Page 47 of Barbed Wire and Burglary
“You mean what’s already here.” Luke sobered. “Are you anticipating more burglaries?”
“Unfortunately.” Aaron broke down what they were looking at on the map. “Each cluster of red dots represents an average of four point five break-ins. We’ve only hadthree so far.”
The sheriff straightened, allowing his side of the map to roll up. “Guess we’d better come up with a game plan.”
Aaron had already gotten to work on exactly that. “I made a list of every antique store, retail shop, pawnshop, souvenir store, and farmers market in town. That’s where we should start. We’ll interview the owners and see if we can triangulate a pattern for their suppliers and purchasing habits.”
Luke pointed at him with both hands. “That’s what I’m talking about. Nothing beats good old-fashioned police work, which is why I’m going to keep you around for as long as I can.”
Chapter 8: Shocking Photograph
Sunday
A.J. sat up, stretching his arms over his head and twisting from side to side to pop his back. Then he climbed out of bed and moved across the hotel room to the desk. Turning on his laptop, he opened the browser and pulled up the website of his new favorite church.
Anytime he had to be out of town over the weekend, he still made a point of attending church, usually online like he was doing this morning. A countdown timer flashed across the screen, ticking off the minutes until the Sunday morning service began. While he waited, he headed into the bathroom to brush his teeth and returned to change into the outfit he’d be wearing to Diamondback.
He’d packed the black all-weather gear that served as the semi-official uniform at Lonestar Security. It consisted of a long-sleeve, low-moisture shirt tucked into cargo pants and combat boots. He tugged a utility vest over it, which easily hid the bulge of the gun holster strapped beneath hisshirt. Last but not least, he reached for the black ball cap bearing the Lonestar logo.
And couldn’t bring himself to put it on.
What he was wearing reminded him too much of the camouflage uniform he’d worn while in the military—everything but the color. It was comfortable, practical, and durable. It got the job done. However, like the patches and badges that had once earmarked him as government property, the Lonestar logo made him feel like he was simply another gear in a much bigger machine.
He’d left all that behind the day he’d signed his retirement paperwork, and he didn’t want to do it again. He was more sure of it now than ever. It was funny how a simple logo on a ball cap had finally driven the point home. He valued his independence too much to give it up again. He’d earned it.
Tossing the ball cap on the sink cabinet, he exited the bathroom without it, convinced that he needed to remain his own boss. Not only did it better suit his style, it positioned him to be whatever Aurora needed him to be. She was his team now. He would need to clear the matter up soon with the guys who owned Lonestar. If he were lucky, they might agree to keep him on tap as a contract worker only. He didn’t mind helping them out now and then. He just didn’t want to beownedby them.
A glance at the timer on his computer screen told him he had less than a minute before the service began. Just enough time to make a cup of coffee with the single-serve machine resting above the mini-fridge. He shoved a cardboard cup beneath the spigot and mashed the START button.
While coffee trickled into the cup, a knock sounded onthe door. He moved stealthily closer to look through the peephole and discovered Aurora standing on the other side.
He quickly pulled the door open. “Is everything okay?” She’d been out late the evening before, attending her friend’s wedding and reception. He hadn’t expected to see her this early. Yet here she was, fully dressed in a dark green sweater over jeans, looking ready to get to work.
“I’m not sure.” Without waiting for an invitation, she brushed past him, opening a small silver laptop as she walked over to his desk.
“Hold on.” He shut and bolted the door. “Before you show me whatever you came to show me, is it anything life-threatening?”
She glanced over her shoulder at him, blinking in surprise. “Not imminently.”
He searched her lovely features. “Can it wait for an hour?”
She looked puzzled. “I suppose. Why?”
He pointed at his computer screen right as the service went live.
“Ah.” She finally understood. “You’re attending online church.”
“I am. Care to join me?” He pulled out the only desk chair and ushered her into it.
She left her laptop on the desk and wordlessly took a seat.
He sank down on the mattress behind her and scooted the chair closer, straddling it from behind. Wrapping his arms around her, he linked their hands together.
A few church announcements flashed across the screen, but the upcoming events being advertised didn’t apply to them.
Aurora shifted in her seat. “You might have already guessed this, but I didn’t attend church before I met you.”
He’d suspected as much. However, he’d caught her reading her Bible a few times in his apartment, and her engrossed expression had convinced him it wasn’t for show. “I like attending church with you.” He raised one of their joined hands to point at his computer screen. “This is how I usually do it when I’m on the road.”
