Page 66 of Playing for Keeps
“Everything went right for them. It wasn’t ever like that for me,” Chuck said. “And I hated them for it.”
Chuck’s explanation was all too familiar. How many times had Justin wondered why other kids got new clothes and visits from Santa? How many times had he stayed quiet while other kids got praised by the teachers for good grades and perfect attendance? He understood the feeling, but he also knew things hadn’t started going well for him until he worked to change the things within his control. There’d been a huge shift after he met Caroline and she introduced him to the Lord.
Chuck didn’t have that. No one told him he could dig himself out of the rut and be better for it.
“They would have helped you if you hadn’t hurt them,” Justin said, completely sure that it was the truth.
“I didn’t want charity.”
“It’s not charity, it’s benevolence. They help people because they want to, and they don’t do anything expecting to be paid back. I know why you feel that way, but they welcomed me with open arms despite everything you did.”
Chuck slowly shook his head, still entranced by the TV.
“I’m pretty sure it’s not too late to make amends,” Justin whispered.
Chuck gave a non-committal grunt and kept his attention on the game. After half a minute, Justin sat back and let the conversation die. It wasn’t a win, but it was a step in the right direction.
27
JUSTIN
Redemption Ridge looked completely different in the darkness before dawn. The shops around the square were still dark, including The Cakery. Caroline and Skye wouldn’t arrive for another half hour.
Garrett popped a round slice of cucumber into his mouth. “What are we looking for?”
Justin turned from scanning the streets to his friend. The guy he was trusting to have his back if they got into tense or dangerous situations had a severe snacking problem. “Anything suspicious. There have been too many things happening at the bakery, and I’m not taking any more chances.”
“Right, but do we have a suspect description?”
“More than one. The evidence we have points to a group of women.”
Garrett tucked his chin and checked his body cam. “Power on.”
Justin rolled his eyes, then something moved in the shadows. “What’s that?”
Garrett sat forward and squinted. “Four people.”
“Nothing suspicious yet.”
“Other than walking the streets at three forty-seven a.m.,” Garrett added.
All four appeared to be women. It was tough to distinguish in the darkness, but they seemed young.
He thought of the young girls who’d smashed the cupcakes into the window and the hooded figures they’d caught on the security camera who spraypainted it.
Justin lowered his window. The group chuckled and shushed each other, but he couldn’t make out any words or distinct voices.
“Don’t do it,” Garrett whispered, then crunched another cucumber before Justin shushed him.
Justin and Garrett watched the women as they drew closer to the bakery. Justin was silently chanting the same prayer. There wasn’t a reason four women should be hanging around downtown at almost four in the morning.
In the blink of an eye, the calm of the morning changed to chaos. One of the figures pulled a hand from a coat pocket and threw something at the glass door of The Cakery, sending a shattering sound echoing through the square.
Justin and Garrett hopped out of the cruiser at the same time and jogged toward the group.
“Redemption Ridge Police. Put your hands in the air!” Justin shouted.
The women jerked around to face them before quickly running off in both directions in sets of two.
