Chapter 6
Six
Damien sipped his water and smiled at the empty seat next to him. He was enjoying himself. Not that he expected otherwise, but every moment with Harmony was a surprise. She made him want to see more and more of her.
Movement next to the table brought his attention to the woman on his mind. Her eyes were narrowed, her face pinched into a look of… Was that fear?
“Are you okay?”
“Um, no. I need to go. Right now.”
“What happened? Is something going on?”
“No. I just need to go.”
“What’s—”
“Goodbye, Damien.” She snatched her handbag from the seat and rushed to the door, glancing behind her as she went.
What the hell just happened?
“I guess she’s not up for dessert. How about you?” the server asked, catching Harmony’s retreat.
Damien shook his head. “No. Thanks. Just the check.”
“You got it.”
Damien handed over his credit card and replayed the time before Harmony went to the bathroom. They were enjoying the night, and each other. He was flirting, but so was she. He didn’t think he crossed any lines with her, but he certainly didn’t hold back that he was interested in her.
She was fine before she went to the bathroom. Something must have happened in there. Something that sent her running.
Damien wasn’t facing the bathrooms, so he didn’t know if someone walked in before or after Harmony. But someone had to. Someone who wanted her away from him.
He signed the receipt for the server, then asked if he could speak to a manager, assuring the server he was excellent and it had nothing to do with him.
The manager was a petite woman with a kind smile and a steadily scanning gaze. “I understand you wanted to speak to me.”
“I believe the woman I was with had a confrontation in the restroom with someone. I was wondering if you could give me access to your security cameras to identify who.”
The manager blanched. “I apologize your date didn’t end the way you’d hoped, sir, but that’s not why we have security cameras.”
Damien expected the answer and was ready with his identification and credentials.
“I understand, and this has nothing to do with my date and everything to do with her safety. I work for Rose Protection Agency, and she was recently on the news and given a sizable reward. She’s been followed and doxed and could be in danger.
I only want to see if someone went in after her.
You could watch the video and call Captain Marcus Patrick with the information if you find something. ”
“The police captain?”
“He’s a friend of hers. And mine.”
The manager looked suspicious but took Marcus’s business card and asked Damien to wait at the table.
Damien finished his water and wondered if Harmony was okay. Maybe the manager was right and she decided to get the hell away from him. Or maybe his gut was right and something happened in the bathroom.
Damien looked up when the manager hurried across the room toward him. He sat up in his seat, his body coiled tight with anxiety. Something was wrong.
“You were right. Someone followed her into the bathroom. And the same woman followed your date when she left the restaurant.” She showed Damien a still of the woman’s face.
Damien didn’t recognize her, but that didn’t matter. “Did you send this to Captain Patrick?”
“I did. He said he’s going to call you.”
Damien’s phone vibrated as she spoke. “That’s him. Thank you. I appreciate your help.”
The manager nodded. “You’re welcome.”
Damien answered the phone as he stalked toward the front door. Patrons and servers moved away from him, giving him space to exit the restaurant without obstruction.
“I just saw the picture.”
“Do you know her?” Marcus asked.
“No, but if she followed Harmony, she could be in danger.”
“I was thinking the same. I’m sending a car to her apartment now to do a wellness check.”
“I’m on my way there, too.”
“Good. It’ll be good for her to see a friendly face.”
“Not if she’s worried I’m involved in whatever sent her running.” Damien started his SUV and pulled out of the lot.
“You think that’s what happened?”
“It was a damn good date until then, so I hope so.”
Marcus chuckled. “I guess I should say congratulations.”
Damien snorted. “Yeah, you called it. She’s pretty great.”
“I understand the feeling. Let me know if she’s okay.”
“I will. Thanks, Marcus.”
“I hope the rest of your night is less eventful. Or maybe more. I don’t know what I should be hoping for, but stay safe.”
Damien laughed. “I will.”
Marcus hung up, still laughing as he did.
Damien focused on the road, driving as fast as he could without breaking any laws to get to Harmony’s apartment complex quickly. When he pulled in, he circled the lot until he spotted her vehicle. He parked next to it, noting the police hadn’t arrived yet.
Damien scanned the parking lot as he walked to the door and didn’t notice anyone outside. He needed a key to get into the building. He could easily pick the lock, but he wanted to minimize his criminal activity when the police were on the way.
