“I’m going to pack you a bag,” Shaw tells me as Clarence comes back in with us so he can fill out the paperwork. He walks around and I watch Shaw walk toward the back again. I see him motion to one of the cops to follow him and they go upstairs together.
“I don’t think Missy would do this.” I sit down in one of the oversized reading chairs and Clarence takes the other across from me.
“Did you go upstairs?” he asks.
“No.” I shake my head, starting to stand.
“Let’s do this.” He taps on his clipboard and I drop back down in the chair.
The faster I get this over with, the faster they are gone. I still can’t help but think he’s hiding something from me, but I answer his questions anyway.
“So, Missy is the only person you have a problem with?”
“That I’m aware of. I mean, some people don’t care for my store.” I look over at all the books on the floor.
“But you broke her car window?”
“No,” I snap, glaring at Clarence.
“Had to try.” He shrugs his shoulder.
It’s not a Iie because I wasn’t the one who broke her car window; Kayla did.
“You broke Missy’s window?” Shaw says as he drops an overnight bag on the ground next to my chair. He looks more pissed now than when he saw my door was busted. From his expression I don’t think this is about Missy’s broken car window.
“I did not.” I aim my glare at Shaw now. He only smirks at me as his eyes soften.
“Is something wrong upstairs?” I look toward the back again where no one wants me to go.
“They did more damage up there,” he finally tells me after a beat. I stand to go look but he snags me around the waist, stopping me. “I don’t think it was Missy.”
“Then who else could it be?”
Clarence stands with me. “If I had to guess, an angry boyfriend, but Shaw doesn’t look angry at you.”
“I told you I don’t have any exes here.” That was one of the many questions Clarence asked me.
“Anyone that could have followed you here?” Shaw’s hold on me tightens.
“No. There isn’t anyone else.”
“No exes?” Clarence asks again like he doesn’t believe me. “You’re a pretty girl, Barbie.”
“Watch it,” Shaw cuts in on him, and Clarence lifts his hands, backing down.
“All right. I’m just checking.” He looks to Shaw. “Someone might have a thing for her and she doesn’t know it. I’m just trying to figure out who did this.”
“There was a guy who was pushy with her a few days ago.” Shaw tells Clarence what happened.
Has it only been a few days since I met Shaw?
“This is the second time that lock has been busted. Someone is leaving a message,” Clarence says, making all of this really sink in.
“Kayla said he stopped by the other day when I was out getting lunch.”
Shaw’s whole body goes rigid.
“Sounds like someone doesn’t like being turned down.” Clarence writes on his pad. “What did he look like?”
I give a description the best I can remember. Shaw fills in more clearly, remembering a whole lot more about the guy than I do. “Benton has got a temporary lock for your door for tonight. I can’t tell you what to do, Barbie, but I don’t think you should stay here alone.”
“She won’t be staying here at all,” Shaw informs him. Clarence looks down at the bag Shaw went and got for me.
“Good.” Clarence holds his hand out for both of us to shake. Romeo comes strolling out from behind one of the bookcases, yawning, and I bend down to pet him. “I’ll wait for you guys to leave and then we’re going to secure the door.”
“I just need to feed him and then we’ll go.” I let out a long sign. At least I’m closed tomorrow. It will give me time to get this place cleaned back up. I’m not sure what I’m going to do. It’s unsettling that within days my back door has been busted open twice. I’m not going to feel safe sleeping here. What if I’d been alone?
I go into the back area where I keep Romeo’s bowl and top it off. Shaw follows me like a shadow and I almost trip over him. Romeo is already asleep when I walk back and I give him a kiss on the head. I’m not worried about Romeo staying the night. He’s got a cat door if he needs to go out and he likes to hunt for most of the night anyway.
Shaw holds my bag, waiting for me.
“Are you sure it’s okay I stay with you?” I ask because I know he’s staying with his mom.
“Yeah, I’m going to apologize now for my mom’s reaction to you.”
“Okayyyy.” I’m not sure what to say to that.
“She’s going to be excited,” he reassures me.