Page 36 of Freeing Ruby

“Yeah, I hear you.” Then the kid takes off running across the park, quickly disappearing into the trees.

When I return to the apartment, I’m sorry that I don’t have more information to share with Ruby, but I’m pretty sure that kid doesn’t present any real threat to Ruby. I believed him when he said he was paid to throw the rock at her window.

I knock on Ruby’s apartment door. “Ruby, it’s me.”

She opens the door, looking exhausted and scared. “Did you catch him?”

I nod. “It was just a kid—a teenager. He said someone hired him to throw rocks at your window.” I come inside and lock the door. “He couldn’t tell me who hired him.”

Ruby’s shoulders fall. “What am I going to do about the window?”

“We can call Rick in the morning. Hopefully he can repair it quickly.”

Ruby glances down the hall toward her bedroom, indecision marring her expression. I think she’s afraid to sleep in her bedroom.

“Do you want to sleep on the sofa?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “I can’t take your bed. Where will you sleep?”

“I’ll sleep on the floor. It’s no problem.”

“I have a sleeping bag,” she says. “I’ll take the floor.”

I chuckle. “Honey, I’m not letting you sleep on the floor, and that’s final, so don’t even waste your breath arguing with me.”

A smile flits across her face. “Then what are we going to do?”

“Well, how about this? You sleep in your own bed—”

Her eyes widen. “No! I don’t feel safe in there. Not with a hole in the window.”

“Wait. I’m not done. You sleep in your bed, and I’ll sleep on the floor in your room. Will that help? Is there any glass on your bed?”

She shakes her head. “Just on the floor beneath the window.”

“Okay then. Are you okay with this plan?”

She thinks for a minute, then nods. “Yes.”

“All right, then. Let’s go to bed.” I set the security system, then walk Ruby to her bedroom. The heavy drapes are moving just a bit, courtesy of the wind blowing through the hole in her window, but it’s not too bad.

I turn the light on and check the floor for glass. Fortunately, the glass is contained mostly beneath the window. “Have you got a broom and dustpan?” I ask.

She runs out of the bedroom, returning a couple minutes later with the items I asked for.

“Stay back,” I tell her as I take the broom and dustpan from her.

“I can help,” she offers.

“No, you’re barefoot. Sit.” I point to the bed.

Ruby climbs up onto the bed and watches me sweep up the shards. I dispose of the glass in the kitchen trash can.

“Now, where’s that sleeping bag you said you have?”

“Wait! I can’t let you sleep on the floor, not after everything you’ve done for me.”

“Then what do you suggest we do?”

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