C Weaver - Silent River

“Mr. Collins, what are you doing up so late?”

“I’m sorry to bother you, Mr. Davis. my house was vandalized. May I use your phone?”

Immediately the door opened, and Mr. Davis unlocked the screen. Robert wiped his feet and followed the man in the plaid dressing coat to the phone.

“I heard some awful noises from over there. I didn’t know what to think. I should have called the police, but I wasn’t sure of the situation, you being a cop and all.”

“I wish you would have.” Robert dialed the number. “Tracy, Collins. I just got home and found my house ransacked. I need the squad over here right away. No sirens! This is a quiet neighborhood, and everyone is asleep. What? Oh, yes.” He gave her the address and hung up.

“I’m sorry, but there’s going to be some commotion going on.” He went on to give a brief description of the damage as he walked to the door.

“I hope they catch the person. I don’t want my house destroyed.” Mr. Davis’ beady eyes darted back and forth as he checked the street for a bogeyman.

“Mr. Davis, there’s nothing to worry about. This was directed at me alone.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes, I would tell you to try to get some sleep, but there are going to be people all around my place with flashlights. We might have to come into your yard for a look-see.”

“That’s okay.” He started to shut the door, then called out. “Mr. Collins, this isn’t going to happen on a regular basis, is it?”

“I sure hope not.” Robert waved his hand and crossed the lawn to his own house.

As the reality of it all set in, his hands shook. He immediately gripped the counter and bent over it. He cleared his mind of the situation. When he opened his eyes, he was back in control. This was a crime scene like any other. Treat it with distance and keep a clear head for evidence.

He heard the sounds of a siren and swore. Did they have no sense of thought for the neighbors? When the first squad car screeched to a stop in his driveway, he stood on the sidewalk ready to get on with work.

The firefighters from around the corner on 35th Avenue and Belmont Street rushed in to see what they could do. They were soon relegated to the outside while the crime scene team got to work.

Mr. Davis could be seen peeking from behind the dining room curtains; watching everyone, especially if they went near his yard.

Hours later, the last of the squad cars left. Robert stood in what amounted to double the mess he’d walked into. Every cop had tramped through the house by way of the kitchen, back through the house and outside. Now a sugary mess covered every bit of the downstairs floor. He didn’t bake and there was a small bag of flour he’d used for gravy. It had been emptied and the bag wadded in a corner.

Jake arrived after the first squads had come. Robert had the dispatcher call him right after he called the station.

“Lorene said you’re to come home with me. She’ll have a bed made up for you.”

“Thank her.” Robert shook his head. “I’m staying here. I don’t want them coming back.”

The two of them found two by fours in his garage and nailed them across the front door. Inside they nailed the door closed. “I can fix it tomorrow.” He yawned. “I can’t do anything about the broken windows until tomorrow anyway.”

“Want me to stay?” Jake shook his head at the busted couch and recliner. “Don’t bother coming to work tomorrow. I’ll tell the chief what happened.”

“No. Go home to Lorene and Elizabeth. I’ll be fine.”

Jake left out the back, and Robert pushed the door in place, locking it. He ignored the catastrophe and headed for his bedroom. Arranging the slashed mattress on the bed and the nightstand back with its broken lamp in place. He set his gun next to it, then rolled in his blanket on top the mattress and slipped into a troubled sleep.

A thump against the wall in his bedroom brought him to a sitting position, heart racing and his hand going for his gun on the nightstand. He could see a bit of light coming through a slit in the torn curtain. The sun shone through haze. What time was it? He checked his watch. 8:15 a.m. Who would be at his house at this time of day? Had the perps returned for another go?

He brought the gun to his lap and waited to hear the next sound. Another bump and the clang of metal on the sidewalk. He frowned and crouched below the window ledge, heading toward the kitchen. He could hear movement but couldn’t see anyone. The unexpected sound of the doorbell gave him a start.

“Robert, are you in there?” a female voice called.

Barbara, he recognized her voice. “The cavalry to the rescue,” he muttered under his breath as he tucked his piece into his back waistband and peered through the broken window.

“Did you bring your broom?” he asked after opening the door to let her in with her bucket full of cleaning supplies.

“Are you insinuating I ride one?” She arched her brows.

He frowned, then got the joke. “No, I only have one broom, so I was hoping if you came to help, you’d have brought an extra.”

“I’m organized. Not only did I bring cleaning supplies, but I also brought help. My sisters run a cleaning business, so I asked if they would do some community service, and here they are!” She turned toward the driveway.

Up the drive came three women, wearing pink scarves tied around their heads. Each carried a bucket and cleaning supplies sticking out of it, along with a bag of rags. Robert stood aside and let them in as Barbara introduced them to him.

“Robert, you go on to work. You don’t need to see all this. I’ll make sure you have your home back in tiptop shape.” Barbara crossed her arms as if she would brook no argument.

He tapped her cute nose. Secretly, he was relieved. “I’ll change in the bedroom if you ladies don’t mind and get out of the way. I’ll call a contractor to come over to fix the windows and the doors.”

“Shoo,” they ordered, and Robert obeyed.

He drove down Belmont Street and turned onto Grand Avenue and took a right on Alder Street to the station. He sat in his car. He felt calm. He still had anger, but now he directed it to find the culprit. He got out of the car and headed into the station.

Tracy met him at the swinging gate to the squad room.

“Robert, I’m so sorry about last night. Is everything okay?”

He nodded. “The cavalry showed up, and the pink cleaning squad is on duty as we speak.”

“Oh, good. I called Barbara after you called me.” She backed up and covered her mouth when his piercing eyes locked on to hers. “Was I wrong to do that? I’m so sorry,” she whispered. Her eyes became moist and her face flushed.

He grinned. “Stop, Tracy. You did a good thing. Her sister owns a cleaning service. All is well. After all, you knew, of course, her sister owned this service. That’s why you called her.” He nodded until she got the point and nodded back. A smile replaced the tight lips.

He headed to Jake’s office.

“What are you doing here? I told you to stay home.” Jake cocked his head at Robert. “You couldn’t be done cleaning your house. Did you go to bed last night?”

Robert sat in the chair opposite Jake’s desk and laced his fingers behind his head. “I got woke up this morning by a lot of noise outside. Who do you think showed up?”

“The perps came back?” Jake leaned forward over his desk.

“No.” Robert let his voice raise for Jake to guess again.

“Barbara.” Jake smiled and relaxed.

“Tracy called her last night. What is it that makes certain people think we’re a couple? We only went to the Ball and had one date.” Robert’s voice sounded whiny even in his ears. He clamped his lips shut.