Chapter 24
Outwardly, Tyler appeared controlled and composed. Yet internally, he battled a surge of frustration and anxiety, his stomach twisting into tight knots as his fingers clenched the steering wheel.
“Goddamn vandals,” Jack muttered bitterly, shaking his head. “Probably just reckless kids without a clue what it costs to fix their mess. Dealing with insurance and repairs is always such a nightmare.”
Tyler remained silent, unwilling to fuel speculation or premature judgments until they understood precisely what had happened.
Each passing mile amplified his urgency to reach Justice.
Flashing police and fire truck lights painted the distant darkness with splashes of blue and red, intensifying his tension.
Pulling swiftly beside Justice’s car, Tyler barely waited for the engine to cease humming before jumping out.
His sharp gaze immediately swept the chaotic scene, finding Justice instantly as if guided by an unseen force.
Their eyes locked, the pain and fear etched clearly on her face, tearing at his heart.
Instinct propelled him forward, steps quickening as she began running toward him. Their bodies met in a fierce, desperate collision, and his arms enveloped her tightly. He held her close, steadying her trembling frame, silently promising she would not face this ordeal alone.
“Justice?” Jack’s worried voice approached, pulling Tyler back to awareness.
Slowly, reluctantly, he eased his grip, gently turning her toward her father. She inhaled deeply, visibly regaining composure, before speaking softly. “Dad, I’m so sorry you had to see all this.”
Jack embraced his daughter firmly, offering his quiet reassurance. Tyler saw the protective strength Justice was drawing upon, wrapping herself in an armor of resilience. His heart twisted, realizing how desperately he wanted to be the foundation beneath that strength.
As Justice stepped back, she introduced Deputy Rollins, who, in turn, introduced Detective Bailey.
The detective and fire chief detailed what the preliminary investigation had uncovered.
“Bricks thrown through the front windows, followed by an incendiary device. The reception waiting room bore the brunt of the fire, but the office, employee lounge, and storage closet suffered water damage. Other than water, the garage maintenance area was unaffected.”
Tyler listened intently, noticing Justice’s voice grow steadier and stronger, even as she explained the impact this would have on their shop.
“We’ll have to cancel tomorrow’s jobs,” she stated firmly. “Until the mechanics and I personally confirm nothing in the garage has been compromised, we can’t risk anyone’s safety or damage to equipment.”
Jack nodded in agreement. “You’re right, sweetheart. I’ll come in and handle the calls—”
“No, Dad,” Justice interjected gently but firmly. “I have this.”
Tyler understood her protective instinct toward her father but felt a powerful desire to ease the burden pressing on her shoulders. His thoughts were interrupted as another vehicle arrived, and he turned, surprised as he recognized Cory and Todd.
“We monitor local police chatter,” Cory explained as he clapped Tyler reassuringly on the shoulder. “We heard Jack and Justice’s business mentioned, so we came immediately to see how we could help.”
A sense of relief and gratitude washed over Tyler, humbling him deeply. “Thanks, guys, but I’m not exactly sure what you can do. Maybe just let Logan know I’ll need a couple of days—”
“Logan’s already aware,” Cory interrupted gently. “LSIMT is ready to assist.”
Tyler glanced at Justice, noticing her puzzled yet hopeful expression as she studied each face around her—Jack, Cory, Todd, and him. Unsure exactly what was planned, Tyler waited, trusting Cory to clarify.
“Jack, Justice, I’m genuinely sorry this happened.” Cory stepped forward. “We’ll do everything we can to help identify who did this. What kind of security footage do you have available?”
Justice’s face was pale, her eyes reflecting lingering disbelief.
She took a moment to steady herself, pressing her lips tightly together before speaking.
“We have cameras monitoring the side lot, where vehicles waiting for repair or pickup are stored overnight. We also installed cameras inside the garage bays for employee safety and client transparency.”
Todd nodded thoughtfully. “Any additional coverage?”
She hesitated briefly, brows knitted together as she considered. “Yes, there’s also one in the reception area, just to cover ourselves for any issues that might arise.”
“If you’re comfortable with it,” Cory offered, “we can access your video feeds tonight and see if they captured anything useful, especially anyone near the windows around the time they were shattered.”
Justice looked uncertainly toward her father, the strain of the moment evident in her tense posture. “What do you think, Dad?”
