Page 40 of Saving Her Heart
"That's circumstantial. But it's enough for a warrant." He looks at Jax. "Keep her safe. This is escalating faster than we could have expected."
The next two hours blur together. I move residents, coordinate with insurance companies, arrange for emergency boarding of the broken windows. Through it all, Jax shadows me, his presence both comforting and distracting.
"Mrs. Buchanan needs her diabetes medication from her apartment," I tell him, adding to my ever-growing list. "And the Johnsons' cat is still hiding somewhere on the third floor."
"I'll get Declan to escort Mrs. Buchanan up. And animal control can help with the cat."
"Animal control?" I laugh bitterly. "After Gertie, I don't trust them with my house plants."
His lips twitch. "Fair point. I'll get the cat myself."
"You hate cats."
"I hate seeing you this stressed more."
By the time we finish, the sun is setting, painting the broken glass in shades of gold and red that look disturbingly like flames. I stand in the parking lot, watching my residents load into cars and shuttle vans, their lives disrupted because someone has a vendetta against me.
"This is my fault," I say quietly.
"No," Jax says firmly. "This is Brad and Valerie's fault. Or whoever's helping them."
"If I just quit?—"
"Then they win. And then they do this to the next property manager. And the next." He turns me to face him. "You don't quit, Kendall. You don't run. You stand and fight."
"Easy for you to say. Your residents aren't being terrorized."
"No, but the woman I—" He stops, jaw clenching. "You're being terrorized. And that's worse."
Before I can process what he almost said, my phone rings. It's Mr. Morrison, my boss.
"Kendall, I heard about Building 3. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. All residents are being relocated temporarily."
"Good. Listen, the corporate office is concerned. They're suggesting you take a leave of absence until this is resolved."
"Mr. Morrison?—"
"It's not a reflection on your work. But with the threats escalating..."
"I understand." I don't, but what else can I say?
"Take the week. With pay. Let the police handle this and keep yourself safe, too."
He hangs up, and I stand there, phone in hand, feeling like the ground has been pulled out from under me.
"They're putting me on leave," I tell Jax.
"Good."
"Good?"
"You need to be safe. You can't do that if you're running between properties all day."
"My job is all I have," I say, and immediately wish I hadn't.
He steps closer. "That's not true."
