The criminal held a hand to his face as blood dripped from his nose. The glaze over his eyes told me he was on drugs.
“You broke my nose!” he spat.
A police cruiser pulled up to the curb. Detective McNally exited his car, offered me a nod, and went over to the thief, who now leaned against a tree.
“He fuckin’ broke my nose!” the criminal repeated.
“Next time I’ll break your damn fingers too,” I retorted. “Don’t take what doesn’t belong to you. Got that?” I grabbed the scattered belongings from the ground and placed them back into the purse.
“Not another word from you.” Detective McNally cuffed him. “I’ve got a bunch of calls from witnesses describing what you did. Ballsy of you to steal in the middle of the day with all these people around.” He shoved the asshole into the police cruiser.
“You okay?” Godfrey walked over with Eva’s grandfather.
Something about him looked familiar, but I didn’t know what.
“I’m fine.”
“I have a meeting to attend. You good?”
“Go. I’ll catch up with you later.”
Eva’s grandfather rushed up to her, looking terrified. “Did he hurt you, sweetheart?”
“No, I’m all right.” She placed a hand on his back, rubbing slowly. “Areyouokay, Grandpa? Do you need to sit down?”
“Don’t you worry about me.” Her grandfather waved a dismissive hand and turned to me. “Thank you for helping my granddaughter.” He stared at me for a long moment. “You saved the day.”
I gave Eva her purse back. “You should check to see if everything’s there.”
She looked at me. “Thanks for your help. Are you allright?” She glanced at my clenched fist that still wanted to pound the asshole.
Relaxing my hands, I said, “I’m okay. Are you?” I gave her a once-over, and she appeared fine.
“Yes, I’m fine.” She nodded. “This is Grandpa Collins, the man who texted you.” She turned to her grandfather. “This is my friend, Kain.”
Grandpa Collins considered me from top to bottom. He stood about five foot five, a little taller than Eva. He had a round belly and friendly brown eyes that sparkled with curiosity.
“Nice to meet you, Kain.” He extended a hand. “Sorry about the message.” But his slight smirk told me he wasn’t that sorry.
“Don’t worry about it.” I shook his firm grip.
“Thank you for getting Eva’s purse back.”
“You’re welcome.”
George waved Eva over for some questions while the thief sat inside the cruiser.
“What’s your last name?” Grandpa Collins asked, looking up at me with curious eyes that studied the tattoos on my neck.
The question surprised me, but I answered anyway. “Kessler.”
“Why so many tattoos?”
“Why not? You have any?”
“I do, in fact.” He smiled. “It’s on my ass. A heart with my sweetheart’s name on it. But now it looks like a wrinkled fruit. Tats on wrinkled skin change the art, you know?”
I laughed, not wanting to imagine it. My eyes swung back to Eva, who appeared calm and collected while chatting with Detective McNally.
