AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Maren Kline,” the cop chuckles. “I should’ve known. Didn’t you outgrow trespassing?”
“Officer Jones. I’m not trespassing. I live here.” It’s a small town so I shouldn’t be surprised she’s familiar with the officers.
“That doesn’t mean you can be nude in public or break into the pool.”
“What makes you think we were at the pool?” Even she can’t keep a straight face when he looks at our soaked hair and damp clothes. Not to mention the path of dripped water and footprints we’ve left behind.
He tilts his head at her. “You don’t need to be Scooby-Doo to figure this out.”
Before Maren can reply, Susan comes charging up with a robe tied around her. “They were in the pool! The sign says it closes at eight o’clock!”
Really? That’s her complaint?
Officer Jones sighs and regards Susan. “That’s a property rule not a law.”
“It’s trespassing! And…and…public nudity!”
Maren smiling and me covering a laugh does not help the situation. Susan is infuriated that we aren’t begging for mercy while he handcuffs us. Instead, he tells her, “I’ll need to speak to the owner to see if he wants to file trespassing charges.”
I hold up my hand. “That’d be me. I’m the owner of Happy Haven. And since we’ve learned our lesson, I’ll let us off with a warning just this once.”
His head whips around. “You called the police on the owner for swimming in their own pool?”
Susan stomps her foot. “They were naked!”
“Well, they look dressed to me.”
“This is ridiculous! Do you know how many times I’ve had to call you out here and you do nothing!”
Officer Jones has had it with her. “Yes, I’m very aware of how often you call. The whole station knows your number by heart. And if you don’t want to start getting ticketed for false reports, you’ll stop calling unless someone is dying or dead.”
Susan’s jaw is on the ground. “And what do you suggest I do when I look out my window and see someone breaking the law?”
“Stop looking out the window.”
Maren coughs hard, trying to cover a laugh, and I turn to him. “Can we go?”
“Yes, have a good night. Tell your Pops I said hi, Maren.”
“I will. Tell your sister the same.”
Susan is still trying to argue while we walk away. Once we get out of earshot, Maren looks over at me. “See, this is why we can’t have cameras.”
“Yeah, good call on that one. How do you know him?”
“His sister used to babysit for me, and Pops coached his little league team. He’s alright.”
“He said you don’t need to be Scooby-Doo. Not Sherlock or a rocket scientist, but Scooby-Doo. His hero is Scooby-Doo. I kind of love that.” The breeze kicks up making both of us shiver as we cross the yard to the office trailer. “Susan’s lease is up and has been for a while. I could refuse to renew it due to her being a nuisance. What do you think?”
Maren is quiet while she considers it. “She’s a pain in the ass for sure, but I don’t know. I don’t know where she’d go or if she could afford to live anywhere else. I don’t think she has anyone.”
She’s such a sweetheart, even to people who don’t necessarily deserve her kindness. “Okay, it looks like the police may start ignoring her anyway.”
Maren yawns and leans her head on my shoulder. “Tonight was fun. You’re a good partner in crime.”
“Oh yeah, I’m dangerous.”
Maren glances up from her computer and nods to my desk. “You got a package. I signed for it.”
