Roxie woke up alone in their condominium. She made herself a cup of coffee, changed into her exercise clothes, and began her usual morning workout. When she finished, she picked up her phone and sent Steve a text. Good morning, honey. Hope you slept well. She set the phone down and headed for the shower. Afterward, she dressed and checked her phone again. No reply. That wasn’t entirely unusual. Steve had gone to the cabin specifically to work without distractions. He could easily have been sleeping late or already lost in his writing. She smiled and sent another message. I love you, honey. Roxie carried her coffee to her desk and began her workday.
An hour passed. Then another. Every so often, she glanced at her phone. Still nothing. Eventually, it rang. Roxie reached for it, expecting to see Steve’s name. Instead, the number was unfamiliar. She answered. “Hello, this is Roxie.”
“Mrs. Roxie Pikys?”
“Yes.”
“Mrs. Pikys, this is Officer Fred with the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department.”
Roxie immediately sat straighter in her chair. “Yes?”
“Ma’am, I need to confirm something with you. Do you own a lakeside cabin located at the end of Coeur d’Alene Way?”
Her expression changed. “Yes, we do. Is there a problem? My husband should be there right now.”
There was a brief pause at the other end. “Mrs. Pikys, that’s what I’m calling you about.”