information. “They’ve been trained.”
    I could hear the officers yelling inside my house. The words were muffled, but it sounded like they were warning the intruder. Or maybe ordering him to come out. My forehead throbbed with the onset of a headache. My neck and shoulders tensed as tight as a tug-of-war rope. The bathroom light went off, and then all was silent.
    Oh great. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Belinda being pulled down the sidewalk by two of her larger mutts, the husky mix and some big wooly thing. How she’d managed to cross the street without me noticing was a mystery, but here she was.
    “I saw the police car,” she said as she approached, the dogs straining to join us as if they too wanted to know what was going on. “I thought you might need some help. What happened?” The wooly dog panted and drooled close to my feet. I took a step back.
    “Someone’s in Lola’s house that’s not supposed to be there,” Brother Jasper said. “But I think the police have it covered.”
    “Oh, you poor dear.” She patted my arm. “Did someone break in?”
    “We don’t know yet,” Crazy Myra said before I could open my mouth. “She just came home and the lights were on and the drapes were open. And she never leaves the drapes open, you know that.”
    “I could tell someone was inside when I came home,” I said. “I didn’t risk going in.”
    “You really should get a dog,” Belinda said. “For safety reasons. And they’re also good company.” She leaned over and rubbed behind the husky’s ears. “Then you wouldn’t have to go out at night at all.”
    “That’s a thought,” I said. Both dogs sat suddenly, as if knowing they would be there awhile. I took another sip of the soda and glanced down at my feet. The strappy sandals that had seemed sexy earlier in the evening were now slicing my toes and digging into my heels. I yearned to take them off and sink my feet into my fuzzy slippers. I looked toward my house for signs of new developments, but it was still quiet and I couldn’t see anyone through the windows. “They’ve been in there a long time.”
    “It’s only been a few minutes,” Brother Jasper said. “It just feels long when you’re waiting.”
    “I’m sure they’re being very thorough,” Belinda said, wrapping the slack from the leashes around her wrist. “The police in our district are top notch. And committed to helping the homeowners keep the neighborhood safe, too. Did you know we have a neighborhood watch committee? We’re always looking for new people to help out, if you’re interested.”
    “Hmmm.” Where was the neighborhood watch committee this evening? They could have prevented my break-in, and I could be home in bed by now.
    Our lapse in conversation was punctuated by the slamming of my screen door. Officer Stein came down the steps and called out, “Miss Watson?” He motioned for me, his fingertips scooping toward his chin. “Could you come here please?”
    I crossed the street with Brother Jasper at my side. I was aware that Myra, Belinda, and the two dogs followed, but for once I didn’t feel like swatting them away.
    “He says he knows you,” Officer Stein said as we joined him on the sidewalk. “He says he’s a friend of yours.”
    The screen door creaked open, and I looked up to see Officer Dodge pushing a tall, familiar-looking man through the doorframe.
    “Hubert?”
    He stood barefoot on my porch wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt; the younger policeman gripped his arm to prevent escape. He blinked a few times, looking like he’d just walked out of a dark movie theatre into daylight.
    “Please tell them we’re friends, Lola. They wouldn’t believe me.”
    “You know him?” Officer Stein asked.
    “Yes.” My brain was having trouble with the idea of Hubert and my house occupying the same space. After my talk with Piper, I’d assumed he never