And then I saw my car.
I’d parked on the street in front of the Tribune office and when I’d left my car there this morning, it had been in perfect condition. Okay, so I was overdue for an oil change and there was a ding on the driver’s side from when some jerk had opened their door into mine a while back, and it definitely needed to be washed. But that huge dent in the front? That had not been there.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
I glanced around helplessly, as if the person who’d hit my car would somehow materialize and fess up. It was obviously a hit and run. They hadn’t left a note. Just backed into my car and drove off, probably hoping no one had seen anything.
But maybe Sandra had seen it. It had to have made noise, my bumper was crunched. I wouldn’t have been surprised if she’d taken a picture of the guy’s license plate and was already on the phone with the police to track him or her down.
I rushed into the office, my mouth open to ask Sandra if she’d nabbed the culprit, but her desk was empty. She must have gone out to lunch.
Ledger leaned back in his chair with his feet on his desk and didn’t look up from his phone. “Hey.”
“Ledger, did you see who hit my car?”
He glanced up. “Someone hit your car?”
“Yes, right out front.”
“That sucks.”
“Yeah, it sucks a lot. They backed right into me. You didn’t hear anything?”
“No.”
Of course not. His earbuds had probably been surgically implanted into his ear holes. Lou was in his office, but he almost never came out. Not much chance that he’d seen it happen and even less that he’d be able to help me figure out who had done it.
“Nice hair,” Ledger said.
That almost made me laugh. “Thanks. I was having such a great day, too.”
Josiah’s insistence that I call him if anything weird happened crossed my mind. But this wasn’t weird, exactly. More like frustrating and stressful. I didn’t need to bother him about it. But I probably did need to file a police report or something.
With a heavy sigh, I sat at my desk and looked up the non-emergency number. I didn’t relish the repair bill I’d be facing, but it could have been worse. At least my car would still run.
Hopefully.
JUNE 30TH
It was petty. I admit it.
I didn’t plan it. The opportunity presented itself and I did what came naturally.
No lists, no notes, no plans. Just action. Bold, decisive action.
I hate her with every fiber of my being, but I have to admit, she’s making me better. She’s drawing me out of my comfort zone. Pushing me to do things I wouldn’t have otherwise done.
Still, caution is warranted. I got lucky. Granted, if I’d been caught, it wouldn’t have been the end of the world. I’m sorry officer, it was an accident and I freaked out. I’ll make it right and it won’t happen again.
People around here are forgiving. It would have blown over quickly.
But next time, I’ll have to stick to my plans. Take the proper precautions before I act. We can’t have Miss Perfect finding out.
Not until I’m ready.
CHAPTER 15
Josiah
I should have been done an hour ago.
I’d hired Zachary for the day to help me install the flooring and shockingly we’d finished the first floor without anything going wrong—and without killing each other. After I’d tossed him some cash, he’d gone home. Which is what I should have done.
Instead, I’d been second guessing the kitchen layout. After redoing some measurements, I’d started sketching it out on a piece of discarded cardboard. My neck ached from sitting on the floor, leaning over at an awkward angle while I worked, but it was coming together.
It had nothing to do with the fact that Audrey was late getting home. I wasn’t waiting for her. Kitchens were the center of a house, the showpiece. Even in a rental, the kitchen had to be done right. I was just making sure we didn’t make a mistake we’d regret later.
The sound of a car came from outside, so I got up to look. Still not checking to see if it was Audrey. Just curious to see what was going on out there.
I wasn’t a great liar. Not even to myself.
It was her, and as soon as I saw her car, I headed out the front door. Why did she have a dented bumper? Had she been in an accident?
She got out and Max dashed out behind her. He ran a circle around me, and I gave him a quick pet when he paused. But mostly I needed to know what the hell had happened to Audrey’s car.
“What happened?” I sounded angrier than I’d meant to, so I stopped and cleared my throat. “Are you okay?”