Lassiter scowled. “You called me repeatedly,” he said. “You begged me to come here.”

“And you refused. You thought it was a prank.”

“I did,” Lassiter said. “But if I have to choose between the chance you’ll make a fool of me and the possibility of helping a citizen in danger, I’ll risk my dignity every time.”

It was a straight line like none Lassiter had ever given Shawn. But Shawn was so pleased at the help that he let it pass.

“What changed your mind?” Gus asked.

“It wasn’t the fifteen subscriptions to Guns and Ammo you two took out in my name,” Lassiter said. He pointed down at the door latch. “It was that.”

Shawn and Gus followed his gaze.

“The door is open,” Shawn said.

The door was indeed unlocked and slightly ajar.

“Maybe she’s expecting us,” Gus said.

“This is a beach community and a college town, full of drifters and druggies,” Lassiter said. “No one leaves their door unlocked in a place like this.”

“She’s an elementary school teacher,” Gus said. “Maybe she doesn’t have anything worth stealing.”

“At least nothing that wasn’t already stolen from us,” Shawn said.

Lassiter gave him a sharp look. “You will be making a full report.”

“Right after we see what we’re going to be reporting,” Shawn said.

Lassiter nodded curtly, then rapped on the door with the barrel of his gun. “Ms. Svaco?” he said. “Police.”

There was no answer from inside. He rapped again. Still no answer.

“Ms. Svaco?”

The only sound was the crashing of the waves against the shore a block away.

“Don’t just stand there, Lassie,” Shawn said. “We’ve got to do something.”

Lassiter nodded, then holstered his gun and pulled out a cell phone.

“I meant do something useful,” Shawn said.

“I am doing something useful,” Lassiter said. “I’m calling Judge Napoli to request a warrant to enter the premises.”