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“This is my partner, Dexter Cross.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said, not offering him my hand.
He seemed to be taking everything in.
“One of my officers chased the guy down an alley.”
I sucked in a sharp breath.
“He’s in custody, under suspicion for the burglaries in the area.”
I sagged in relief. “I can’t believe it.”
Colton grabbed my elbow, propelling me toward the couch, and then placed pressure on my shoulder to sit. Then, to Dexter, he barked, “Get her some water.”
Dexter left the room.
“He doesn’t have to do that—”
Colton just gave me a look, and I stopped talking.
He drew a wooden chair from my dining room table over to sit across from me. He rested his elbows on his thighs. He felt more like a cop right now than my friend. “What happened?”
I liked that he didn’t sugarcoat things and got right to the point. “I came in an hour early this morning because I couldn’t sleep.”
Thankfully, Colton didn’t ask me why I’d broken from my routine. Instead, he nodded for me to continue.
“I tried to unlock the door, but the glass was broken. The alarm wasn’t on.” I regretted my hesitation. I hadn’t put things together quickly enough. It was like time had slowed down.
“We have a call into the security system company to see what happened there,” he said as Dexter returned with water.
Cradling the cool glass, I said, “I heard a crash from the back and realized someone was there, so I got out my phone to call for help.”
Dexter stood a few feet from us, his feet shoulder-width apart, like he was standing guard.
Colton’s jaw tightened.
I probably should have run first. “Before I could, the man came to the front. He saw me, and I didn’t know what to do. I froze, then I ran. Once I was in an alley, I called 9-1-1. I was worried the guy would leave through the back and easily circle around to where I was, so I came here.”
“You did the right thing,” Colton said, but I wasn’t so sure I had.
I miscalculated my conversation with Kendall yesterday. Then broke from my routine.
“The important thing is we caught him in the act. You can identify him as the man who broke into your store.”
“I can.” His face would be imprinted on my brain forever. I tightened my grip on the glass, bringing it to my lips to drink.
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to link him to the other burglaries.” Dexter’s voice was rough.
“I’m just glad it’s over.” I drew in a steady breath. I tried not to think about what could have happened if he’d gotten to me.
Remi had a run-in with the same guy, and he’d shoved her. She’d been bruised and sore. I’d gotten off lucky.
“The important thing is that he’s in custody,” Colton said reassuringly.
I wiped my palm on my leggings.
Colton stood. “You want me to call anyone for you?”
