They’d stayed around while his friend worked and before they knew it, the sun was going down. At least they didn’t have to go out into the back alley since Mark; the construction friend of Cole’s, had boarded and barred the entry from both the outside, then the inside. It looked sturdy enough to withstand a tornado. The three had parted ways and Chloe left while Cole and Maeve locked up the front door.
“Shouldn’t we have some stickers or something on the windows and doors alerting people of the alarm system in place Cole?”
“That’s the usual practice but I was thinking, maybe we’d forget for a day or two, see if any unwanted company shows up again. I’d hate for the stickers to scare them off. I really want to catch those idiots and put them away for good.”
“I never thought about that.”
“So, where to mi ’lady?” Maeve was caught off guard, not understanding what he meant and stared at him in confusion.
“Your place or mine? It’s your choice.”
“Oh sorry, I hadn’t even thought that far. I was just getting comfortable having you around. If we stop off at the market before they close, we can go back to my place, and I’ll make us dinner.”
“Sounds like a plan, I never could turn down food.” Cole placed his arm around Maeve’s shoulders comfortably andbefore they knew it, the market was in view. Maeve glanced over her shoulder quickly.
“Did you see that?” She’d pointed in the direction of the Waterfront Market.
“What? Sorry I wasn’t paying any attention, what did you see?”
“I’m not sure. It looked like a dark figure along the side of the building. I’m getting this awful feeling like we’re being watched.”
“I hate that feeling. Come on, let’s get food and we’ll get back to your place.”
Cole hadn’t acted too concerned, maybe for her benefit but she just couldn’t shake that eerie stalker vibe. Too many weird things had gone on the last few days.
Sometime later, they walked out of the market with rice, fresh veggies and chicken for a stir fry. The walk back to her apartment wasn’t but a couple blocks and there were streetlights every twenty feet or so but the nagging feeling she’d been having of someone watching them hadn’t gone away. She even though she heard footsteps once or twice that she knew weren’t their own. Each time she glanced behind her, she saw nothing.
“Are you alright?”
Cole probably figured she was losing her mind. Maybe she was. “I’m okay I think; I just know there’s someone following us. I keep hearing footsteps and I’m sure I felt a rock hit my shoe just a minute ago.” She looked around the sidewalk where they’d stopped but there were no rocks anywhere.
Cole kept a firm grip on her hand but turned around and walked a few feet behind where they’d stopped as he scanned the bushes that lined the sidewalk.
“I don’t see anything but let’s hurry up and get you home and I’ll call Sheriff Masters and let him know what’s going on. I needed to check in anyway, so he knows we’re having the door fixed and what we’ve done with security in the shop.”
Cole turned them back around and they made quick work of walking the rest of the way to Maeve’s apartment. She felt much better once they were inside with the door closed and locked.
Chapter12
First things first, Cole dug out the sheriff’s card, called and told him everything that had happened since they’d seen him the night before. Once the door was installed tomorrow, the alarms would be activated and the cameras set to record. He’d also downloaded a link so he and Maeve could both view the camera at any time on their cell phones. Maeve kept herself busy in the kitchen with dinner and by the time Cole finished his conversation, Maeve had set the table.
While they ate, Cole rehashed what he’d gone over with the sheriff.
“Do they have any idea yet who did this or why?”
Cole shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. There were no prints left behind on anything. Guess they were smart enough to leave their gloves on while they did whatever they did. Without fingerprints or any security tapes, they have no way to track anything. I only wish someone else along the strip had a camera on the outside, but I already looked.”
“The alley is so dark; would it have picked up anything anyway? I don’t want anybody to break in again but maybe now with our cameras recording, we’ll catch something if they do.”
“My thoughts exactly Maeve. Dinner was great by the way.” Cole rose to clear the table before she could get a chance.
“Don’t bother, the dishes will wait til tomorrow, I’m just wore out tonight. I’ll get you some fresh sheets and a blanket for the couch.” Maeve went straight to the linen closet in the hall. She caught Cole staring at her with a grin. She blushed.
“I suppose I shouldn’t have assumed you’d be staying again tonight. I’m sorry.”
Cole rushed to her before she could shut the door.
“No, you were right to assume. I won’t leave you alone til all this is done. I do have to go to work tomorrow though so I’ll be getting up pretty early. I’ll only be a phone call away if you need anything, unless I’m at a fire of course but I’ll leave my buddy Kamryn’s number on the counter. He’s off tomorrow.”
