I turn and look. I hadn’t even noticed it before. It’s small and black and blends in with the metal pole near the edge of the parking lot. It’s pointed directly at the stairs that lead up to my place.
“I’m just finishing the wiring on this one,” he adds. “Adding another light in the alley too.”
“Dave, you don’t have to go through the headache of all this.”
He studies me for a second. “Is it true? That someone grabbed you out here one night?”
I hesitate. “Yeah.”
His jaw tightens.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to make it into a bigger deal than it was.”
I still haven’t told Cooper about how Caleb thinks someone might’ve messed with my car. I’ve been trying to brush it off, pretend it’s nothing.
“The pole camera’s already recording,” Dave says. “Covers the stairs and most of the lot. If anyone comes near your car or those steps again, we’ll have it.”
Something in my chest settles hearing that.
“He came in here ready to break something,” Dave adds. “I’ve known the Rowdens my whole life. Known Coop since he was a kid. I’ve never seen him that worked up.”
I don’t know how to respond.
“He shouldn’t have had to be the one to tell me,” Dave says. “You deserve to feel safe here. This is your home and where you work.”
I nod. How do I tell him I’ve never felt safe anywhere I’ve lived?
Well, aside from the brief time I stayed on Cooper’s family farm. I knew it was only for a short time, so I didn’t even let myself get used to the feeling.
As Dave climbs back up the ladder to finish securing the siding unit, I glance across the lot again at the camera mounted on the pole, already watching.
“Hey… Dave,” I call, pausing by my car.
He looks over at me.
“Thanks,” I say, quieter now. “For doing this. I appreciate it.”
He nods once. “You just worry about yourself, all right?”
I give him a small nod before opening my door.
I glance down the alley one more time. Nothing looks different from the way it did yesterday. I slide into the driver’s seat and sit there for a few minutes, then pull out of the parking lot and head toward campus.
I’m still about thirty minutes early for class. I reach for my phone and type out a message to Cooper. He’s probably eating breakfast, with his game later tonight.
Me: You went to Dave?
It doesn’t take him long to answer.
Cooper: Does that surprise you?
I shake my head and type back.
Me: Why didn’t you tell me you talked to him about putting in cameras?
Cooper: I was going to.
