The Baker & the Badge by Tracy Krimmer

Author:Tracy Krimmer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tracy Krimmer

19

AARON

After I finished my route around town for the third time and responded to a nuisance call of a barking dog, I scolded myself for taking the overtime. There weren’t many of us to take it with the department being so small. Still, I’d rather be with Emma. Instead, I parked myself on a side road near the gas station. Some thought sitting in the car and letting the radar work was “fun” because it was simple. It wasn’t fun. It was boring. So when my cell rang, and Emma’s name lit up on the screen, I answered right away.

“Hey, gorgeous,” I said as I answered. “I miss you. I’m so sorry I had to cancel today.” I had to think of some way to make it up to her.

“Don’t worry,” she replied. “Duty calls. I completely understand. I’m calling to tell you that Jeremy just left.”

My stomach dropped, and anger seethed through my veins. I told that bastard to stay away. “What? What was he doing there?”

“Same old thing as always. He tried to intimidate me so I’d hand over my business. When will he learn he’ll never succeed no matter how hard he tries?”

I wish I had been at the café. This jerk needed a little more than a “talking” to. What would it take for Jeremy to throw in the towel and leave Emma alone? I knew nothing about him except for the stuff Emma had told me and my one encounter with him, so I had nothing to go on. He had to stop trying to steal Emma’s café, pure and simple.

“I’ll be right over.” I switched off my radar and locked my seatbelt into place. We’d figure out how to settle this once and for all.

“No, no. Please don’t come over. I’m on my way to my friend Alaina’s.”

“Doesn’t she live like an hour away?”

“Yeah, so? I need to cool off. I do some of my best thinking while I’m driving. Plus, I can brainstorm ideas on how to rectify this situation. I may call my lawyer, too.”

“It really shouldn’t have to come to that, but I think it may be your best option.” I wished I could restrain him myself and pop him a few times. Once or twice in the face and another in the gut. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come by?” Couldn’t she hear in my voice how much I wanted to help her, comfort her?

I heard her exhale a long breath on the other side of the line. “Yes. I haven’t seen Alaina in a while, and she knows Jeremy and the way he works.”

I pictured her driving down the country roads, the rain coming down in sheets, especially on the way home when it’d be dark. Some of the corners were hard enough to maneuver on a dry day. “It’s raining. Are you sure you want to drive?”

“Aaron, it’s rain. I’ve driven in the rain before. Stop worrying.”

Her irritation was apparent in her voice. I couldn’t help it; my natural instinct was to protect.

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