Page 59 of Home for Justice
He followed Cory and Todd down the hall to the supply area where Bert waited, organizing the equipment.
Two hours later, the three men headed out, armed with a full array of top-tier security systems. The back of their vehicle was filled with pro wireless cameras for outdoor use, featuring long-range night vision and facial clarity at a distance. They had door and window sensors with a smart control hub, indoor cameras to cover key areas, and motion-activated floodlights with high-resolution cameras for the shop perimeter. As Bert had explained, everything was tamper-resistant, rugged, and durable.
Now standing inside Jack and Justice’s living room, Tyler spread out the equipment on the coffee table and explained what they were installing.
Jack leaned heavily against the arm of the couch, studying it all with a frown. “I hate like hell to think this is necessary,” he grumbled. He scratched his chin and then added, “You need to let me know what the cost is for here and down at the shop.”
Tyler shook his head slightly. “I don’t think that’s gonna be necessary, Jack. But I’ll bring it up with Logan.”
Jack’s mouth tightened, but he nodded. “Since I have a contract with Logan for the helicopter inspections, I’ll talk to him, too. It’s not that I don’t appreciate everything you all are doing. I just hate the idea of anyone spending money because of my brother’s foolishness.”
“You know,” Tyler said, trying to offer a little comfort, “we couldn’t identify whoever vandalized the shop. It might not have been him.”
Jack gave a sharp bark of laughter, no humor in it. “Well, he called me this morning. Right after the detectives talked to him. Swore up and down that he and Debbie didn’t have anything to do with it. Then gave me an earful for even thinking about it.”
Jack shifted his weight, his jaw tightening further. “I told him straight up that if he didn’t want to be a suspect in something, maybe he should’ve thought about that before sniffing around like a damn buzzard, begging for money. Told him it’s his own damn fault he’s in this position.”
Tyler dipped his chin in agreement, pride stirring in his chest for the man standing before him. Jack McClay was no fool, and he sure as hell wasn’t backing down from the truth.
Just then, Cory stepped into the room, clipboard in hand. “Jack,” he said, “we’re going to install cameras at the front and back of the house. These are a step up from the standard doorbell cameras most people use. The video range is wider, and the image quality will give us a crystal-clear shot of anyone who even thinks about setting foot near the house.”
“And the shop?” Jack asked, his voice reluctant.
“You’ve already got a decent system inside the garage and on the side lot,” Cory explained. “We’ll upgrade that. New cameras on all four sides of the building, plus we’re swapping out the old lot camera for a better one. It’ll give you full perimeter coverage in high definition.”
Tyler watched Jack carefully as he listened, noticing the change creeping over the older man’s face. He’d looked stronger these last few days, but now… he seemed more tired. His shoulders sagged a little more, the lines around his eyes deeper.
Tyler knew Jack’s discomfort wasn’t just about the security. It was about pride. About feeling like a burden. But what Jack needed to understand—what Tyler hoped he’d show him through actions, not words—was that he and Justice weren’t a burden to anyone. They were family. And the family took care of their own.
After wrapping up the installation at the McClays’ house, Tyler and the others headed into town. Tyler would wait to have his house secured, wanting to make sure their business wasfirst. Jack followed them, insisting he wanted to see Justice and be there when the insurance company came out to process the claim for the new front windows.
Tyler had already called Justice to let her know they were on the way and explained why. Even through the phone, he’d heard the strain in her voice. But Justice was smart enough not to look a gift horse in the mouth.
“If LSIMT is willing to help deter or catch anyone stupid enough to try this again, whether at the shop or at our home, I’m all in,” she’d said firmly.
When they pulled into the shop parking lot, Justice was already there, standing in the sun with her arms crossed over her chest. As soon as they climbed out, her smile shot first to Tyler, warming him right down to his bones, before she moved quickly toward her dad.
Jack had barely gotten both feet on the ground when she wrapped her arms around him.
“How’re you doing, Dad?” she asked, her voice low and concerned as she looked up into his face.
“I’m doing fine,” Jack said, patting her back with one of his big hands. “We’ve got good people taking care of us. And while I hate like hell that we need it, keeping you safe is the most important thing to me.”
“The fire marshal for the county did an inspection, and the insurance company sent someone out. And with everyone pitching in, we’ve gotten a lot accomplished.” Justice tightened her arms around him for a second longer, then let go and turned to Tyler.
Their eyes met, and without needing to speak, he lifted his arms slightly in a silent invitation.
She didn’t hesitate. Justice moved forward, and Tyler wrapped her up, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. She clung to him tightly, and he felt the tension vibrating through her.
“We’ve got this, sweetheart,” he murmured against her hair. He felt her nod against his chest. “Come on,” he said, squeezing her once more before letting go. “Let’s go inside and talk.”
Since the garage was closed to customers today, they gathered in the reception area. In the time Tyler had been gone, it had been mopped, dried, and the fans were still running to dissipate the smoke smell.
There was plenty of room to spread out. Cory and Todd took the lead, laying out everything they’d already installed at the McClays’ home and explaining the additional layers of security planned for the shop.
Justice stood close, nodding thoughtfully, her arms crossed, but her posture relaxed. She asked questions about the video range, about motion sensors, and about backup power supplies. Tyler wasn’t surprised since it seemed Justice never did anything halfway.
Jack excused himself to the office to confirm the appointment times for the insurance adjuster and the window installers. Cory and Todd headed back out to the trucks to start setting up the new cameras.
