“Again? This has happened before?” Jameson was already on his way to the garage when she managed to find her feet. She reached around him to flick the light on. The two windows on the side of her garage were broken. Not just the glass this time either. They managed to break the mullions that held the glass in place. “You stay here.”
He tried to nudge her back into the kitchen. When she was about to argue with him, she noticed he’d pulled out a gun from somewhere. A shiver racked through her and she lost the words she was about to say.
“I’m going to go check it out.” He rolled himself down the one step and headed to the side door.
“Jameson, it isn’t...” He was already outside. Then she heard him yell at someone and she took off running.
When she got outside she nearly screamed.
“Mrs. Grant, thank God. I came when I heard the glass. Then this man...”
Mr. Snell pointed to Jameson. “Oh, for pete’s sake, Jameson! This is my next door neighbor, Mr. Snell. Put that away right now.” She bent with her hands on her knees to suck in air and steady herself. Luckily, Jameson listened to her and stowed his firearm before anyone got hurt.
“Did you see anyone running away?” Jameson barked at Mr. Snell.”
“Unfortunately, no. I saw some movement in the bushes but it could have been a cat, anything really. Mrs. Grant, I’m sorry. I think the situation is getting worse. I don’t know that it is safe for a single woman to live in this area anymore. My offer to you still stands.”
“Well, at least we agree on her not being safe. She can stay here though, we’ll be putting in a surveillance system so next time there’ll be video footage to ID them.”
“Jameson! I told you I can’t afford that. I’ll just board the windows up for now. Mr. Snell I’ve told you before your offer is very generous but I can’t take it.”
“Exactly what kind of offer did he make you?” If she didn’t know better she would swear he was reaching for his gun again.
“Jameson, that is enough!”
“It’s fine Cand, er, Mrs. Grant. I’m glad to see someone is looking out for you. Like I said, I think the neighborhood is getting worse, not better. Did you need any help putting up plywood over those windows?”
“Don’t touch anything yet Candy, the cops will want to take a look at the place first.”
“Calling the cops is useless. When this happened to Mr. Snell last week, he called and they never even showed up. Isn’t that right?”
“Correct. But like I said then, I didn’t think it was that big a deal. We all watch out for each other.”
“Yes, yes we do.”
Mr. Snell didn’t stick around for more of Jameson’s growling. Surveillance cameras sounded expensive but she was creeped out, not just scared. This wasn’t graffiti they could pass off as gangs claiming turf. This felt, personal somehow, but it was just some smashed windows.
Warm fingers slid across her palm before her hand was enveloped in Jameson’s calloused paw. “You okay?”
“Fine.”
“It’s okay to not be fine y’know. I’m staying either way.”
She huffed in and out. “I really don’t think that is necessary.” It wasn’t. Not really, but if she was going to be honest, at least with herself, knowing someone else was going to be with her made her feel less like screaming her foolish head off.
“We can argue about it while we cover these windows. You have plywood or am I calling a window guy?”
“Do you always just take over?”
“Usually just in bed but I’m making a special exception for you.” She growled at him and stomped off to get what they needed as she tried to ignore his laughter behind her.