Page 6 of Sheltered By Love

Garrett’s reply comes in gruff, and short. A good sign he’s getting nowhere with this case. “Not good. They’re a little more organized than first thought.”

I press the speaker as I start looking through the boxes. “Tell me more,” I say.

“It’s got to be a gang. They seem to know exactly what valuables are inside too. Since they’re operating at night and during the day, they’re probably watching the houses they’re targeting and getting to know the routines.”

I run a hand over my head. “So not just opportunist then?”

“Doesn’t look like it.”

“What about my idea to set up a neighborhood watch? You run that past the chief?” I say.

“I did. He wants to retire at the end of the year. That means you not getting involved.”

I grunt at the idea of our lard-ass Chief of Police wanting to retire. Everyone in the Bay knows Garrett’s been running the department for years.

The Chief’s so lazy he’s not even here half the time, right now, he’s at a training course in Portland. Anything to get out of actual work.

“I’m not going to sit on my hands. If I can do something, I will.”

“Don’t get any ideas. You’re going to be there for a while keeping an eye on things, that’s enough.”

I slide my hand into the box I’m standing closest to and look at the night vision goggles I purchased. “Ayuh, but if I do see something, I’m just protecting my property. That’s not illegal,” I say.

He sighs. “It’s how you intend to protect it that worries me.”

I scratch my nose and haul out my USMC Fighting Utility knife. “Like you said. I’m going to be here anyway. I’ll do what I need to do,” I say.

“Just put the alarms up and monitor them. I don’t want to hear my brother has been arrested for interfering in my investigation.”

“I’m not dumb enough to get arrested,” I mutter.

He growls down the line. “Levi there with you? Maybe he can talk some sense into you before you do something we’ll both get in trouble for.”

I glance over my shoulder, and eye Levi as he opens a bag of corn chips. “He’s trying to get me to invite the tenant over. He thinks she’s sweet.”

“She appears to be. Kept Mrs. Davis company when Nicki couldn’t. Keeps to herself though.”

I know where this is likely heading so I sidle back into the living room. “Keep me updated.”

“Try to show some neighborly concern to our tenant.”

I snatch the bag of corn chips out of Levi’s hands and hold them up so he can’t reach them. “I’m installing an alarm for her, what the hell else am I supposed to do?”

I dodge Levi’s slug to the gut just as Garrett tells me the one thing I don’t want to hear right now. “Just watch out for her, Zane. With Viola in the nursing home, you’re all she’s got,” he says.

Felicity

I ease my eyes open, yawning and breathing in the sweet smell of fresh-cut grass, and the sound of a mower.

As I try to rouse myself from a fitful night’s sleep, I let my thoughts drift to yesterday.

After Nicki showed me how to set the alarm, she decided to wander next door to reacquaint herself with Zane.

Something I’d never dream of doing even if I wasn’t feeling decidedly awkward around new people.

Now Mrs. Davis has moved into a nursing home, I’ve not only lost a neighbor and a confidante, but I’ve also lost the only reason I felt I was part of the community.

That thought and dozens of others are what kept me awake half the night.

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