Chapter 11
Tim turned out of the parking lot of the retirement home where he and Kevin had finished a courtesy call.
“How often do you do this?” Kevin asked.
“I try to stop by at least a couple times a month.”
“Why?”
He glanced at his young partner. “My grandfather had to go into a home after my grandmother passed away. He had mobility issues and wasn’t able to take care of himself. It was really depressing seeing all the other people who didn’t have anyone visiting them, so I started spending as much time with other residents as I could. I kept doing it after he died.”
“That’s really cool. Both sets of grandparents passed away when I was young, so I never knew them very well.”
Kevin’s cell phone rang. Glancing at it, he sighed but answered. “Officer Moore…I told you I wasn’t able to today…Call 9-1-1 and let them know you think he’s there…I don’t know if we’ll answer the call…All right, I’ll see what I can do.”
He hung up and looked at Tim. “Do you remember that girl from the domestic disturbance a few weeks ago? The one I gave my card to?”
The hairs on the back of Tim’s neck stood up. “Yes.”
“She’s been calling non-stop. I haven’t encouraged her and I keep trying to put her off, but she won’t stop calling. Somehow she found out what gym I go to and she got a membership there. I’ve even seen her a few times in the grocery store. She swears it’s coincidence, but it’s too random.”
“Okay…” Tim wasn’t sure where Kevin was going with the conversation.
“That was her. She said she thinks her ex is outside her apartment and she doesn’t feel safe.”
“What do you think?” He glanced at Kevin who shrugged and shook his head.
“I don’t know. I told her if she really felt unsafe to call 9-1-1, but what if she’s telling the truth and he does something?”
Tim understood Kevin’s frustration. “It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Call dispatch and let them know we’re heading over there. See if she called the non-emergency line since nothing has come over the radio.”
Kevin picked up the handset and called in to the station as Tim turned in the direction of the apartment complex. Dispatch confirmed they hadn’t received a call from that address or number. Kevin was tense in the seat next to him, rubbing his palms up and down his thighs.
“This is why you told me not to give out my personal number, isn’t it?”
“It’s one of the reasons.”
“What should I do?”
“Let’s see how she acts when we arrive. You may not have to do anything. You may have to be blunt and tell her you’re not interested and not to call you anymore.”
“Man, I hate confrontation.”
Tim’s lips quirked up. “Kevin—you’re a cop. Confrontation is kind of your job.”
“Exactly. It’s my job and I can be confrontational with a suspect if I have to be because that’s what I’m supposed to do. I hate personal confrontation. I don’t like disappointing people.”
“Can’t make everyone happy, especially if you’re not happy.”
“Maybe…but I can pretend to be happy if everyone else is happy.”
Tim glanced at his young trainee out of the corner of his eye as he pulled into the apartment complex. Was something else going on in his life that he needed to be concerned about? Personal issues and depression could affect cops on the job, skewing their reactions to certain situations. He’d have to remember to talk to Kevin’s next training officer.
He put the car in park and shut off the engine. “Ready?”
Kevin inhaled. “Yeah. Let’s get this over with.”
They exited the vehicle and followed the path up to the apartment. Kevin followed and Tim understood he didn’t want to take the lead. He knocked sharply on the door. Ashley opened it slowly, revealing that she wore a short slinky robe and a lacy bra and panties. As soon as she saw Tim, she straightened up and pulled the robe around her.
