Chapter Three
Kellie sat on the couch in Dane’s living room with a blanket wrapped around her. She was really scared. Who would do such a thing? A brick through a window sounded a lot like some troublemaker teens but she’d never heard of that kind of trouble in her neighborhood before. It was always so quiet and everybody that lived close by, or at least the ones she’d met were very personable and nice. If her memory served, there were a few different families with kids but she just couldn’t imagine what Dane could have done to deserve a broken window.
When Dane was finally able to put his cell phone down he joined her on the couch.
“Are you doing okay?”
“I am, I just don’t understand.”
“That makes two of us. The police are on their way but I’ve asked them to not use lights and sirens. If someone is out there causing trouble, I don’t want to alert them and I don’t want to startle the entire neighborhood. I think if Mr. Farmers next door gets one more scare, he might have a heart attack.”
“Did something else happen to him?”
“He came home yesterday to find his front door open. He swears it was shut and locked but either way it shook him up a bit. He called me before he even got out of his car. I made the rounds through his house but found nothing. Not even any forced entry.”
“That’s really odd. Do you think he left it open?”
“Well, he seems like a pretty sound guy yet, even at his age but I just don’t know.”
“I’m sure he feels better that you live next door.”
“I do too, that’s why I gave him my cell number and told him to call at any hour. He wasn’t too keen on having a security system but I still want him safe. Maybe now he’ll rethink his decision.”
“I can’t say I blame him. I wasn’t a fan of the idea either but I swear I didn’t sleep at all last night. Every time I drifted off, I heard noises.”
“What kind of noises?”
“I’m not real sure I could pinpoint any of them specifically. Could have even been my imagination but something kept waking me up when it felt like I’d just drifted off. I was thinking about getting a dog.”
“Dogs are good too, it’s not a bad idea.”
“Okay, well I should probably get home. Maybe tonight I can actually get some sleep.”
“Do you want me to walk you home?”
“No, you’ve got enough on your hands, I’ll be okay, it’s still light out.”
Dane walked her to the front door, and thanked her for having lunch with him. Upon his urging, she promised they would do it again. Much to her surprise, he leaned in, landed a quick kiss on her cheek and hugged her. She felt like a teenager again as she walked away from a boy’s house after being kissed.
Once Kellie was out on the sidewalk on her way home, she went from frantic teenage crush butterflies to that ominous feeling that someone was watching her. Maybe she should have had him walk with her after all. At least she wasn’t the only one outside on a nice Sunday afternoon, but regardless she found herself looking oddly at every car driving by. She waved at the Millers outside working in their front yard as she cut across her own. Thankfully, her front door was still locked but she found herself checking the house thoroughly before she felt comfortable.
***
“Hey Ramirez, good to see you. I didn’t know they’d be sending you. Thanks for coming out and keeping it on the downlow. The neighbors around here are a little shaky lately.”
Dane invited the police officer into his home and closed the door behind him.
“No problem, I was in the area. What’s been going on?”
Dane walked his friend through the house to his bedroom, explaining that he and Kellie were in the living room watching a movie when they heard the crash.
“Ah, doing some off-duty work with the psychic I see?” The officer laughed, slapping Dane on the back. Officer Ramirez was the one that originally suggested he contact Kellie for help with his security cases.
“No, it’s not like that.” He laughed aloud.
“Well I wouldn’t complain if it were but I’m not sure she feels the same way so I’m keeping things above board.”
“Makes sense.”
“Anyway, we went to find out where the crash came from and found a brick on the bedroom floor and the window broken out. I haven’t touched anything yet.”
“You didn’t see anyone around?”
“Nope, I looked out the window but nothing. I waited for Kellie to head back home before I walked around the house but there was nothing. I didn’t even see footprints anywhere near my window, which I thought was a little odd. That’s a pretty hefty launch to have thrown it from the road and actually have it hit the window.”
“Do you have your cameras set up outside yet?”
He’d forgotten he mentioned that the last time they’d talked at the gym downtown.
“I do, but not on this part of the house, only one aimed at the front door and the back. I’ll be remedying that problem very soon though.”
Dane guessed it was a quick live and learn lesson for protecting his own house. Can’t really sell security when he’s not using it himself. Tomorrow it would be his first task to install on the perimeter. Would give the neighbors each some unknown protection without them having to pay for it. He would consider it his good neighborly deed.
“I’ll fill out a police report and get it filed but let me know if you have any more problems. Did you have any luck securing any of the places in the neighborhood?”
“Some here and there, but I’ll be continuing to work on it. Thanks for stopping by Ramirez. I’ll keep you updated.”
He waited while Ramirez filled out the paperwork, he signed the bottom and took the copy. He watched as the police officer pulled out of his driveway. He couldn’t shake the feeling of something being just a tad off. Call it instinct but he thought it was odd that Ramirez wasn’t interested in looking around the house, inside or out.
“And why did he ask if I’d secured any other homes in the area?”
He wanted to think it was just curiosity but he was a little uncomfortable. It discomfited him to wonder how well he really knew Ramirez after all?