“Be good,” she told the cats before yanking the front door open. She hit the button on the bottom lock as she pushed the screen open.
After closing the door, she turned, stopping suddenly when she saw the man who’d stopped halfway up her walkway.
“Hey,” Simon greeted.
“I’m sorry. I’ve gotta go,” she told him as she hurried down the steps. “The sheriff called. My store. It’s… Someone…”
Simon was already walking back to his car, opening the passenger side door. “I know. That’s why I’m here. Let me drive you.”
That simple gesture caused tears to form. She tried to blink them back. “How did…?”
“We saw the red and blue lights from the B and B,” he explained. “When I saw it was your store, I figured you would wanna go check it out.”
“Thanks,” she whispered, swallowing the thick knot of emotion lodged in her throat.
Simon guided her into the car. She let him. It was easier that way.
“Someone broke in,” she explained when he was backing out of the driveway.
“Does that happen often?”
She shook her head. “Only once since I’ve taken over the building.”
“Who was it?”
“Kids. Teenagers. Mostly just damage. They stole a few tools from the hardware store.”
Violet remembered all the glass that they’d shattered. It had taken weeks before she stopped finding small pieces in the store.
“And tonight?” he prompted. “Was it kids?”
Violet shrugged, although she already suspected who it was, and if she was right, no, it wasn’t kids who’d violated her space.
They sat quietly as Simon drove to town. As soon as the square came into view, she saw the flashing lights on top of the cop cars. There were a few bystanders, some in the park, others on the sidewalk by the General Store. Summer Jameson, the managing editor of theCoyote Ridge Gazette,was there, too. This would be front page news come tomorrow morning.
Simon parked in the middle of the street and turned off the car.
“I’ll wait here,” he told her.
Violet frowned as she reached for the door handle. “You’re not comin’?”
“I figured you’d want to deal with it. If you want me to, I will.”
“Yes,” she blurted. “Please.”
If she wasn’t mistaken, that was relief she saw on his face as he got out of the car.
She hurried out, walking around the car to meet him at the front. In an effort to calm herself, she reached for his hand, linking their fingers as they walked toward the bookstore. Despite the fact her nerves were rioting, Simon made her feel safe. As though she didn’t have to do this alone. Since she was used to doing most things alone—difficult or not—it was nice to know someone was there for her.
“Sheriff,” she greeted when Jeff Endsley walked over.
“Violet. Simon,” he said, tipping his hat. “Looks like someone threw a brick through the door, unlocked it, and walked inside.”
At least they hadn’t shattered the plate glass window. She knew from experience that it was expensive to replace.
“Was anything taken?” Simon asked the sheriff.
“That’s what we need Violet to determine.” Sheriff Endsley looked at her. “We’ve cleared the building, so if you wouldn’t mind walkin’ through. Let me know what’s missin’, and we’ll add it to the report.”
