In a foggy haze, Jane fixed her eyes on the shadowy figure rummaging through the bureau. They shifted through Jane’s bag that had been left open on top; followed by a fast flipping of pages as they quickly scanned the notebook within. Their clumsiness led to the sharp clattering of a perfume bottle, as it dropped to its side and tumbled to the floor.
As Jane’s mind slowly became clearer, the stark realization took hold; her muscles were rigid with fright, and her heart throbbed in her ears as she sat upright in bed. The shadow’s movements became hasty now, and Jane caught sight of them looking quickly over their shoulder.
“Who goes there?” Jane shot her question into the dark with crisp precision. The shadow whirled around, and Jane switched on the night lamp instantaneously.
The shadow in the dark was a man; shorter in stature, and slighter in build than her first impression. His face flushed entirely white, and his rapid retreating footsteps took him through the window as effortlessly as a flying bird; leaving only the curtains swaying behind him.
Jane jumped to her feet, propelling herself forward from the mattress and stopped abruptly at the windowsill, hands clutching tight to the wooden frame.
The man had disappeared like a rat in a hole, slithering off into the misty environs. It gave Jane a frightened feeling, and she stepped slowly away from the gusty window. Who was he? What did he want? The whole ordeal had left her a little frazzled, and she sat on her bedside as she gathered her thoughts.
The previous day’s events had taken their toll and left Jane exhausted. Instinctively, she picked up a nearby tennis racket and wedged it above the window to secure it. She decided to dismiss the intruder for the time being, concluding that he was unlikely to return at least until daybreak, and she slipped between the sheets.
The next morning came suddenly, and Jane could scarcely believe she fell asleep at all; everything felt like a dream. If the intruder in the night had been a figment of her imagination, she wouldn’t have been surprised. On the nightstand, Jane hastily read the clock hands and sighed. It was half past ten, and she hoped to get an earlier start the next day.
She approached the bureau sleepily, and her eyes flung wide open when she saw the contents of her bag had been emptied out on the stained oak surface; everything she had witnessed wasn’t a dream after all. She cast her eyes toward the window, and saw it too had been jimmied.
At that moment, Margaret knocked at the door and came in after a quiet recognition from Jane. Following a short explanation, she too was dumbfounded and perplexed.
“We should call the police, and report everything that went on here. It’s getting far too serious, Jane, and your life is in danger!” Margaret said in deep concern.
“I’m not the slightest bit worried;” Jane stated with confidence, “That man who broke in, was as harmless as a fly. I think I scared him more than he startled me!”
“You’re too calm about this, Jane-” Margaret continued, “We’re in way over our heads with this one!”
“If we contact the police, it would be too soon; what do we tell them? Someone broke in, but who? How will they find them? We have barely any evidence, besides a couple wild guesses and a handful of clues.”
“Yes, but Jane-“