I know this because I still have Buster and Fletch checking in on her occasionally. They keep their distance from her house so as not to invade her privacy, but when she’s out, I prefer that they keep a visual.
Am I overprotective? Heavy-handed? Yes, without a doubt.
But it’s hard to have remorse for my protectiveness when they call to tell me she’s having car trouble on the freeway going toward Fair Heights.
“Should we help her?” Fletch asks.
“No, I’ll be right there. Can you keep watch without her being aware?”
“Yeah, there’s an overpass nearby.”
“Okay, I’ll be there soon. Drop me the geolocation.”
Fifteen minutes later, I pull up behind Madison’s old car. Traffic whizzes past on the freeway. Luckily, there’s a generous shoulder. I watch her physically lock her car as I step forward, but then she unlocks it and opens her door when she sees it’s me.
“I thought that was you.” I smile and lean down to talk to her so she doesn’t have to get out of the car.
She gives me a suspicious, yet relieved, look. “What are you doing here?”
“I could say the same.” I gesture to the hood. “What seems to be the trouble?”
“No idea. Are you a mechanic?”
I laugh. “No. But I can whisk you away from here and send someone to tow your car.”
“I already have a service on the way.” She pauses. “But I don’t have to be here for that.”
I hold out my arm. “Let’s go.”
“What about…” She gestures at the freeway as she gets out of her car. “What about whatever you’re doing? Aren’t you busy?”
“I can reschedule.” I open my passenger door for her and she slides into the seat. “Where do you need to be?”
“Fenton Financials. But seriously, Damiano, I can call for a ride.” She raises her eyebrows. “I’m not helpless, you know.”
“I know you aren’t helpless. But I can be free to spend time with you. Besides, I’m friends with Marguerite Fenton and I wouldn’t mind saying hello.”
As we start driving, Madison purses her lips. “I still find it a bit suspicious you just happened to show up when I need help. Again. You don’t still have guards watching me, do you?”
“No, of course not.” The lie comes easily, even though I hate lying to her. Unfortunately, it’s better to lie and keep her protected, than to tell the truth and have her unsafe. She won’t accept my protection if I tell her the truth. “Why do you ask?”
“Because I’ve felt like…weird, lately.”
“Weird how?”
“Like I’m being watched.” She laughs. “I think it’s because of that stupid burglary. Everything is fine, the guy is in jail. I just can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right. I swore I saw a face in my window a couple of nights ago. But I just imagined it. Super embarrassing, but I still had security lights installed yesterday, and I’ll get an alarm system, too.”
“Good.”
Fenton Financials is housed inside an old adobe building in downtown Fair Heights. I walk in with Madison. Once she gives her name at the front desk, I offer to sit in the generous waiting area until her meeting is over.
“Actually.” She gives me a hopeful smile. “I’m not helpless, but I know nothing about managing money. Since you’re here, would you mind coming into the meeting with me?”
“Not at all.”
“Ms. Greene?” A brown-haired man around my age steps out of the hall and strides toward Madison, his eyes greedily devouring her, from her knee-length skirt to her curve-hugging t-shirt. He holds out a hand to shake hers. “I’m Raymond Glaffort, and it’s very nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too.” Madison offers him a pleasant smile, but it’s nothing like the smiles she gives to me. After a too-long handshake, she extracts her fingers from his.
