Carlisle was all lit up for the holidays.Snowflake decorations hung from the light poles and angels graced the square.All the lampposts were decorated with garlands and lights, and the tree at the old courthouse shone with brightly colored, old-fashioned-looking lights.A few wisps of snow fluttered down around him.He smiled and headed west out of town, where darkness still held sway.He pulled into the parking lot and found a spot, getting out and hurrying inside as the snow began falling in earnest.
He smiled and signed in as colleagues said good morning.Once he got to his desk, he checked on the things he needed to do and got right out onto the floor, where some of the systems had been having issues.It took him a few minutes to find the cause, and he replaced a couple of cords that had gotten worn.
“Thanks, Harm,” Annette said as she got back to work, waiting for the scanning guns to finish their downloads before passing them out to her team, who got their order sheets and began the picking process.
Harm checked his iPad and went on to the next issue.Everyone had to work together in order to keep the place running.That was what he had been taught in the service, and he continued that attitude here.Orders needed to go out, and that meant he needed to help keep everyone functioning.
As a general rule, cell phones were not allowed out in the warehouse, but Harm had been granted an exception.A message came in from Derek that he had arrived at the library without issue.He sent a quick response back before getting down on the floor, finding where a cord had been severed.He returned to the office, got another, and then located the exact issue and replaced the broken part.Another department back up and running.
Once his morning issues were resolved, Harm returned to the office above the warehouse floor, where he met briefly with his supervisor and updated, then closed, the work tickets.
“Plenty to do,” Gavin said as they met over coffee.
Harm pulled out his phone.“Yes.But I’m up to date.What do you need me to do next?”
“Just keep everything running.That’s all we can do this time of the year.There aren’t going to be any software updates or system changes.Those will be put on hold until after the new year.So we keep everything functioning, make note of any systemic-type issues we find, and get them reported so they can be fixed after the first of the year.If you have time, there are training courses that you can take, but it’s the holiday season, so something is always waiting to cause trouble.”Gavin sipped his coffee, and Harm did the same before he received a message that there was an issue in the loading department.Harm finished his coffee and left the office, heading out to the far side of the facility.
AFTER FIELDINGa number of issues, by lunch Harm was running on empty.The cafeteria was buzzing, but he ate alone, reading one of the books on signing.The lunch was okay but nothing to write home about.Still, he finished what he was doing and threw away his trash before heading out, saying hello to Belle and the others.
“How are you getting along?”Belle asked as he passed.
“Good.I’m learning a lot and getting settled into the job.How are you?Do you have big holiday plans?”He was getting the hang of signing, and the thing was, it was beginning to click.Even when he didn’t know a sign, he was beginning to logically fill in the blanks.He didn’t always get it right, but many times he did, and that was really rewarding.
“I’m visiting with my family.You’d be welcome if you wanted to join us.”Belle’s offer was really sweet.
“Thank you.I’m still figuring things out.”He smiled and thanked her again before heading out to shipping to handle an issue they’d just reported.
Life was indeed good.He fixed their issue and got them up and running again in half an hour.He checked in with Derek and got a thumbs-up that he was okay.Then he made sure he was out of the way of the busy staff and returned to the office, where he completed paperwork on all the things he had done and the incidents he’d closed.
By the end of a very long day, Harm was exhausted and his legs felt like lead.He swore he had walked miles.And he had to get up the next day and do it all again.Checking the time, he clocked out and pulled on his outdoor gear before going to his truck and heading out for the evening.He drove to the library and hurried inside.Derek wasn’t behind his desk, and Harm looked through the library before taking a moment to write a note and hand it to one of the ladies.“Derek left about fifteen minutes ago.He figured you were working late and wanted to get home.He said that he’d text once he arrived.”She checked her phone.“Maybe he forgot.”She sent a text, but Harm didn’t stand around waiting for a reply.He hurried back out to the truck and drove the route Derek usually took home.
He kept a lookout for him but didn’t see Derek walking.Harm drove as quickly as he dared and turned the corner near Derek’s home before pulling up out front.He sent Derek a message and got out of the truck, knocking firmly on the door.He watched his phone to see if he got a response but didn’t see anything.Harm knocked again and was about to head into the back when the door opened.
“Harm.”
He lunged at Derek, holding him tightly, letting the fear that had threatened to overwhelm him ease away.He wanted to ask a billion questions, but for the moment, holding him was enough.
“Come inside,” Derek told him.Harm closed the door behind him and held out his phone.“Oh.I dropped mine and it stopped working.I didn’t realize until I got home.I need to go in tomorrow and get a new one.”
Harm met him with a steely gaze.“You scared me.”
“I’m sorry.I wanted to get home.I was tired, and I didn’t know how long you were going to be.I told Connie where I was going.”
Harm rolled his eyes.“Please don’t walk home alone.William could be watching, or he could decide to hurt you.”At least Derek was okay, but Harm’s heart still pounded at the thought of him being hurt… or worse.
“I’m okay.I spoke with Connie today, and she said that if William came in, she would do her best to try to listen in.But of course he could always come in on her day off.I get what you’re thinking, but I have to make sure there is a way for him to incriminate himself.That’s the real point here.Get William to say something that we can use against him.”
“Yes, it is.But the point is also to keep you safe, and that isn’t going to happen if you walk home alone.What if he had confronted you, or what if…?”Harm paused with his fingers over the letters on his phone because he didn’t want to write the words.They were too frightening to say.He pressed Send and hoped Derek got the idea.
“I don’t think William is actually going to hurt me,” Derek explained.
“Why would you think that?He threw dead stuff into your yard, and he….”Harm sighed.“He isn’t right in his head.He thinks you’re in love with him, and he can’t understand why you don’t just do what he wants.”Harm was getting frustrated, and he jabbed at his phone with his fingers.“I just want you to be safe.I was scared half to death that something might have happened to you on the way home.”
Derek read the message.
“You’re way too nice and too kind.You see the goodness in just about everyone.Even me, when I came into the library, dressed to kill people, as you put it.You were the only one who didn’t hide when I came in.And you were the one who helped me and found out what was going on.”He pressed Send.“I didn’t even see myself, and yet you saw me for me.William doesn’t see you.He sees what he wants to see, and that’s scary.Reality has very little to do with his world.And I don’t want you to get hurt.”Harm sent the last message, and Derek nodded slowly.
“Okay.I won’t walk home alone again.And I’ll call from the library if I have issues with my phone.I can always leave a voicemail, but at least you’ll know I’m okay.”Derek hugged him tightly.“I’m sorry I scared you.”Harm put his arms around him, holding Derek tightly, relieved that there was nothing wrong.“I really am sorry.”
