She didn't lock her door after arriving home from work. Happy to leave work
two hours early, Alice kicked off her heels, one ricocheting off the hallway wall
the other landing dead center.

Alice was naked when reaching the master bedroom ensuite. A trail of clothes
lay on the hardwood floor from the family room to the second floor hallway.
Alice selected a pair of nylon running shorts and a tank top that she would wear
out doors after her shower to just relax. With over four hours before Jeff, her
partner, arrived home from his job she had plenty of time for herself before getting
dinner ready.

Alice tested the water temperature with her right leg and found it to be just right.
She did not lock the bathroom door. She used her favorite body wash with the
fragrance of 'ylang-ylang and peony' that drove Jeff wild the first night they made
love. The gentle shower spray relaxed Alice and rejuvenated her. She hated her job
and sought something less stressful.

Toweled dry she slipped into her panties and shorts. The tank top was next when
she decided to forgo a bra. An hour had passed and Alice left the discarded towel and
clothes for later, grabbed her cell phone, a tall glass of sun iced tea and settled into
her favorite deck chair on the back patio. She wished they had a pool but that would
have to come later, maybe after they married.

The peacefulness of the mid-afternoon was only interrupted by the occasional squawk
of a crow or the chatter of a squirrel in a nearby tree. She dosed off every now and again,
being mindful of the time Alice set the alarm on her cell phone. The two steaks were
defrosted and in the refrig, the salad would be easy, so she continued to enjoy the peace
and quite away from work and didn't worry.

The tune of 'We Built This City' woke Alice. She remembered singing that song with her dad
when they lived in California. It was a fun time. She bounced up and entered the house
and began making her way to the master bedroom picking up her discarded clothes on
the way. Alice deposited the soiled clothes and her tank top into the chute that led to the basement laundry room.

She found a well worn bra from her underwear drawer and noticed a few items out of place
in the room. The door to Jeff's closet was ajar and his jewelry box had been moved. Not
really making much of it, after all she locked the front door, she began to put her bra on.

Jeff parked his car in the driveway and noticed the front door wide open. He ran to the
front porch calling for Alice. No reply. He searched the lower level of the home while
calling for her again. Still no reply. The back patio, same results. He ran up the stairs to
the second floor and their bedroom hoping all was well. There he found Alice, half naked
with her shorts around her ankles laying on a blood soaked bed spread. Her eyes still
open with a expression of fear on her face. Her throat cut.

"There wasn't any sign of forced entry," said the Police Sergeant. "She may have known
the killer or just left her door unlocked."