Chapter 5 — Elena checks the back door lock and latch — Then she finds the deadbolt left wide open
Elena turned away from the hallway rug and walked briskly toward the back of the house.
Brenda followed close behind, crossing her arms tightly over her chest.
“Checking doors won’t change the footprint evidence,” Brenda muttered under her breath.
Elena ignored the comment and kept her eyes fixed on the wooden floorboards leading to the back entrance.
The rear exit opened directly onto the fenced garden patio where the heavy afternoon rain had pooled into deep puddles.
Elena reached the wooden door and stared at the handle.
She checked the upper slide latch first.
The latch was pushed completely back, sliding freely within its metal bracket.
Next, Elena reached down to test the brass deadbolt.
Her fingers wrapped around the smooth metal knob and turned it.
The deadbolt slid open with a soft click, moving without any resistance at all.
The heavy door was left completely unlatched.
Elena pulled the door slightly toward her to inspect the surrounding frame.
Bright silver slot marks were gouged into the wood right next to the brass latch plate.
The marks showed fresh wood fibers pulled outward toward the interior of the house.
Something heavy had pushed against the outside panel with enough force to pop the latch right out of its groove.
Elena crouched down lower to examine the base of the door.
A thick, heavy wet smear was smudged across the lower glass pane.
The dark brown soil matched the exact consistency of the mud tracked across the living room rug.
Elena pressed a single finger against the smear.
The mud was still wet and cool to the touch.
Brenda leaned over Elena’s shoulder to look at the glass.
“That’s fresh,” Brenda whispered, her skeptical tone finally fading.
Elena stood up and wiped her finger on a paper towel from the kitchen counter.
She looked closely at the pattern stamped into the muddy smear on the glass pane.
It was not the mark of a boot or a hand.
A distinct wet nose smudge was pressed against the center of the glass.
The height of the smudge measured precisely two feet off the ground.