Looking down at the busy crowd, she asked, “Is it hard…uh…running a family business?” His eyes pierced hers, his attention never wavering, but he said nothing. “God, I’m sorry,” she rushed. “That must have sounded bad. It’s just that your family seems so close, but I wondered if working together made you closer.”
Nodding in understanding, he said, “It’s good. Pops…that’s my grandfather, ran the business until he gave it to our dad. Then he passed it on to me, Aiden, and Katelyn so he and Mom could have an early retirement.” He rubbed his whiskers for a moment before adding, “I reckon they wanted us to have something to come home to.”
It was on the tip of Ginny’s tongue to ask more about him, but a call up from Mitch interrupted their conversation.
“Ginny! Got a call.”
Jumping up, she blushed as though she had been caught out late by her father. “I’ve got to go.”
Brogan stood as well, his body towering over hers, his eyes stormy, full of regret. “You didn’t get a chance to eat. You gotta be hungry.”
Offering a small smile, she said, “I’ll just grab something later. But…uh…thanks for sitting with me.”
“Maybe we can do it again sometime?”
She looked up into his eyes and smiled, her breath catching in her throat. “That’d be nice.” Hearing Mitch call out again, she lifted her shoulder as she turned and said, “See you around.”
Brogan watched her descend the spiral staircase, thinking of her job and wondering what kind of call she was being sent to investigate. Sighing, he wanted to know more—actually everything—about the pretty woman that filled his thoughts. Standing, he watched as she headed out the front door of the pub and whispered, “Be safe.”
“Mrs. Collins, we meet again,” Ginny greeted, as the older woman answered her door, a cat in her arms. “I apologize for my appearance. I came from a ball game.”
“Come in, come in, Officer Spencer. Please, call me Helen. And you look fine, dear.”
Ginny followed her in, once more walking around several cats, all of whom appeared to be fascinated with her legs. Sitting on the sofa, she took out her pad, while shooing another cat from trying to play with her pen.
“So, I understand you saw something else last night? Helen, I have to say that it would be helpful if you would call suspicious activity in right away so that we can come out and possibly catch whoever you see.”
“I didn’t want to get anyone out of bed unless I knew it was a crime,” Helen protested, fluffing another flowered housedress around her ankles. “And bein’ it’s a Saturday morning, I figured the police might be sleeping late.”
“Ma’am, there’s a direct line that feeds into an all-night dispatcher for the town and the county of North Heron. You can call anytime.”
Settling back against the chair cushions, Helen smiled as she absentmindedly rubbed a cat. “Well, that’s nice, isn’t it?”
“So…last night?” Ginny prompted.
“Oh, yes,” Helen exclaimed. “Well, you see, this time I was awoken about one a.m.”
“Did you hear a noise?”
“Oh, no. I had to go tinkle.”
Pen poised over her pad, Ginny halted as she looked up, eyebrows raised.
Disturbing a cat in her lap as she giggled, Helen said, “You know, my dear, at my age, I have to get up to use the bathroom several times during the night. Older women have a hard time holding on to their pee.”
Nodding, as she once more slapped the official cop-face on, Ginny said, “Go on, please.”
“Well,” Helen said, leaning forward, her eyes bright, “my bathroom faces the back of the house and so the little window there looks to the backyard of my back neighbor. There were some clouds so we didn’t have as much moonlight, but they have a small light outside their back door. I knew no one was home—”
“Are they rentals also?”
“Oh, no. That’s the Masterson’s home. They live there, but left town two days ago. Their daughter is having a baby and they’re spending a few days in Norfolk. Their daughter is married to some military type man and I think he might be gone right now, so the Masterson’s wanted to be with her. It is so hard when the husband isn’t around for the birth. I, myself, never married, but I have quite a few nieces and nephews that I stay in contact with, and a couple of them have married men in the Navy. I suppose that makes sense with the Naval base in Norfolk—”
“Last night, Helen,” Ginny prodded.
