Dirty Neighbor(30)

Even as he thought it, he was hoping he was right.





Chapter Ten



Elisha stopped by the store and grabbed plenty of steaks, and some pepper so that she could cover some with cracked pepper. She loved her food a little on the fiery side. Pulling her car into her drive, she looked up, and her mouth fell open. The word “slut” was spray painted on her door.

Climbing out of her car, she walked up to her door, and was so annoyed that someone would come and spray paint such a vile word on her door. It was damn hard to clean spray paint, and she was so pissed off in that moment.

She called Carl, and leaned against her car, waiting for her friend to arrive. Carl was the police officer she worked with, and someone she trusted as a friend.

He didn’t make her wait long, and twenty minutes later, he pulled up outside of her house.

“Hey, Elisha.”

She gave him a wave. “I was on a job this morning, and I went to the store. When I came back, I saw this.” She pointed at the door.

“Do you have any enemies?”

“No. I clean for a living. I don’t exactly go out making life hard for everyone.”

“I know, honey, but I’ve just got to ask all these questions.”

“I know. I know.” She stepped away from him while Carl did his job, talking into his radio.

“Are you seeing anyone?” Carl asked.

“What?”

“Do you have an angry ex-boyfriend, or girlfriend?”

“I’m seeing someone new, but he wouldn’t do this.”

“How do you know?” Carl asked.

“He’s my neighbor.”

“I’m going to need to talk to him.”

She pulled out her cell, and called Brant’s number. This was so humiliating. What if it was one of Brant’s exes? She didn’t know how many women he’d been with before. They both had a past. His past was a lot more colorful than her own. She didn’t exactly have a long line of lovers waiting around for her, or disappointed that she ended it.

“Hey, babe, what’s up?”

“Erm, something has happened, and my friend Carl is a police officer, and he wants to talk to you.” She handed the phone to Carl, and bit her lip as he started talking about the door, and she only got one sided answers. He moved away, and grabbed a notebook from his car. He was on his way back when she heard what he said. “I will talk with her, and see what I can do. Okay.”

Carl handed the phone back to her, and she took it.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hey, I’m on my way home,” Brant said.

“You don’t need to do that.”

“Yes. I do.”

“Do you know who could have done it?”

“Yes, I do.”

Carl took a couple of photographs and stepped back waiting.

“I’ve got to go. I’ll see you when you get home.” She hung up the phone, and gave Carl her full attention.

“So, it seems that Brant has an ex who doesn’t like being in his past. I’m going to go and question her, and I’ve taken some pictures, but there’s not a lot I can do right now.”

“Right.” She looked toward the door. “Can I at least clean that? It’s damn rude, and unfair. Brant was single when I started sleeping with him.”

Carl laughed. “I was waiting for you to say that. Yes, you can clean it. I’ve got some pictures, and a name. Take care, and call me if something else happens.”

“I will.”

She made her way into her home, placed the steaks in the fridge, and grabbed her cleaning products.

Ten minutes later, Brant was pulling into his own drive, and coming to stand behind her.

“I’m so sorry, baby,” he said.

“You don’t have to worry about it. Well, it kind of sucks because I’m having to clean it up, but spray paint is a pain in the ass to clean.” She scrubbed even harder. “I’ve not had the chance to fire up the grill.”

“I’m home early. Sean’s closing up the shop.”

“You know who did it?” she asked.

“I’ve got an idea, and I’ve told Carl, your friend.”

“He said he was going to go and talk to her. I take it you dumped her, and she didn’t want to be dumped.”

“Pretty much. She’s been calling, but besides today, I didn’t really think she was capable of being a vandal,” Brant said.

Standing up, she wiped the sweat from her brow. “I’m just pissed that she gave me an extra job. Cleaning spray paint only annoys me.” She smiled up at him. “No biggie, we’re all good.”

She saw the concern in Brant’s eyes.

“Stop worrying.”

“I’ve never broken up with her before, and I had no idea what she was really like.”