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The officer glanced at Lucy, the slingshot, and over to the shattered window. His mouth dropped in an exact replica of the boy’s. “What happened, Simon?”
Tears spilled down the boy’s face. “It was my rock.”
The towering cop briefly closed his eyes. “Apologies for my son. I’m Jeff Lawson, Chief of Police here in Confluence.”
“Chief Lawson, I’m William,” he replied
“This is Lucy.”
“Call me Jeff.”
Lucy sat taller. “It’s my car.”
“Ma’am.” Jeff bowed his head slightly and surveyed her oozing knee. “I’ll see to the window repair, and that knee may need stitches. Real sorry for my boy.”
“I’ll be fine. It’s just a small cut. But my window…” She waved her hand toward the car.
“I know a guy who’ll replace it.” He pulled out a cell phone and tapped in a few numbers. With only a few words, he arranged for an on-site fix and then shoved it in his pocket. “He’s on his way. I’ll deal with my son and be right back.” He snatched the slingshot with one hand and the back of Simon’s collar with the other. “C’mon.”
Simon mouthed “Sorry” over his shoulder and tripped along beside his father. The dog trotted after them, cheerful and oblivious. While Simon climbed in the front seat, Jeff opened the back for the dog and slammed the door before climbing into the driver’s side.
William eyed Lucy and sat beside her as the cop drove away.
“I can’t believe a kid broke my window.” She bit at her thumbnail.
“Is there someone we can call for you?” he asked.
“No one.” Something a whole lot like disappointment flickered across her face.
“Then I’ll stick around. I don’t mind.” Not like he had anywhere else to be at the moment, given his lack of housing prospects. Besides, he was a moth to her flame, or some craziness like that.
She glanced to him, her gaze flicking to his lips, and the air around them went heavy. The blood in his veins pulsed uneven.
“Thank you,” she said.
The moment broken, she dug through her purse and tugged free a makeup compact. A giant black smudge of asphalt darkened her cheek. The clip had dislodged from her pinned-up hair so loose waves fell down her back. He liked it better down.
A glance in the mirror, and she grimaced.
She went back to rummaging through her purse and a small note fell beside his arm. He reached for the paper and began to hand it back when he caught the words and paused.
Camelot Garden Estates
First left at the Confluence exit…
Funny, he had been all over town today and hadn’t thought of Camelot Gardens. That rundown neighborhood still existed? The lady who owned a bunch of property there used to drive his father crazy during his years on the city council, opposing him on everything. If she was still around, maybe she held a grudge?
Lucy wiped the cut on her knee, removed the tabs from a Band-Aid, and stuck it on.
“Do you know someone who lives at Camelot Gardens?” he asked.
Her features turned guarded, and she paused longer than necessary. “I have a friend who used to live there.”
“Yeah? So do I.”
Camelot Gardens was so rundown, it was an awful idea for him to stay there.
Then again, this idea was better than no idea.
