In full detective-mode, Eric pulled a small notepad and pen from his pocket. He clicked open the pen and asked, “What do you know?”
Derek opened his mouth to answer but didn’t get the chance.
“It’s my fault,” Charlie spoke up.
Both men’s attention landed on her.
“No,” Derek argued. “It’s not.”
Charlie looked at him pointedly. “It is, and you know it.”
It only took one large stride, and Derek was standing right in front of her. With his hands holding the tops of her arms, he tried to convince her she was wrong.
“No, Charlie. I don’t know that. And neither do you. This wasn’t Caleb, so get that idea out of your head. Okay?”
“Okay.”
She’d agreed, but Derek knew she thought otherwise. As the two brothers began walking around the car, he convinced himself he hadn’t just lied to the woman he loved.
He went through the night’s events with Eric as the other officer on the scene took pictures of the damage. Derek got out his phone and did the same, knowing the insurance company would need them.
Several customers returned to their own cars, taking a few extra seconds to gawk at the flashing lights and what was left of his car. Thankfully, none of them interfered.
A few minutes later, a truck pulled in and parked at an angle beside the police cars. Clearly upset, Trevor got out and walked over to them.
“What the hell happened?”
Derek tipped his chin toward his car. “Someone did a number on Charlie.”
Charlie’s ears perked up. Blinking, she stared back at him with confusion. “What?”
“Not you.” Eric smiled as he squatted down to look at one slashed tires. “The car.”
Charlie’s eyes flew to Derek’s. “You named your car after me?”
Embarrassment threatened to sink in, but he simply smiled back at her and shrugged. “Yeah.”
See, baby? I really have been thinking of you all this time.
When Trevor spoke up again, he sounded pissed. “Those cameras were supposed to be installed a week ago.”
“What cameras?” Eric asked.
A muscle in Trevor’s jaw bulged before he growled, “Security cameras.”
“Were there not any when Lexi first opened?” Derek was surprised Trevor had allowed Lexi to park back here without solid, working cameras.
“There were.” Trevor nodded. “But they got fried during the storm that came through a couple of weeks ago. I personally called the company that next morning and ordered a whole new setup. Then, I called again the other day when Lexi informed me they hadn’t been by to put them in yet.”
“Damn.” Derek rubbed the back of his neck.
“I’ll be back.”
Trevor went inside, presumably to talk to Lexi, while Eric questioned Derek more about what had happened.
“Was there anyone else out here when you and Charlie got back here?”
“No. Everyone else was still in the restaurant. I’m not even sure how long the fuckin’ alarm was goin’ off before I noticed it.”
