Chapter 2 #2
“Find out. I’m leaving now to pick you up. If we have to, we can get those tires replaced tonight, but it might take us a couple hours. I’d rather you just borrow our extra car this evening, and I’ll take care of everything tomorrow while you’re at work.”
Hailey wanted to refuse, to tell her dad that she was an adult and could handle things like this herself. But the words caught in her throat. She was tired, and she wanted to spend the evening with her little girl—not running back and forth to the service shop.
“You still there?”
“Yeah, Dad. Thanks. I’ll find out about the car. But I’m paying for the new tires.”
He grunted.
“Dad.”
“We’ll talk about that after I pick you up. Be there in fifteen.” He hung up before she could argue further.
“Better not be,” she muttered, lowering the phone. But she knew her dad—making the twenty-minute drive in fifteen wasn’t an empty promise, despite the winding roads between the family farm and Kincaid. She closed her eyes but looked up when she heard the swish of the security office door.
Peter stopped in front of her, a mug in each hand. “Coffee?”
“Yes, thank you.” She accepted the offered drink and the cream and sugar packets he pulled from his pocket.
He perched on the edge of the chair next to hers.
“I pinpointed the time when your vehicle was vandalized. Unfortunately, the perpetrator emerged from the trees after everyone else was gone, did their dirty work, then returned the same way. They wore a baseball cap that shielded their face and never looked at the camera.”
Hailey blew out a breath. “So it doesn’t show us much.”
“No. Can’t even tell for certain whether it was a man or a woman.
” He shifted slightly. “But it does raise the likelihood that you were targeted. While I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of a random attack, it didn’t look like one.
This person was alone, careful, and seemed to know where the cameras were. And they didn’t even glance at my car.”
“That’s just great.” She forced herself to take a sip of coffee rather than grit her teeth.
Peter grimaced and lifted a finger to touch a scar nearly hidden beneath his brownish-blond hair. “Sorry.”
“Not your fault. You didn’t slash my tires.”
“No, but I wish I’d noticed it happening. That is part of my job. I fully understand if you’re upset.”
“Oh, I am, but not at you.” She didn’t know exactly how the cameras were angled, but based on where she’d parked, she imagined the vandal’s approach was on the edge of the frame and that her SUV had hidden the details of what they were doing.
Even if Peter had noticed them arrive, the worst of the damage was probably done before he could have gotten out there.
The man looked like he was going to say something else, but a police cruiser pulled into the lot, and they both rose to meet the officer at the door.
The young cop offered her a smile that was more grimace than grin. “I’m sorry to hear about your vehicle, Mrs. Nieland. Mind telling me what happened?”
Hailey nearly rolled her eyes at the formal address. At thirty-one, she wasn’t quite a decade older than Officer Titus Gibson, though she had babysat him when she was a teenager. She chose not to comment and instead introduced him to the security guard and related the short version of the story.
Peter took over when she finished, adding his observations and the gist of what he’d gathered from the security feed, then they trekked to the side parking lot once again.
At the sight of her damaged vehicle, Hailey felt her anger building.
Why had someone targeted her? Like she’d told Peter, there were plenty of people who didn’t want her around, but that wasn’t a new development.
Anyone who felt this strongly about her presence would have taken measures into their own hands months ago, right?
Titus rounded her SUV and whistled. “Looks like someone wanted to send you a message, Mrs. Nieland.”
“Apparently.” Based on the officer’s raised eyebrows, she hadn’t succeeded in keeping the sarcasm out of her voice.
“Any idea who might have done this? Anyone you’ve made mad lately?”
Hailey tried not to bristle. She wasn’t the one who made people mad.
Well, not this kind of mad . . . unless it was a road-rage incident, which didn’t fit the situation here.
Whoever had done this hadn’t angrily followed her into the parking lot this morning; they’d come by at the end of the day.
If someone had gotten angry at her semi-aggressive driving, they would have had hours to cool off.
Or hours to plan. She shook her head. That didn’t fit either.
This morning’s drive had been uneventful, so no need to out herself to Titus and Peter.
“No,” she said finally. “I have no idea who would have done this.” She might not be a town darling right now—thanks to her late husband—but the citizens of Kincaid were good people. Not the sort to employ vandalism as a statement of their displeasure.
“All right.” He took some photos, then swiveled to face the wooded area. “You said the vandal came through here?”
Peter pointed to a space between two large trees. “Looked like they emerged from right about there.”
Titus approached the indicated opening. He crouched to peer at the ground, then rose and walked a few paces into the trees. Peter watched the officer, obviously interested in his search, but he didn’t make a move to follow.
Hailey turned to him. “I meant to ask you, is it okay if I leave my SUV here tonight? My dad’s going to pick me up.”
“Sure thing.”
At that moment, a beat-up truck pulled into the lot and headed toward them. Peter stiffened ever so slightly and stepped between her and the approaching vehicle.
Hailey lightly touched his arm and moved to stand beside him. “That’s just my dad.”
The security guard’s taut muscles relaxed, but he kept his eyes on the truck as it pulled into the row behind her Explorer.
Her dad emerged and marched over to them. “How are you?”
“I’m fine. Titus is here checking things out. We should be about done.”
Before she could introduce the men, Peter stuck out his hand. “Peter Lewis. I’m working security tonight.”
Her dad accepted the handshake. “Jesse Jessup.”
“Pleasure to meet you, sir. I’m sorry it’s under these circumstances.”
The men appeared to be sizing each other up, and Hailey wasn’t sure why she felt relieved when a glint of approval appeared in her dad’s eye.
Titus rejoined them then, and both men turned to him expectantly.
He acknowledged her dad with a lift of his chin, then shook his head.
“Nothing of note. Ground’s too hard for footprints, and it doesn’t look like they dropped anything.
” He eyed the security cameras mounted on the corners of the building.
“I’d like to see the footage you mentioned before I head out. ”
“One step ahead of you.” Peter pulled a flash drive from his pocket and offered it to him. “Not much to see, but you’re welcome to it.”
“Perfect.” Titus accepted the drive and scribbled something on a slip of paper. He handed it to Hailey. “Here’s the report number. We’ll let you know what we find out.”
“Thanks.” She wouldn’t hold her breath. Most likely, the vandal would get away with their crime.