THEA
“Can I do anything else before I go?” I asked him.
I had whipped up some eggs and toast for him. He was settled in on his couch with the massive TV in front of him. “I have everything I need,” he assured me. “I feel fine. The shower helped.”
I almost blushed. “I’m glad you’re feeling better. Please try and rest. I know you think you’re okay, but I’ve always heard the second day after an accident is the worst. Don’t overdo it. You’ll be sorry tomorrow.”
“Maybe you should come back tonight so you can take care of me tomorrow morning,” he said with a cocky grin.
“I come with three dogs,” I reminded him. “I don’t do sleepovers.”
He wrinkled his nose. “We’ll see about that.”
“Be good. Call me if you need anything. I’ll text you later.”
“Leave by five,” he called out as I walked away.
“I’ve got my bear spray,” I reminded him.
I was putting on a brave face, but I was nervous. I had to protect my people. The bulk of the staff were volunteers. I could not ask them to put their lives in jeopardy. I knew a police report had been filed, but I doubted that would make a difference. The police knew the area was a problem. It was like they had given up on trying to make it safe.
I circled the building once before parking in back. I didn’t see anyone lurking outside. Out of curiosity, I walked around the building, following the same path Reese would have last night. I saw a few dark brown spots on the sidewalk and stood frozen in the spot. This was where it happened. I didn’t know if that was Reese’s blood or his attackers’. I finally looked up and saw I was very close to the front doors of the shelter. Too close.
I walked in through the front. Ally was sitting behind the desk. “Did you park out front?” she asked.
“No. I wanted to see something.”
“What’s to see?” she said. “My beautiful face.”
“That too,” I said.
“What’s wrong? You never come in late and now you’re acting weird. Is everything okay?”
I sighed and flopped in the other chair. “No.”
“Uh oh. Is this about your dad?”
“I wish,” I groaned. “No, I don’t wish. I do feel like there seems to be a lot coming at me these days. This is about Reese.”
“Asshole,” she said and slapped her hand on the desk. “I knew he was going to screw you over.”
“He didn’t. He was attacked last night right out front of the shelter.”
Her mouth dropped. “Oh my god. Is he okay?”
“Miraculously, he is,” I replied. “But he is pretty banged up. An older couple happened to be driving by and scared off the attackers. I can’t even begin to think about what might have happened if they hadn’t shown up.”
“Holy shit,” she breathed. “Did he say why? Was he an asshole to them?”
“No. He walked me to my car and was on his way to his when they demanded his watch and wallet.”
“So, he thought getting killed was better than just forking over his money? It’s not like he doesn’t have more in the bank.”
“The watch has sentimental value,” I explained. I wasn’t going to get into the missing father story. “And he’s Reese. He’s not going to just lay down and get his ass kicked without putting up a fight.”
“Well that doesn’t seem to have worked out well for him,” she said.
“He still has his wallet and watch,” I said.