“Yes, yes. I saw a little movement and when I looked out my window, I could see a man standing just in the shadow of their back porch, peeking in the window. And what bothered me, was they have added on to the back of their house and made a first-floor master bedroom, since Jim had his back surgery a few years ago. And that was just where the man was peeking!”
Leaning back as though exhausted from her tale, Helen smiled at Ginny, who tried to hide her sigh. “Okay, can you describe the man? What made you think he was a man? How was he dressed? You know, like you did the other day.”
“Hmm, well, he was once again dressed in all black. Long sleeved shirt and pants. Um…” she tapped her chin, “he was standing on the porch so his head was much taller at the window. He was looking into the upper part of the windowpane. And his hands were cupped together around his face again.”
“How long did he stay?”
“Well, from the time I saw him, I’d say he was there about another minute before he took off between the houses at the side and I couldn’t see him anymore.”
“Helen, you must call the police if you see suspicious activity in the future. We have a better chance of catching him if we are called right away.”
Frowning, Helen’s shoulders slumped. Rubbing another cat, she sighed. “I know…it’s hard living alone, you know.”
Ginny cocked her head to the side, waiting for Helen to continue.
“You see, I get along with my neighbors, but when you live alone…and with so many pets, I know people can get an idea that I might be a little…uh…batty.”
Laying her pen down, Ginny smiled at the older woman. “Oh, Mrs. Collins, I don’t think you’re batty at all.”
Helen’s grey eyes brightened as she looked up at Ginny. “Thank you, my dear. I know what I saw, but once he ran off I began to doubt myself. Was I dreaming? Are my eyes deceiving me? Will anyone believe me?” Sighing once more, she said, “Both times, I had to convince myself that it was the right thing to do to call the police.”
Standing, Ginny agreed, “Ma’am, if you see anything suspicious, I want you to call the police immediately. You’re a good neighbor and we want to keep Baytown safe.”
Accepting a hug from the older woman, Ginny walked between the houses to the back of the Masterson’s residence, wondering if there would be any evidence to collect.
By the time Brogan descended the spiral stairs to the ground floor, he found his group of friends to be quietly staring at him, all with smiles on their faces. With narrow eyes, he groused, “What the hell y’all looking at?”
Katelyn walked over, sliding her arm around his waist. “Just nice to see you smiling…well, before you immediately turned back into a sour-puss.”
Glaring at her, he looked at Aiden’s huge grin and said, “Shouldn’t you be working? We got people to feed around here.”
Aiden walked past Brogan, shoulder bumping him on his way back to the bar. “Ease up, Bro. Everyone here has your back.”
Hating to be the object of his friends’ attention, he glanced at the group, seeing Mitch and Grant still sitting with Tori and Jillian. Turning to Mitch, he asked, “Who’d you send Ginny out with? Sam or Burt?”
Mitch shook his head. “Neither. Sam’s off and Burt’s got the evening shift.”
Planting his beefy hands on his hips, Brogan pierced his old friend with his stare. “So, Ginny’s out answering a call by herself?”
The others looked on in wide-eyed shock as Mitch squared off with Brogan. “I know how to run my de
partment, Brogan. If she needs assistance, she calls for it. She may be a woman, but she’s still an officer, with the same duties and responsibilities that the rest of us have.”
Brogan took a breath, his anger becoming palpable as his face reddened. “Well, Chief Evans—”
“Brogan!” Katelyn called out, now pulling on his arm. “Let’s not say something we’ll regret!”
“Seriously, Katelyn? This ain’t no we thing…this is a me thing!”
“You know what I mean. Ginny’s fine and you need to get behind the bar with Aiden before he gives away too many drinks to some of the women in here.”
With one last glare, Brogan stalked away from the others, leaving them staring in awe in his wake.
“Damn,” Zac said. “I’ve never seen him like this.”
Grant squeezed Jillian’s waist and said, “It’s ‘bout time he finally makes the approach. He’s been eying Ginny ever since she’s been in town.”
Belle, standing to the side, said softly, “I don’t think it’s easy for either of them.” The group turned her way and she blushed as she added, “Sometimes the love we seek gets stuck on our past.”