Before Jack could respond, Detective Bailey stepped forward, his voice calm and professional. “The sheriff’s department will certainly pursue an investigation, Ms. McClay. However, any additional support is welcome. Sheriff Cooper works regularly with Logan Bishop from Lighthouse Security.”
Tyler immediately understood the underlying meaning. Limited resources meant that Lighthouse Security’s involvement could significantly expedite the investigation.
Justice looked up at Tyler, her eyes searching for reassurance. He silently lifted his arm, relieved and grateful when she stepped into his embrace without hesitation, fitting perfectly against his side. Glancing toward Cory and Todd, he caught their approving smiles.
Leaning toward Cory, Tyler asked quietly, “Logan’s okay with this?”
Cory’s gaze softened. “Absolutely. Logan firmly believes in supporting the community. But beyond that, safeguarding his Keepers and those they care about is his top priority.”
Tyler’s heart stumbled slightly at Cory’s implication. When he looked down, Justice’s expression was calm and resolute.
Justice nodded decisively. “We’ll gratefully accept all the help you can provide.”
“Let Logan know I’ll be there first thing in the morning, once I make sure Justice and Jack are okay,” Tyler said.
Jack stepped forward quickly. “I’ll ensure you have access to our security feeds, either directly or remotely.”
“Thank you,” Todd responded, and the group began moving toward the shattered storefront when Detective Bailey spoke again. “Have you experienced any recent disputes or had issues with customers? Anyone turned away or particularly unhappy?”
Justice’s entire body stiffened sharply beside Tyler, her voice tight and clipped with simmering anger. “Jordy McClay.”
Detective Bailey’s eyes darted between Justice and Jack. “Relatives?”
Jack sighed heavily, stepping closer as he gently interjected, “Justice, we don’t know for certain—”
“I’m not just randomly accusing them,” Justice snapped, frustration and anger clear in her voice.
“We’ve had zero disputes with customers.
But in recent weeks, Uncle Jordy has repeatedly visited the hospital, made unwanted calls, and even came to our home demanding money.
Who else but Jordy and Aunt Debbie would do something as petty and malicious as vandalizing our business? ”
Tyler tightened his arm around Justice, feeling her tremble with barely contained rage and adrenaline. He looked toward Cory and quietly confirmed, “It’s plausible.”
Cory and Todd exchanged brief nods of understanding before heading toward the building.
Jack scrubbed a weary hand across his face, sighing deeply. “I can’t believe it could be my own brother. Sadly, I can’t deny it’s possible.”
Justice immediately stepped into her father’s embrace, holding him tightly as if drawing strength from their bond. Pulling back gently, she urged him, “It’ll be okay, Dad. The sooner we uncover who did this, the sooner we can start to move past it.”
Tyler felt immense pride as he watched her stand firm, her resilience humbling him once more. They answered a few more of the detective’s questions before joining the others closer to the damaged building.
Headlights flashed, and Tyler glanced over as a truck approached, feeling relief and gratitude flood his chest upon recognizing Frazier and Casper stepping out. Plywood sheets lay stacked neatly in the truck bed, illuminated softly by the streetlights.
The two men quickly approached, exchanging firm handshakes with Tyler and offering respectful nods to Justice before immediately setting to work unloading the materials.
“I can’t believe they came,” Justice whispered, voice tinged with awe.
Tyler nodded, his voice soft and thoughtful. “I’m learning more every day about the caliber of people I’ll work with.” He gently kissed her forehead. “Go to your dad, sweetheart. I’ll help them secure the building.”
She hesitated briefly. “Oh, I still need photos for insurance.”
“Detective Bailey has likely taken them,” he reassured gently, “and Cory and Todd probably have it covered too.”
With a quick nod, Justice hurried inside, and Tyler turned his attention fully to helping Frazier and Casper unload plywood and hardware, their efficient and quiet movements punctuated only by brief, practical exchanges.
Working swiftly, Tyler and his colleagues soon secured sturdy plywood over the shattered windows. Warm thanks and genuine appreciation flowed generously from Justice and Jack, culminating in heartfelt hugs and handshakes all around.
Outside once again, Cory leaned close to Tyler, lowering his voice discreetly. “We’ve done an initial review of the footage. There’s a single masked figure, but we’ll try enhancing the image to get a clearer view.”
Tyler’s jaw tightened. “Just one person visible?”
“That’s all we’ve seen so far, but it doesn’t rule out the possibility of accomplices.”
“Thanks, Cory,” Tyler said sincerely. After bidding farewell to his teammates, he moved toward Justice and Jack.