“You’re not that person anymore. You’ve risen above it.”
“Have I?” she whispered. He frowned and she leaned back to catch the expression on Travis’s face. “Why does he look mad?”
“Because he found something, and it doesn’t look like it’s a good something.” Gavin rolled the window down once more. “Well?”
“Someone broke into her place and trashed it. I’ve called the cops.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY
Sarah shot out of the truck like a bullet and Gavin scrambled after her. Travis and Asher pulled up the rear, the four of them coming to a halt just outside her apartment door.
Her mangled apartment door. It hung from one hinge.
“They kicked it in,” she said.
With fingers curled into fists held at her side, she stepped over the threshold. Gavin rested a hand on her arm. “Hold up.” He glanced at Asher. “I’m assuming you cleared the place and there’s no one in there?”
“Nah, I fixed the guy a sandwich and told him to make himself at home.”
Travis smothered a chuckle and Gavin smirked. “You really gotta find some new material for that stand-up act.” The blip of sarcasm faded into seriousness when he looked at Sarah. “You can look, but don’t touch anything.”
She crossed her arms, fists tucked into her armpits. “I don’t believe this. When did this happen? Surely one of my neighbors would have seen it and called it in? I’ll check with Mrs. Howard.”
Sarah did a one-eighty and walked back through the door and across the hall to knock on the door opposite hers. “Mrs. Howard? Mrs. Howard? Are you in there?”
Nothing.
Footsteps from above sent Gavin into protective mode. He slipped in front of Sarah and palmed his weapon. No time to head back into her apartment. Another footfall and a young man in his late teens appeared. Tattoos covered the right side of his face, and his eyes locked on Gavin’s. For a moment, he looked ready to bolt until Sarah lunged toward him. “Jimmy!”
“Sarah.” The young man’s face lit up and he grabbed her into a tight hug. “I thought that was you. You’re back from Kabul.”
While Gavin’s jaw tightened, he slipped his weapon out of sight behind his back.
Sarah stepped back and Jimmy released her. “Did you see my apartment?”
Jimmy’s eyes narrowed. “I saw it. Me and the guys have been keeping an eye on it ever since we noticed it.”
“Did you call the cops?”
He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his baggy jeans and shuffled his feet. “Aw, Sarah . . .”
“I know, I know. Dumb question. I don’t guess you saw who did it?”
The young man dropped his head. “Naw, sorry.”
Gavin couldn’t help but wonder if he had an idea who could have done it, though. Then again, maybe not. He obviously looked up to Sarah, maybe even cared about her.
Jimmy jutted his chin at Gavin. “Who’s the bodyguard?”
Sarah rolled her eyes. “He’s not a bodyguard—”
Gavin hoped she didn’t notice his involuntary flinch.
“—he’s a friend. He’s been helping me out since I . . . got back from Afghanistan.”
Gavin held out a hand. Anyone who treated Sarah well was okay in his book. “Gavin Black.”
Jimmy hesitated a fraction, sizing him up, then thrust his hand into Gavin’s. “Jimmy Lee.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“I guess my tats don’t scare you.” He eyed Gavin’s arms.
“Should they?”
Jimmy laughed. “Naw, man. Didn’t scare the chica here either. Dat’s when I knew we’d be friends.”
“Um . . . Jimmy,” Sarah said, “I kinda need to find Mrs. Howard. Have you seen her?”
“She’s not here. Took off on some spur-of-the-moment European trip thing with her granddaughter.”
“The granddaughter from the daughter who married that wealthy politician.” She shook her head and pursed her lips. “They’ll take her on a trip to Europe to babysit their brood, but they won’t spend their precious money to move her into a safer neighborhood.” Sarah scowled. “Lousy—” She broke off and drew in a breath. “She’s collecting my mail.”
“And I’m watering her plants and feeding her cat.” He held up a key. “That’s what I was coming down to do when I heard your racket. We can see if your mail is in there.”
“I’ll let you check. I guess I need to take care of the apartment.”
He shrugged. “I’ll bring it over if I see it.”
“Thanks.”
Gavin led her back into her trashed apartment, and the officers arrived two minutes later. The first officer introduced himself as Carlos Gonzales and his partner as Kristin Gerard.