The call box next to the door was generic and plain.
It didn’t have names for residents, but Damien knew Harmony lived in apartment 2C.
If something sent her running, and it had anything to do with him, he was fairly sure she wouldn’t open the door to let him in.
But he had to get inside to make sure she was okay.
Damien started hitting buttons, hoping someone would open the door without bothering to check who was buzzing. He nearly shouted when the door in front of him clicked to let him in. He grabbed it before it locked again and stepped into the building.
The first floor was quiet. Damien walked up to the second floor, taking a minute to figure out which way Harmony’s unit was. He followed the path around a corner and spotted the woman from the restaurant coming down the hallway toward him.
She spotted him at the same time and stopped.
Damien took a step toward her, and she turned and ran the opposite way down the hall.
“Stop!” Damien shouted, taking off after her. He sprinted down the hallway, watching apartment numbers as he went. He saw 2C and hesitated.
The woman was around the corner and out of sight, but Harmony’s door was right there. There was clearly another way into the building if the woman came from the other direction. Was she leaving Harmony’s apartment? Did she hurt Harmony?
Damien’s mind echoed with the questions as he raised his hand to knock on Harmony’s door. “Harmony. It’s Damien. Are you okay?”
No answer came from inside the unit.
“Harmony, I’m coming in whether you open the door or not. I need to know you’re okay.” Damien had his phone out and dialed her number. “Answer the phone at least. Come on, Harmony.”
“Police! Freeze!” came from behind him.
“Fuck,” Damien whispered.
“Show us your hands!” a second voice said.
“I’m unarmed. I have a phone in my hand. I am going to turn around slowly.” Damien detailed his actions to the cops, knowing how the situation looked.
Two cops hid around the corner that led to the stairs he’d come up minutes ago. Their guns were pointed at him.
“My name is Damien Joseph. I called Captain Marcus Patrick to ask for backup for a wellness check on the woman inside this apartment. I have not been able to get her on the phone or to answer the door.”
“There was a woman running out of the building who said a man matching your description was threatening her and her friend. She ran, but you chased her friend and had her cornered in her apartment.”
“That’s the woman I was trying to find,” Damien growled. “Can you please check on Harmony?”
“Do you have any weapons?”
“No. I don’t have anything on me.” Damien held his hands up high, his phone visible in his right hand. The woman who led him there was good. She turned him into a suspect twice in less than an hour and got away.
“Turn around and put your hands on the wall.”
Damien groaned and did as he was told. He wanted to fight the injustice of it. A Black man being detained for no reason. One of them snapped the cuffs on him and patted him down, taking his phone away, and the other cop knocked on Harmony’s door.
“This is the police department. If you do not answer the door, we will come in. This is a wellness check.”
The door finally opened, and Harmony stood there, looking scared but safe. “Are you Ms. Gibbs?”
Harmony nodded and looked at Damien. “Why is he in handcuffs?”
“He was trying to break into your apartment.”
“No, he wasn’t. There was a woman. She…” Harmony looked at Damien. “She cornered me at the restaurant, then followed me here.”
“Did she hurt you?” Damien asked.
Harmony shook her head as the cops barked at Damien to be quiet.
“Was this man threatening you?” the cop who had him in handcuffs asked.
“No. Damien did nothing to hurt me or threaten me. Why would you think that?”
The cops looked at each other. “We were told he did.”
“By the woman who came after you. She was near your door when I turned the corner,” Damien said.
“What? She got inside?” Harmony wrapped her arms around herself and took a step into her apartment.
“Officers,” Captain Patrick barked from behind Damien. “What the hell is going on here?”
“We caught him trying to break into her apartment,” the first officer said.
“He’s the one who called me. He’s not here to hurt her. He’s here to protect her. Get those cuffs off of him.” Marcus snarled at his officers.
The one who put the handcuffs on Damien hurried to unlock them, then handed his phone back. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Damien said.
“It’s not fine,” Marcus barked. “What reason did you have for going after him?”
“There was a woman running out of the building when we got here. She said he chased her and was going after her friend. Told us right where to find him.”
“And you never put it together that she was the one you were looking for? The call said a woman was being followed by another woman, white with blonde hair, wearing jeans and a black top. What did the woman you encountered look like?”