Page 119 of Guarding Over You
“Tell me,” Ford said.
He explained to Ford the same as Clay. “No one noticed anything.”
“Which means nothing. Whoever this is, if they are there, they’ve been flying under the radar. You don’t really think they are going to show themselves now, do you?”
He didn’t think of it that way. “Now I feel like an idiot.”
“Don’t. You can’t hit the target if you’re not throwing darts at it.”
His phone buzzed in his hand, and he pulled it away from his ear to look. “Arden put Gracie to bed. I’m heading there now for the night.”
“Talk soon,” Ford said and hung up.
He locked up the house and left out the back. For the first time in months, his one neighbor right next to him was outside. “Blaze.”
“Hey, Stormy. How are you doing? How are the grandkids?”
“They are great. Thought it was you passing by a few times at night.”
No reason to keep quiet about things. “I’m dating the woman two down. She’s got the little girl.”
“I’ve seen her out playing on the weekends. I had no idea,” Stormy said. “Good for you.”
“Thanks. Hey, she’s had some trouble lately. Someone stole her daughter’s bike. Just thought I’d let you know if you want to keep an eye out, but not to alert anyone either.”
Stormy waved her hand. “We aren’t here much, but I’ll let you know if I see anything. I know you look out for our place enough.”
“Thanks.”
He moved through, waved to the other neighbors through the kitchen window when their dog barked. It happened a few times, and rather than continue to Arden’s, he went to their glass door.
“Hi, Blaze. What can I do for you?”
“Your new neighbor, Arden. Her daughter’s bike was stolen a few days ago. Don’t suppose the dog might have alerted you to anything?”
“Do you know when it happened?” Mike asked.
“We noticed yesterday around six thirty. The last time Gracie rode it was Thursday.”
“I’m assuming you’re friends?” Mike asked with a wide grin. “I’ve seen you two going back and forth.”
“We’re dating now. Sorry about crossing the lawn.”
“No worries. It’s not mine past the fences, so anyone can really come and go.”
He knew that, which was why he thought little of it and his neighbors didn’t either. Everyone was laid back and friendly.
“True enough, but I can go around front if it’s a big deal.”
“Nope,” Mike said. “Never is. And as for the bike, we haven’t seen or heard anything, but we’ve been on vacation and got home this afternoon.”
He never paid much attention to those things.
“If you see anything, can you just let one of us know?”
“You betcha.”
He went past the fence to Arden’s, the glass door opening and her stepping out. “Were you talking to someone?” she asked.
