Читать книгу Lessons From A Younger Lover - Zuri Day - Страница 15

Officers Young and Lopez approached the front of the Walker residence, while two others ran around the house to the back. Carlos Lopez placed a hand on the handle of his weapon as he cautiously approached the front porch. His partner, Young, drew his weapon and planted himself at the side of the house, with a clear shot to whoever answered his partner’s knock.

Carlos silently stepped up on the porch, peering into the medium-sized picture window as he did so. The curtains were drawn, but part of the material had caught on a knickknack positioned on the television console. Carlos motioned to his partner, then cautiously stepped closer and peered inside.

There were two people sitting on the couch: an older woman and a younger man. The man leaned over and spoke to the woman, eliciting a hearty laugh. She reached for a plate of cookies and offered one to him. He objected briefly, running a hand across his midsection, before taking one.

Carlos frowned as he walked over to the door and knocked. “Mrs. Walker, this is the police. Open up.” There was a flurry of footsteps before a cautious pair of eyes appeared above the rim of a small window in the middle of the door. “It’s the police,” she said to her visitor. He joined her in the small foyer and soon his eyes peered down squarely at the officer at the door.

“Open up, Ransom.” Carlos sighed.

Ransom assured Mrs. Walker all was well, and then opened the door.

“What’s going on, man?” Ransom asked his former classmate and good friend. “Y’all fools have so little to do that you’re harassing old ladies now? What, is Kristy’s closed or out of donuts?”

Carlos gave an all’s clear to the other officers. His partner walked to the patrol car to make a report, shaking his head as he did so.

“We got a call, ma’am,” Carlos directed his comment to Mary. “One of your neighbors thought they saw a burglar on your roof.”

“That was me, fool,” Ransom said. “Miss Mary has squirrels getting in through a hole in the attic window. I found the culprit of the break-in, an old tennis ball. One of the kids probably threw it when Miss Mary wasn’t home and the hole’s been there ever since. I guess it’s good the neighbors are being vigilant, though. Who called you?”

“That’s confidential.”

Ransom snorted.

Carlos once again directed his words to the home owner. “You have good neighbors,” he said with a smile. “It’s nice to know that you’re all looking out for each other. You can’t be too careful. And even though this was a false alarm, you might want to consider taking additional measures since you live alone. There are affordable alarm systems available, and dogs not only make good pets and companions, they’re great protectors too.”

“Well, I sure do appreciate it,” Mary murmured shyly. Getting attention from the handsome man had her blushing like a teenager. Still fit and feisty at sixty-two, she often wondered who the old woman was staring back from her mirror, and what happened to the thirty-something she thought she’d see forever.

“Some company will be moving in soon.”

“A relative or somebody?” Ransom asked.

Mary gave him the once-over. “Or somebody…” she answered in a that-is-none-of-your-business voice. Her sparkling eyes and pursed lips showed there’d be no further explanation.

To underscore that fact, Mary walked over to the table and picked up the aluminum tray of cookies and a stack of napkins. “For you and the other officers,” she offered Carlos.

“Oh, thank you, ma’am. But we couldn’t take all your sweets.”

“I insist, you handsome devil. Give them to your boys out there.” Mary gestured to the street where the other officers lounged between the two parked patrol cars.

“Well, thank you, ma’am. Since it appears everything is under control here, we’ll be on our way.”

“I appreciate your looking after me,” Mary called out to the officer’s retreating back.

He threw back a wave and within minutes, the cars were gone.