Blake placed his hand on Vicki’s shoulder. Half an hour had gone by since Gary and Jennifer departed. Vicki looked up at him from where she sat on the couch. “How could this have happened?” She couldn’t hide the despair in her soft voice. “Like Gary suggested, I think you should call the police and file a report.” “But what if there’s a logical explanation? Perhaps Mr. Edwards got sick and had to go home. I’d hate to get the police involved if it was an honest mistake.” She knew she was grasping at straws. Facts were facts. No way would she ever see her money again. “Even if Mr. Edwards has a legitimate reason for not returning your calls, you heard what Gary said. Mr. Edwards had no legal right to rent this house. The listing had been taken away from him two months ago.” Hopelessness washed over her as she accepted the reality she could no longer deny or ignore. “How could I have been so foolish as to have actually paid the entire five months in advance?” “Don’t blame yourself.”
