Page 90 of Always Be an Us

"I’m coming with you," I tell him and he pauses for a moment then shrugs.

"You’re a free man. I can’t tell you where to be."

And with that, he ambles toward his police car on the side, while I head back to the Suburban.

I beat him back to Emma’s place by at least a good fifteen minutes. Some of that is because of how slow the man drives, but mostly I think I also break a few road rules to get there in time. The old officer could probably arrest me for that, but I doubt he will. It's clear he's not that proactive about doing his job.

When I get there, Emma is outside, pacing on her porch and biting her nails. As my car speeds to a stop in front of her, she glances up and her eyebrows furrow in confusion.

"Declan?" Her voice sounded shocked as I bolt out of the car. "What are you—"

"Are you okay?’ I’m on her in an instant, my hand in her elbows dragging her to me. "Are you hurt?" The officer said she wasn’t, but I want to confirm for myself.

She shakes her head slowly, clearly still surprised as I run my hands down her arm, and then down her body to make sure myself. Only when I confirm she's not physically harmed, do I feel some of the tightness ease from my chest.

I glance behind her through the open front door. From here, I spot her overturned couch and a lamp with the shade off, the bulb hanging by the wire. The TV is also on the floor with shards of glass surrounding it.

"What happened?"

"I’m not sure," she answers. "After you dropped me off I went into my house and found it like this. I don’t have any idea who did it."

"Not even any suspects?"

She shakes her head. "I don’t have any enemies in Lakewood. Neither does Grandpa. We’re not rich either so there's nothing to steal. I’ve been cracking my head about who could have done this, but I don’t know."

"Relax." I rub her shoulders, hearing the restrained anxiety in her tone. Now that some of the panic has cleared from my system, I continue scanning the damage. Plates broken on the floor. Light fixtures torn down. It seems like an unnecessary amount of chaos for a thief. It’s almost like whoever was here was trying to make as much of a mess as possible.

Was it a vendetta or were they trying to cover up whatever they took?

"Did you notice anything missing?" I ask.

"I haven’t had a chance to check. I’ve kind of been too spooked to go inside."

I nod. "Smart. The assailant could still be there."

"No, I saw him run off already."

My eyes bug out. "You saw him."

"Well...kinda. More like his shadow or at least I think that's what I saw. Could have been an animal."

"What the–you saw him and you're still here? Jesus, Emma."

She shrugs. "I don't have a car, and I didn't have anywhere else to go."

"You should have called me." If the assailant was here when she got back, the break-in must have happened early this evening. Odd time for a break-in, unless they knew specifically that she wasn't home.

"Any stalkers?" I ask. "Or have you noticed anyone following you lately?"

She thinks about it for a second, then shakes her head. "Lakewood is a safe town. I don’t know anyone who would do this."

"Nowhere is truly safe," I tell her. I live in a gated community in a million-dollar condo in New York and there was recently a heavily organized robbery in the condo a few streets away from me. They caught the guys who did it, but still. I keep tight security around my home for a reason. I might be willing to risk myself but not my daughter.

It looks like I’m going to have to get security here, too. I didn't think I would need it but apparently, I underestimated Lakewood.

I finally enter the cottage with Emma at my back, further analyzing the damage. While we poke around, I hear the cop car ambling up the driveway.

While I poke around, the officer’s car finally ambles down.

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