He wasn’t sure if it was good news or not, but he couldn’t think about that until they had the footage.“The camera in Harmony’s hallway.Did it show anything from today?From the break-in?”
“Shit, I didn’t think about it.Hold on,” Jude said.
Damien tapped his finger on the edge of the table while he waited for Jude to scroll through the footage.They agreed that for the first day or two, Jude would keep digging into things instead of staying the night with them, but depending on how it went, he was available to move in and help protect Harmony.
“Found it,” Jude said.
Damien lifted his gaze to Harmony’s.Her eyes were wide.“Sent it to me.”
“Already sent.Can’t see a face, but my guess is male, about six-two.White from the little bit of skin I can see.Going in and coming out, but head is down on both.Could he have known about the camera?”
“Have we figured out who put the camera there?”
“No.But I’ll try to dig into that now.”
“Thanks, Jude.”
“Stay safe.”
“Yep.”Damien hung up and pulled up the videos Jude sent him.He got up and set the phone in front of Harmony before he pressed play on the first video.
The person walked up from the stairs, turned toward Harmony’s apartment, and went right to her door.He paused at the door, then opened it as if he had a key and was allowed to be in there.Then he disappeared.
“Do you recognize that person?”Damien asked.
Harmony shook her head slowly.“I don’t think so, but I couldn’t see their face.Something is familiar, but I don’t know what it is.”
“There’s a second video of them leaving.Let’s watch that.”Damien pulled it up and tapped play.
The person walked back into the hallway, not bothering to close the door.He didn’t appear to be carrying anything, but he was moving quickly, as if something sent him running.He hurried toward the stairs and disappeared from view.
“Do you think he works in the building?”
Harmony shook her head.“The maintenance man is shorter than that and heavier.He comes through a few times a year to change smoke alarm batteries and filters and lightbulbs and stuff like that.I know it’s not him.”
“Are there any other employees?Anyone who would have access to your unit?”
“No.No one.I mean, in theory, there’s probably someone who has a key, but not that I can think of.I don’t know why that man seems familiar to me.”
“Maybe from work?Could he be a student?A professor?Someone you know from the grocery store or a place you go to eat or?—?”
“Oh my God.He was one of the men who broke into Pickens Systems Inc.He was the one with the gun.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded, her eyes wide with fear.They filled with tears that spilled over her cheeks.“I know it was him.I remember watching how he was moving.He found me.He knows where I live.”
“He’s not going to get to you, Harmony.I will keep you safe.Nothing is going to happen to you here.I promise.”Damien kneeled on the floor in front of her and held her tight, letting her cry all over him until she stopped shaking.
She pulled back and wiped her nose and eyes.“Now I know why people don’t report crimes they witness.It makes them a target.I’m never going to be safe.”
“Yes, you will be.And I’m going to make sure of it.I will find this man.And I will stop him.You did the right thing.He fucked up when he thought he could come after you and get away with it.”
Thirteen
Harmony staredat Damien and the only thought that ran through her head wasI want this man.His defense of her, his insistence that he would keep her safe, his kindness toward her… She would be a fool to not want him.
And she was no fool.
