"Hey, surprised to see your truck here, Dill, but after seeing who's laying on the pavement outside, not so much." Chase laughed as he slid into the booth seat with Elliott close behind. It was their usual night to have dinner at Rosie's."What's going on, Dillon? Do you need backup?" Elliott laughed while the waitress poured hot coffee in their waiting mugs."When Ell and I got here we stepped over him, and came on in. We headed toward our usual booth and eyed you guys." Chase wiped his face with his hands and then slurped his coffee. "I should've known you'd have something to do with it.""Josh man-handled Avri, threatened her, and I put a stop to it going any further. He's not welcome here anymore," Dillon said and then further explained his surveillance of Josh and finding his address. When Dillon finished, Chase and Elliott nodded."We can help," Elliott said. "I'm in town at the shop in and out a lot every day. I can keep an eye out and also have my manager look out for him,
After checking out Avri's house, Josh circled the block. He assumed she slept upstairs, and he could sneak in and get what he wanted from her downstairs office file safe, which he also assumed she had; most attorneys did anyway.He'd made a wax copy of her keys when she left the table to visit the restroom earlier and spent the entire night filing down the blank keys to match the molds. Of course, his stolen key machine helped out quite a bit. Now he had the real keys safe in his coat pocket. It should be an easy in and out.As soon as he turned on her street, he turned off his headlights and the engine, and coasted to a stop at the rear of her car. He made sure the interior dome light was off and opened his door and inched out, glancing at his surroundings in the dark shadows. Leaving the car door halfway open, he listened keenly to the quiet sounds of nocturnal animals, then crouched down and made his way up the steps and on to the front porch. He reached in his pocket for the key
Josh circled the block but didn't turn down Avri's street. Instead, he pulled to the side and stopped at the corner. His eyes located and focused on the silhouette of Avri and Dillon in each other's arms.He needed to win her back somehow, impress Avri so he could get into those files; he couldn't leave town until he came up with the money Boss demanded be returned to himwithout this vital information he needed to hold over Boss's head he was as good as dead. He continued staring, his mind reeling with ideas and memories of their courtship. Maybe he could come to Avri with flowers and candy and beg for forgiveness.When he spotted them moving together toward the house, he didn't think he would have another shot at entering her house again tonight. But he waited and within minutes, watched as Dillon crossed the street alone and went through a grove of trees.Headlights lit up the night and the big truck pulled out into the street, heading his way. He slunk into the seat, buried his h
Avri's hectic morning didn't end when she arrived at her office. When she didn't see Amy's car in the parking lot, the hair on the back of her neck stood straight up. She glanced at her watch; a little before eight, she was early for once. She exited her car and ambled to the back door, taking a deep breath on a beautiful fall morning.She juggled her briefcase, purse, and a bag holding an extra pair of shoes, while she dug in her purse to retrieve the key ring. Losing her balance, she placed her hand on the door for support and fell forward onto her face into the back hall. When the door swung open, it struck the wall behind and bounced back hitting Avri on the head. "Damn it."Dropping her bags, she reached for her head, just in time to catch the door as it swung toward her head one more time. She lifted her eyes to the room around her, pulled herself onto her hands and knees, and then stood on weak legs. She dusted herself off and gasped in disbelief at what she saw in front of he
"Does Mitch have a suspect list?" Dillon asked as he strode into Avri's office."Hi Dillon, thanks for coming over. Mitch didn't say anything about a suspect list. I have to tell you, I did tell Mitch what happened at the house last night. I also found Josh's cell number in my phone and gave it to him too. He's going to check him out. Maybe he can find something out about him," Avri said stacking files on her desk."I'd like his cell number, too, if you don't mind. Maybe one of the databases I have access to will have some Intel on him," Dillon said as he bent over and picked up a small chair."Sure, I should have given it to you way before now, right?" Avri smiled, remembering his jealous streak. She scribbled on a sticky note on her desk and handed it to him."Yes, you should have." Dillon eyed her sideways, grabbing the note out of her grasp. "When's the locksmith expected?""I told him to come as soon as possible, that it had to be today, and he said he'd be here. I'm hoping t
Dillon parked behind a large trash dumpster where he had a good view of the front of Josh's humble abode. By the looks of the outside, the normal person would assume the small shack had been abandoned. There were tall weeds in the front yard, and a gravel driveway. It seemed extremely small, one little window on each side of the front porch.He checked the street address twice to make sure he was at the right place. This was where he'd followed Josh before and the billing address for his cell phone, so he would wait. He pushed his seat back, giving his legs room to stretch out, leaned his head back and closed his eyes.Since he was a light sleeper, he heard every vehicle go by, every door open or close, people talking in their yard or walking by, and even those who had their windows open and the TV on. He gave up and sat up tall. He checked out the backseat floor of his truck looking for a bottle to relieve himself. Seeing none, he reached for the door handle, and then a car engine s
Dillon drove along the winding road leading to his place and parked his truck under the large birch tree. He took the keys out of the ignition and headed toward the back door. When he stepped onto the stoop and reached for the doorknob, it wasn't there. The door was partially open; he paused and listened for any sound coming from inside.He heard birds fly from a tree nearby but nothing else. With caution, he pushed the door open with his boot. He peeked inside, and again nothing; no sounds, no one around. Moving further into the room, everything appeared normal, nothing disturbed, so he continued to his bedroom on the bottom floor beside the only bath in the aging house.Grabbing his duffle from the closet, he placed it on the bed, and then went back to the closet for his hanging clothes. He folded them in half and put them inside. After a trip or two from the dresser for underwear and shorts he was packed. He'd always packed light, not wanting to be caught having to carry a heavy b
With a big breath, Avri straightened her shoulders and pulled her suit jacket down. It had been a hell of a day! When she turned to face Dillon, she was a new stronger version of the woman who had walked into the room a few minutes ago."Okay, where's Mitch? I need to start cleaning this mess up. I will not be forced out of my own home." She left the room and headed down the stairs in search of the Sherriff. She found him in her first-floor office. He looked grim with a scowl on his face."What's wrong Mitch? What did you find?" Avri asked as she looked around his shoulder."I knew you kept important papers here, but I didn't know just how important. This is a copy of a prison record of a gang boss, and it might be something like this the intruder was trying to find."But why didn't he take it if it's what he wanted, the reason he did all this?" She swept her arms throughout the small room. The file cabinet's lock had been drilled out and papers and folders were tossed everywhere.