In the end
Chapter 3
Lucky stayed in the living room for a few more minutes, not sure what to do. One he could go upstairs and they can finish their discussion though Emily was not in no shape to do so or he could let it go for a few more hours. The second one however didn't feel right, their problems had been like that for a while and now he knew how true the advice was when one said to deal with problems front hand and in the present so they don't grow bigger.
Walking upstairs, he went to their bedroom almost expecting the door to be locked, but found it otherwise open. Emily had obviously run out of all energy as she lay on top of the comforter, fast asleep.
Whatever what was wrong, it was taking a lot of energy from her, Lucky concluded. Shaking his head in confusion he entered and sat down next to her, the bed depressing under his weight. Taking the hair pieces that fell over her face and putting them with his wife's other locks, he noticed tear paths down her cheeks.
Frowning and wiping them away he glanced at her and studied Emily. Emily's hair had lightened some, but was not overly obvious, due to the sunlight and its Ultraviolet rays. Her complexion was paler, but not deathly pale as he had seen other times he'd rather not remember. Her form hadn't changed expect for her losing a few pounds but seemed to be putting them on again slowly. Other than that, she was just exhausted.
He stood up again only to pull back the covers and replace Emily within the sheets, her head lying on a pillow, only to join her and wrap his arms around her waist and pull her near, falling asleep almost immediately.
A few hours later, he woke up wide awake, a bad feeling filling his thoughts. Glancing down and smiling at Emily, he heard a creak. Having tried fixing that for two years now he knew what was happening. Someone was in their house, obviously trying to be as quiet as possible, a burglar.
At this hour it seemed crazy, but then again if he wanted to break in it would be when the owner was supposedly working and using the basement stairs that led to the first official floor. He had no gun or weapon on him or near, thinking it wasn't needed, that it was a safe neighborhood, now it was on his to do list.
Quickly analyzing the situation, Lucky knew he should go down and catch the person, but on the other hand, leave Emily in their bedroom, vulnerable, defenseless and fast asleep. Deciding rather quickly, he grabbed the phone and the room key he kept in the desk near the bed.
He called the police and left the bedroom with one last glance at Emily, checking she was safe, locking the door behind him. There was no way this burglar was getting in there unless he used the window, which was locked anyway.
He crept downstairs slowly, stopping at the middle of the stairs and seeing if it the intruder was anyway in the living room or dining room or any of the first floor rooms. There was nothing, so he crept down to the last step and turned into the hallway, only to have his worst fears confirmed.
The basement door was half open, but also knew that because it was only half way that the intruder was gone, went back down to the basement and left, obviously sensing trouble or the inhabitants. Lucky thought that would be obvious though with his truck parked outside, but sometimes these criminals weren't the smartest crayon in the box. Relieved but scared stiff, he returned back upstairs and unlocked the door and breathed as Emily was still there.
Walking over to her, he shook her this time; it took a second nudge to wake Emily up. "Em, come on you have to wake up." He urged her but tried not to make it sound too urgent. No need to scare her right away.
"Why, I don't have to go to work?" Emily asked for an explanation to this sudden waking, only to hear police sirens close. "Is there a fire or something?"
"No, I'll explain when we are downstairs, but I'm not leaving you alone right now." He insisted and Emily was still confused, but out of trust did as he asked. Getting out of bed she left the room with him only to find the police parked out front.
Confused she looked to Lucky, "Okay, why are the police here?" She asked another question, "What's going on here Lucky?" He didn't answer right away, but was finding the right words, "tell me." Emily demanded impatience, fear and curiosity taking over.
"I'm pretty sure someone broke in, or tried to but didn't get too far." Their basement didn't hold much more than storage but maybe some of the increased dust load caught a foot print as well. At least, he hoped so.
Emily paled, turning almost pure white. "What? Did you see them?" She asked and Lucky held her closer as the made it down the stairs.
"No, but the basement door was half open so it was at least an attempt." Lucky told her.
The next hour was a total blur to Emily, like she was a third party, a narrator in a story, just watching it all but it not connecting at all. Forensics and evidence was taken for analysis and all was left was the report.
"Did your security system go off?" The officer asked Lucky.
Lucky shook his head. "No it was all set but no alarm, nothing. I set it when I arrived home." He answered.
"Hmm…have you been home the last few days?" He thought before asking.
"No, I was on a trip, but my wife was here. Do you think whoever broke in found a break between the securities?" Lucky could have sworn it covered the whole house, overlooking the installation himself.
"This house has obviously been staked out and studied. For how long I'm not sure though." The officer agreed and motioned toward Emily. "Could you get her out of her shock and see if I can get a few questions in?"
"Yeah, no problem, what do you want to know?" Lucky asked.
"First of all see if she has seen anything suspicious around here recently." The officer requested.
Lucky nodded and sat near Emily. "Emily, Em? You there?" He asked knowing if he tried the standard question of "are you okay" or one of its similar phrases, that'd look pretty stupid.
"In the back of my mind I knew this would happen." Emily quietly said, confusing Lucky.
Tucking a strand of hair, behind her ear, "You knew what would happen, Em?" He questioned her softly.
"Doom, everything is fine for a time and then it comes, it always comes." Emily replied quietly, almost whispering.
"I think you lost me here Em. Have you seen something I don't know?" Lucky considered inserting a joke about the future and premonitions, but knew that now was not the time.
"Not seen, heard. The crumbling of leaves, walk of footsteps, but when I looked…nothing and no one was there." Emily explained, wrapping her arms around herself for comfort, lost again for the moment in terror.
"Does that answer your question?" Lucky looked to the officer who nodded his consent.
"We will search the grounds." He replied and left to follow this new lead.
Gathering Emily near, he wrapped his arms around him and laid his head on her head. No wonder why Emily needed him home, she knew in the back of her mind that someone was about but knew without solid proof or evidence she would look like a fool if she reported it. She needed him to protect her from what she couldn't prove.
With the numb Emily near, he made another quick decision. Nudging his head against Emily's, "Emily, Sonny, does he have an extra room available?" He asked. While time hadn't hurt their relationship, it wasn't sturdy nor never would be, but sometimes things like this were necessary.
"Yeah, it's considered a guest bedroom, why do you ask?" She looked up to him, more conscious in motion, shock having passed.
"Your going to be that guest, I'm not having you here while this investigation is going on and you are not returning until this person is found." He told her firmly, obviously not standing a disagreement.
Emily pulled away some, seeing he was serious but felt a slight tug on her stomach. Nodding she agreed, knowing it was necessary and also knew Lucky wasn't going with her. But that was not the huge issue of the moment; no it was time, time to tell the truth.
"Is this the time for secrets to be let out then?" Emily asked, knowing that only in most unpredictable situations Spencer's speak their thoughts.
"Yeah, why? Do you have something more to tell me?" He asked her, frowning.
Emily grinned and glanced down at her stomach secretly. "Yeah…I'm pregnant."
Author's note: Only I could switch situations like this, huh? But in all seriousness, this actually came from experience; my house was broken to and nothing was stolen or happened and the guy is in prison, but I will never again feel as secure as I did before it happened. Just be aware, that is all I'm trying to say. This is not something you want to experience.
Thanks for the reviews and feedback.