6
Ginny stepped into the hot summer sun, crossing through Helen’s yard into the Masterson’s. She focused on the ground, but with the grass recently cut and the summer heat burning the green to brown, there was no evidence of footprints. As she approached the wooden back porch, she stood, staring at the back of the house. The porch ran three-quarters of the length, from the sliding glass door os the family room to the end of what Helen indicated was the master bedroom. Studying the porch, she saw no dusty footprints either.
Sighing, she carefully walked over to the sliding glass door, looking for clues that someone might have tried to break in. Leaning down, she studied the wooden doorframe, but noticed nothing. No marks in the wood. No attempted entry.
Stepping back, with her hands on her hips, she slid her gaze over the entire back of the house. Walking along the deck, she moved to the window Helen indicated the man had peered into. No footprints on the porch below. No evidence of attempted entry. Pulling out the fingerprint kit, she dusted the window. Nothing.
Helen had not been able to see clearly enough to say whether the man wore gloves, but with no other evidence, Ginny assumed he probably did.
Peeking through the window, she viewed the master bedroom, noting there were blinds on the window, but they were angled so that light shone through—and eyes would be able to see in. Ten feet further, at the end of the porch, was a higher window. Unable to see into it, she stood on her tiptoes enough to tell that it was probably the bathroom. Stepping back again, she shook her head, trying to see anything out of the ordinary.
“Officer, is something wrong?”
Startled, Ginny whirled around, seeing a middle-aged man standing in the next-door backyard, a hoe in his hand. “Hello,” she called out, walking toward him. Stopping a few feet from the fence border, she smiled at him. “I’m Officer Spencer and I’m checking out the Masterson’s home since they are out of town. Have you seen anyone back here that made you suspicious?”
“No, ma’am. I’m Jeffrey Teestor and if I saw someone back here besides the Mastersons, I’d have called the police.”
Chuckling, she nodded, and said, “That would be the right response. But one of your neighbors reported seeing a man on the back porch here last night, looking into the window. So, I’m just checking the house to see if I can find any evidence of a problem.”
His eyes jumped to his neighbor’s house before returning to Ginny’s face. “Did you find anything? Was there someone there?”
“No, sir, but I want to make sure. Have you seen anyone at the rental property behind your house…next to Mrs. Collins’ house?”
His eyes narrowed as he nodded slowly. “Mrs. Collins. Is she the one who reported seeing someone? Let me tell you, she’s a nice lady but, Officer, she lives alone with all those cats and I gotta tell you, I think she’d be the type who might need some attention, if you know what I mean.”
Not acknowledging his opinion of Helen, she continued, “So, you haven’t seen anyone suspicious?”
“This whole town has a bunch of rentals this time of year. There’re a lot visitors, so no way would I necessarily pay attention to someone I didn’t know. And, as I said before, if I did see someone suspicious, I’d sure as hell call the police.”
Thanking him, Ginny walked through the yard to the other neighbors and began knocking on doors. She found the same answers as Mr. Teestor’s—and several with the same opinion of Helen Collins.
Driving back to the station, she pondered the possibilities. Was Helen mistaken? If a man was not breaking and entering, was he scoping the area for future break-ins? Or just looking in bedrooms? And, if so, a probable motive snaked through her.
“So, is Mrs. Collins just an attention seeker?” Burt asked, looking across the table at Ginny. “I don’t like to doubt people, but so far, she’s the only one who saw anyone.”
Ginny realized Burt, Mitch, Sam, and Grant’s eyes were all focused on her. Sighing heavily, she shook her head slowly. “This sucks because I really want to believe her. Yes, she’s lonely. Yes, she’s kind of a stereotypical cat lady. But to completely ignore her could possibly lead to someone actually breaking into a home.”
“Or we could be just encouraging someone who takes up our services to have someone to talk to.”
“Just because we have no proof now doesn’t mean her concerns need to be dismissed!” Ginny argued, her frustration close to the surface.
