“Oh!” She took a step back and glared accusingly at Kevin. “I thought you’d come alone.”
“I told you I was on duty,” he said.
“I know, but all the other cops ride around by themselves.”
“Ma’am, Officer Moore is still in probationary training status. You called him because you were concerned your ex followed you. Can you point to where you think he is?” She’d tried to set Kevin up with the call and he was damned if she was going to get away with it without a warning.
“Well, I don’t think he’s here anymore,” she said sullenly.
Right. “Just to be sure, do you mind stepping outside while we check your apartment?”
She glanced down. “I’m wearing my robe.”
“I understand that, ma’am, but to be sure he didn’t find a way to break in, I think we’d both feel better after we check your apartment. For your safety.” He paused. “Unless you made the call with the intention of luring Officer Moore here to seduce him in some way, in which case I’ll be forced to issue a citation for calling in a false police report.”
Her mouth fell open. “I didn’t call 9-1-1!”
“Ma’am, you called a duly sworn officer of the law, which is the same as prank calling 9-1-1 and carries the same penalties and fines.” He was laying it on thick, but it was the least she deserved.
She huffed. “Fine.” Holding her robe closed, she shouldered past him onto the walk. “Kevin can wait here with me.”
“Actually, Officer Moore needs to accompany me into the apartment.” He didn’t give her a chance to answer and gestured for Kevin to go ahead of him. “We’ll only be a moment.”
Closing the door behind them, he grinned.
“Duly sworn officer of the law?” Kevin asked.
“Aren’t you?”
“Yes, but who says that?”
Tim shrugged. “Cops on T.V.”
He glanced around and walked over to stand next to the small table set with wine glasses and freshly lit candles. “Looks like she had a nice dinner planned for the two of you.”
Kevin lifted a lid from a pot on the stove, then covered it back up. “Spaghetti. That would have been a problem.”
“You don’t like noodles?”
“I’m allergic to tomatoes.”
“We can always take her in for attempted murder,” Tim said.
Kevin grinned for the first time since he’d answered his phone. “I’ll keep that in my back pocket in case she doesn’t get the hint.”
“Your call. Think she’s stewed enough?”
“Let’s find out.” He took the lead this time and opened the door to a very angry woman.
“What took so long?” she asked. If she’d been wearing shoes, she might have stamped her foot.
“We had to make sure the apartment was secure and that there was no intruder inside.”
“Oh my god.” Still clutching her robe closed, she pushed past them into the apartment. “No one is hiding in my apartment.”
She closed the door partway and stood half behind it. “You can stay for dinner if you’d like,” she said, looking at Kevin.
Tim spoke before Kevin could. “We appreciate the offer, ma’am, but we’re still on shift and need to get back to real police calls. Next time, if you think your ex is hanging around and you’re worried about your safety, call 9-1-1 directly—they will ensure an available car is here quickly.”
