The Hunk Next Door(16)

“My uncle was a cop and I thought he was the coolest thing going,” she said. “Whenever I got the chance, I’d go down to the station and hang out. Talk about impressionable.”

“Doesn’t sound like a place for a kid.”

“My parents worried, but I’ve always thought it depends on the kid.”

“There’s some truth to that,” he agreed. “Are you thinking kids trashed the sign?”

“I’d like it to be.”

“Meaning?” He leaned back in his chair, debating another serving. He was full, but he wanted to keep her talking. Danny had given him some insight about the community, but Abby would have a better overall picture.

“I’ve been thinking kids wouldn’t have been so careful.”

“I’m not following. It looked like a fast and dirty tag to me.”

“I think it was supposed to look that way,” she agreed. “But how many kids, moving fast enough to not be seen by traffic, would think to cover their footprints?”

“You’re sure they didn’t just get lucky?”

“I’m sure the tracks were deliberately concealed.” She blotted her lips and set the napkin next to her plate. “I need to think about something else. More lasagna?”

“Twist my arm,” he said, reaching for the pan. “What’s the secret with the sauce?”

“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret.”

“Tell me anyway. You’ll feel better.”

“I feel fine now.”

“But there’s so much more to life than ‘fine,’” he teased with a wink.

She opened her mouth but whatever she’d been about to say was cut off by a loud crash outside. They were both on their feet in an instant. He followed her as she raced through the house and out the front door.

Across the street, a man was caught under an extension ladder, a reel of brightly colored Christmas lights still blinking in his hand. Riley swore, reaching for his cell phone to dial 911 while Abby kept running. Mrs. Wilks and others were soon in the street, wondering how to help and speculating on what happened.

* * *

ABBY TOLD HERSELF this was only an accident as she ran across the street. Letting her instincts take over, she shouted for blankets and they appeared moments later.

“An ambulance is on the way,” Riley said, appearing beside her. “Hang in there,” he said to the man under the ladder.

“Well, this is a fine way to meet your neighbors,” Abby said briskly. “Riley O’Brien, this is Roy Calder.”

“Everyone calls me Calder. Wish I could say it was a pleasure,” he added through gritted teeth.

“Does it hurt everywhere?” Riley took the lights out of Calder’s grip.

“Yeah.”

“Good.”

“Riley!” Abby pushed him back. “What are you doing?”

“He’s right,” Calder said. “Feeling everything means my back’s in one piece.”

“Oh.” She hadn’t thought of the injuries in terms of potential paralysis. “That is good.” Abby rubbed the chill from her arms, accepting a coat that appeared from somewhere. Mrs. Wilks was cheerfully scolding their neighbor for working without a net.

“I was almost done,” he defended. “Anyone see the bastard who pushed the ladder?”

Abby shivered with a chill that had nothing to do with the cold. “What did you say, Calder?”

“I’m not an idiot, Chief, despite the looks of this. Someone brought me down on purpose.”

She looked around the scene wondering who might have done such a terrible thing. All she saw were the familiar faces of her neighbors looking as stunned as she felt. “Did you get a look?”

“No more than a glimpse of a dark knit cap when I felt something at the ladder.”

“Back everyone up,” she said to Riley, hoping he could manage crowd control. She wished she’d remembered to grab her phone. She was going to need someone to help her walk the area and look for evidence. But first things first. She knelt beside Calder again. “What did you hear?”

Calder groaned a little, either thinking about it or just struggling to breathe. “A crunch. Boots on the landscaping.”

“Okay. Good.” Calder’s wife used white rock in the flower beds. Covered in snow, the assailant must have miscalculated. “What else? A car? A bike?”

“No. That’s about it. I was falling before I could even shout at him to stop.”

She looked at Calder’s house. “Did he come from your left or right?”

“The left.” Calder groaned again. “Christ. Libby will kill me. I wanted to get this done for her tonight.”