I wanted more than that. Needed to understand the woman who was gentle with animals and fierce on that pole. Wanted to figure out how those two sides fit together.
Here's what I knew: I couldn't ask her out now. Not after seeing her like that. She'd think it was only because I'd seen her half-naked, that I just wanted one thing.
No.
I'd handle the security situation first. Keep her safe. Then—once that was settled—I'd ask her out properly. Do it right.
Judge's tail swept the floor once.
"Yeah," I muttered to the ceiling. "I know."
***
I was at the Highway 81 building the next morning by seven a.m.
The pawn shop was just opening. The guy behind the counter barely looked up. "Help you, Sheriff?"
"Got a report of suspicious activity. Mind if I check upstairs?"
He shrugged. "Exercise studio up there. Knock yourself out."
I climbed the interior stairs. Noted every detail. Worn treads. Broken steps. One working bulb. Loose railing that wobbled under my hand.
At the top, a door with a cheap brass handle.
I tried it.
The door swung open.
My jaw clenched so hard my teeth ached.
The lock was broken. Mechanism stripped. Anyone could walk through this door.
Last night, while she'd been teaching, while her back was to this door, anyone could have walked up these stairs.
I pulled out my phone. Documented everything. The lock. The stairwell. No cameras. Poor lighting. No secondary security.
Then I headed to the hardware store. An hour later, I had a cart full of equipment. Commercial deadbolt. Wireless camera with night vision. Motion-sensor light.
The clerk rang it up without comment.
I loaded everything into my truck and sat there.
I could install this myself. Fix the problem. Keep her safe.
But that was the wrong move. Installing security without her knowledge. Making decisions without asking.
That's what assholes did. Men who thought they knew better. Men who took over.
No.
I'd go back tomorrow night—Saturday. See if the building was lit, if she was teaching. If she was, I'd wait until her studentsleft and tell her face-to-face. "I was patrolling Thursday night. Saw you teaching. Saw someone in the alley. Your security's terrible. Let me help."
Direct. Honest. Gave her the choice.
And if she shut me down, at least I'd have tried.
But I'd still patrol that block.
