Page 121 of The Newcomer
“If there was anybody out there, he’s gone now,” he reported. “I got my flashlight, checked under cars, around the pool, down by the beach. Everything’s quiet. I called it in to dispatch too, and they sent a unit by. Nothing. Fina promised she’d have night watch roll through here on the hour tonight.”
“Did Oscar give you a description of the prowler?”
“Tall guy, but everybody looks tall to Oscar. He was dressed in dark clothes. And a baseball cap.”
“Rooney,” Letty said, feeling her scalp prickle.
45
JOE SIDLED UP TO HISmother as she was escorting the last bingo player to the door of the rec room. “Where was Isabelle going tonight?”
Ava looked startled. “She and Sierra were going to meet friends someplace for burgers, then she said they might go to a late movie. What’s going on, son?”
“Oscar thought he saw someone prowling around outside the office about an hour ago,” Joe said. He explained about calling for a patrol unit and his fruitless search around the property.
“You think it’s Rooney,” Ava said.
“Maybe. But I don’t want to take any chances. And I don’t want those girls coming back here alone, late at night.”
“She was planning on spending the night at Sierra’s anyway,” Ava said. “But I’ll text her and tell her to make sure and stay put.”
Joeswept the beam of his powerful flashlight around the parking lot, then pointed it toward the office as he and Letty walked Ava back home. He bent down and examined the office door. “Doesn’t look like it’s been tampered with.” After unlocking the door, he motioned for them to stay outside while he checked the interior. “Okay,” he said, poking his head around the door. “Doesn’t look like anything here has been disturbed.”
They followed him back inside. Ava checked the storeroom. “Nothing here.”
Joe walked through each of the rooms in his mother’s apartment, switching on lights, checking closets and beneath beds. “You okay to stay here alone tonight?” he asked.
She went into the kitchen and reached into the cupboard over the stove and brought down her pistol. She gave it a fond pat. “I moved this out of the office since Maya’s around there so much. But I think I’ll keep this close by tonight. Just in case.”
He frowned. “Mom, I know you think you’re a tough old bird, but I don’t really think you need to keep a loaded gun under your pillow. I’ll be around here tonight. Call me if you see or hear anything.”
Ava touched Letty’s shoulder. “Maybe you and Maya should stay here tonight. You can sleep in Isabelle’s room.”
Letty considered the offer, then shook her head. “Thanks, but Vikki said Maya’s already asleep. I think we’ll be fine where we are.”
Vikki met them at the door to Letty’s unit. “Shh,” she cautioned, pointing toward the bedroom. She gave Letty a mock salute. “I have newfound respect for moms. That kid of yours wore me out. In a good way, but still.”
Letty peeked into the bedroom and found Maya curled up in her pillow fort in the corner of the room. She pulled the door shut.
“Any signs of our prowler?” Vikki asked Joe.
“None. But I’m not taking any chances. I asked the night watch supervisor to send patrol units on the regular tonight. And I’ll hang around too.”
“I can patrol the premises too, you know,” Vikki pointed out. “I actually am a sworn law enforcement professional.”
“Nah. If it was Rooney, and I’m not convinced it was, he’s long gone by now, spooked by the blue lights and all the bingo players tromping around the place. Get some sleep. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.”
“I’m kinda keyed up now,” Vikki said. “I might just walk down to Gianni’s and get a slice of pizza and a glass of decent wine.”
“This late?” Letty checked her phone and gave a sheepish laugh.“Wow. Almost ten o’clock—which is actually twoA.M.in Florida time.”
Lettyopened the sliding glass doors and stepped out onto the patio. A quarter-moon spilled milky light onto the calm surface of the Gulf, and a slight breeze stirred the palm fronds. She touched the waxy blossoms of the fragrant confederate jasmine clambering over the garden fence.
“Nice night.” Joe’s arm encircled her waist.
She muffled a startled yip.
He gave her a questioning look.
