Page 7 of Tough Justice
Mr. Gurly strode out of the stock room on the opposite end of the store carrying a large garbage bag. “Still can’t believe this happened,” he said. “Over thirty years in business and neverhad anyone do something like this. And for what? Nothing was taken. Nothing gained. Just created a ton of problems for me and my wife. Insurance will cover most the cost, if not all, but it’s just one big pain in the behind.”
Duke shook his head as he took in the destruction. “I’m real sorry about this. Sheriff’s department have any idea what happened?”
Sighing, Mrs. Gurly stopped sweeping and leaned on her broom. “Not a darn thing. No cameras close enough to the shop to catch anything.”
Duke stepped over shards of glass and took the broom from the older woman. “Why don’t you take a seat? I’ll get this for you.”
“What a sweet boy you are. I’d argue, but my feet are killing me.”
“Did you get the photos you need of the damage for insurance?” Lane asked. “I’d hate for you to clean up then not get the payment because they weren’t able to verify the extent of the damage.”
Mr. Gurly helped his wife onto a stool behind the glass display case. White doily-covered cake stands boasted homemade candies and fudge. He swiped a red handkerchief from the pocket of his denim overalls and dotted his face with the material before stuffing it back in its place. “I talked to the insurance company and got all the pictures we needed. Now we need to put everything back and reopen before we lose too much business.”
“We can help you with that,” Duke said. “Then we can help make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
“Any and all help will be appreciated,” Mr. Gurly said.
Lane found a wide steel dustpan and placed it on the floor. “C’mon Duke. Let’s get this glass off the ground then handle the security issues.”
Duke whistled while he moved the broom along the old wood floor. He and Lane had been in business long enough to know his pal’s spiel came next. Best for him to let Lane do what he did best while he continued to help with the mess.
“So what do you think y’all are looking for?” Lane asked.
Duke bit back a smile. When Lane had the idea to start Rough Ride Security earlier that year, he’d been plagued with doubts. Afraid he didn’t know how to run a business or make sales. All of those fears had been for nothing because the man was a natural. Caring and emotionally invested enough in the citizens of his hometown to earn their trust, knowledgeable enough to guide people to their best options.
Leaving Duke as installer, numbers guy, and in charge of whatever grunt work needed done. Not like he minded. He enjoyed having a role and appreciated how well things had played out. When he’d arrived in Hillmore months before, he had no plan, no job, and no idea how to escape the constant trouble that appeared no matter what he’d done.
Now, he’d settled into his new role and actually enjoyed it. Sure, he missed riding bulls. But at least Lane and Celine had rescued enough animals to fill their barn and give him a chance to connect with what he loved.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Mr. Gurly said. “Nothing fancy. Just some cameras to deter any more punks. If some hooligan knows their face is on a screen, they’ll think twice before making such a mess.”
Duke swept the pile of glass into the dustpan then leaned on the broom handle. “Do you want any alarms? Something to alert you if someone’s trying to break in?”
Mr. Gurly shrugged. “What for? Even when someone smashed my window, they didn’t grab a darn thing. Can’t see anyone causing a fuss about breaking down a door or crawling through a window.”
“Good point,” Duke said, pressing his mouth in a firm line. He’d learned not to argue with the client, especially when they were past a certain age and set in their ways.
“Do you want to come to the office and see what all we have to offer?” Lane asked. “We have a few selections on site. If one of those are fine, we can get you all set up within the hour.”
Mr. Gurly snorted and waved his hand through the air. “Oh, I don’t know a thing about that stuff. I trust you to figure out what’s best. The Mrs. and I will keep cleaning. I think I have some cardboard around here somewhere we can tape across that big hole until we can get a replacement. I just have to remember where I put that ladder so I can reach the top.”
Duke met Lane’s wide eyes with his own before schooling his features. “We can handle that, too. Full-service place we’ve got.”
“You boys really are too sweet,” Mrs. Gurly said. “The ladder’s in the back room.”
“I’ll see to getting this boarded up if you want to pick a camera for the store,” Lane said. “That’s more your specialty.”
Duke touched his fingertips to the brim of his cowboy hat. “I’ve got you covered.” He swept the pile of glass into the dustpan then held open a trash bag for Lane to dump the debris into. “I won’t be long.”
Nodding his goodbye, he stepped out of the store and glanced over at The Dusty Armadillo on the other side of the square. Knowing Suzy was so close tied his insides into a pretzel. He’d love to stop and see how she was getting along with his sister, but he had a job to do.
Besides, seeing him hanging around would only add more fire to Heather’s theories about his feelings for Suzy.
A flash of long, dark blond hair caught his attention as a woman disappeared around the corner of the restaurant. A flash of recognition moved his feet along the red brick sidewalk. No way he’d seen her, no way she was here. Jogging the same paththe woman had been, he stared into an empty alley. He lingered at the mouth of the alley, debating what to do next.
Sighing, he shook his head and hurried back to his truck. It couldn’t be her. Having Heather in town messed with his head. She was the only one who’d made the drive from Texas to see him, bringing nothing but ghosts from his past with her.
Suzy shovedher plate aside and sighed. “There’s no way I can finish that.”