Mitch nodded and said, “I agree. We need to be more vigilant. When on night patrol, keep your eyes and ears open. We don’t want to scare the townspeople but we need to make sure we don’t have someone scoping out places to break into.” Looking over at Ginny, he said, “Good work.”
“Just doing my job, Chief,” she replied, but a small smile curved the corners of her mouth.
“Next on the agenda,” Mitch continued, “is the block party hosted by Finn’s Pub. It’s in three weeks and we’ll need all hands on deck. It’ll bring in townspeople, people from the county, and visitors. I’ve got Sheriff Hudson and Chief Freeman coming as well.”
The others approved of the fellow law enforcement officers from the surrounding county and nearby town offering their assistance.
“Alcohol will be flowing,” Grant commented, “and that can add to people’s idiotic behavior.”
“Speaking from experience?” Sam joked.
Having the grace to blush, Grant nodded. “Oh, harsh, Sam, but yeah…I made plenty of mistakes in my younger days when drinking too much.”
They all chuckled before getting back to the reports. Mitch added, “The mayor, town council, and town manager have all signed off on the party, but make no mistake—one problem and they’ll be on us like white on rice.”
Sam reached over and started to take a donut, then hesitated before pulling his hand back empty. Seeing the lifted eyebrows all focused on him, he ducked his head, saying, “Wife’s got me watching my diet again. Cholesterol and blood pressure a bit high.” Rubbing his chin, he said, “Don’t worry, though. I’m not ready to retire yet.”
“Good to hear,” Mitch said.
As they finished their briefing, Grant called out, “Don’t forget the American Legion meeting tomorrow.”
Ginny nodded before stepping out into the parking lot. Her shift over, she relished her walk home on the tree-lined streets. Suddenly, she halted, the sight before her causing her to stumble.
Brogan was leaning against one of the patrol cars, one booted, jean-clad leg crossed over the other. His arms were crossed as well, straining his shirt sleeves. His eyes were covered with reflective sunglasses, but she felt the warmth of his stare nonetheless. As she approached, he slowly released his arms and slid his glasses from his face. She was right—his stare was sending more warmth her way than the sun. Sucking in a quick breath, her legs continued to move forward of
their own accord. The closer she got, the farther her head had to lean back. Sucking in her lips, she cocked her head to the side in silent question.
“Hey,” he said, his voice rough and yet soothing.
“Hey, yourself,” she smiled. “What are you doing here?”
“I thought I might walk you home from your shift.”
She watched as his cheeks reddened slightly and she smiled. “How do you know I walk home?”
Shrugging, he replied, “It’s a small town. Not hard to pick up on people’s habits. Sometimes you drive, but not usually.”
“Oh, you know all the work habits of the residents?” she joked.
Standing to his full height, he stepped closer, peering down at her. “No…just the ones that matter.”
“Oh…” Ginny blinked, a ribbon of pleasure unfurling about her.
“Is that okay?”
Stammering, she said, “Uh, is what okay?”
Brogan grinned, “That I walk you home.”
Nodding, she smiled. “I am a police officer, you know. I’m pretty sure I’m safe.”
“I’m sure you are, but I’d still like to walk with you.”
They held each other’s gazes for a moment, no words spoken, but with a longing that threatened to overtake them. Swallowing deeply, Ginny nodded. “Yes, you may walk me home.”
Dropping his chin to his chest, Brogan let out the breath he had been holding. Lifting his gaze to pierce her, his blue eyes locked on her hazel ones. With a grin, he replied, “Well, all right then.”
The town’s sidewalks were old and often cracked but Ginny felt as though she were floating along on a cloud. Staring straight ahead, she wondered what was happening. I’m a cop, not some teenager. Slanting her eyes, she looked over at Brogan, his normally taciturn expression softened. Unable to keep a chuckle from slipping out, she noted he jerked his gaze down to her.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “It’s just that I seemed to be unable to think of what to talk about.”
“Yeah, me too,” he admitted. They continued down the shaded sidewalk toward her house. “You could tell me about what’s going on in the police world of our big city,” he joked.
Finding Peace: Baytown Boys Page 5