***
I jumped out of bed and ran down the hall. The blaring sound of the alarm was getting louder. As I got to the front window I heard deep voices laughing. I could not make out the words, but there were three people at least. The flashing lights of the alarm cast shadows on the street and I then heard running footsteps. The shadows disappeared, the voices stopped. I went and got my phone and dialed 911. I gave them the report with the phone on speaker as I pulled some clothes over my shorts and tank top, grabbing whatever was in reach. I could always change to more work-appropriate clothes later.
“Do not go down until the officer arrives ma’am. These perpetrators may still be there.” I shook my head as if she could see me.
“I heard them laughing and running off. My shop is probably open to whoever comes by and the alarm just stopped. It has a timer, I have to get down there.” The dispatcher disagreed. I grabbed a light jacket and put it on and went back to the window with the phone. I watched a van pull in across the street and tensed up for a moment. Then I relaxed. It was Gaspar, the man who had the newspaper shack across the street.
“Tell them to hurry up will you, this is my livelihood!” I hesitated briefly, and then hung up the phone. I was through with arguing.
I slipped on my sneakers and went out my apartment door, locking it behind me. I went down the steps and stood outside the door to the coffee shop. There were no sounds coming from inside. I opened the door a crack, and reaching in I flipped the light switch. The ceiling lights came on and illuminated the whole place. No one was there. Except Gaspar standing where the big picture window with my shop’s name on it was supposed to be. As I moved from behind the counter I could see the whole window had been smashed in.
“Are you alright, Victoria? What happened?”
“You just missed it, Gaspar,” I said distractedly, moving forward. The whole window, from frame to frame, was completely smashed and in little pieces everywhere. I had been so proud of that window! Artistically done, it had been beautiful. If I was lucky I could get it done again, but it would cost.
It would not have been so completely broken unless whoever did it had not intended to leave no glass un-shattered. This had been done deliberately! Not just some kids screwing around. The grocery store next to my shop was due to open and the owner came over looking at the damage.
“What the hell, Miss Holloway? What happened here, hooligans?” I shook my head.
“I don't know George, someone broke the window, and the alarm went off. I’m waiting for the cops.” He nodded. I kept looking up and down the street. No sign of the police. George and Gaspar were looking at the damage.
“Hey, Miss Holloway,” George said looking over. “If you have a security camera, you may want to get that out. That was the first thing they asked me when I was robbed three years ago.” George was a man in his sixties, widowed, who had been running his store for thirty years. It was a good idea.
“I will George. Do you two want some coffee? I have to turn everything on and see if anything is missing.” They hesitated, but agreed. The street was waking up as it got closer to five. People began walking by and talking to my neighbors as I took care of things. It was forty-five minutes before the police showed up. By then I had watched the security recording and determined nothing had been removed. The perpetrators had broken the window, making sure they got it all and then left. It also was getting close to the time I usually opened, and I had regulars to take care of.
***
I did my best to not get angry with the cops. They took my statement and a copy of the security recording. When I was asked if this was the first trouble I had, I mentioned the punks from the previous day.
“But it wasn't them. The voices I heard were deeper and the images on the recordings were of much bigger men. Even if their features were obscured.
“You watched the recording?” the officer asked.
“Well, it took you so long to get here I figured I should do something.” The policeman blushed and looked away. After they checked around the premises for a while longer, they gave me a card and told me they would let me know what they learned. They obviously thought it was an isolated occurrence and not to worry, based on nothing being stolen. Since I was sure that nothing was missing, I could not argue that point. They left and I went out front.
Donna came in then, aghast at the damage. Fortunately customers were entering confused as well so I sent her off to take care of them, giving a quick explanation of vandalism. Gaspar had left to open his stand. George came over though and offered to nail up a tarp until I could get something more stable. I thanked him and offered to pay him but he turned me down flat.
“You won't owe me nothing, Miss Holloway. We look out for each other around here and we all think you are a good neighbor. Don't worry about it.” I smiled, grateful for his generosity.
“How about free coffee every morning for a week. That is a fair deal between neighbors?” He smiled, pretended to think about it, and nodded. He went to get material while his clerk minded the store.
I went back inside and took condolences from customers and served coffee. Once she had a moment, Donna approached me with narrowed eyes.
“So what the hell happened?”
I explained everything including what I saw on the recordings. She did not like it any more than I did. We were interrupted by a customer. He was a big man wearing a dress shirt, slacks and black leather vest. He had steel gray hair and a black goatee.
“It is a shame about your window. Hooligans perhaps?” I shrugged.
“I do not know yet. It is a shame though. How can I help you sir?”
He ignored my question.
“It is a real shame. I thought maybe you did something you shouldn't. Some people do not take that well.” I frowned, not liking what he was implying.
“What are you talking about?” I said.
He smiled but his eyes were hard and sending a warning.
“You may not want to call the cops on young boys having fun. That was not nice. Neither was this. Get me?”
Now I really was confused. I had not ever called the cops until tonight. Donna got it though.
“We didn't call the cops on those punks. The cop was here on his own, and they were just stupid enough to harass us in front of him. Maybe you should talk to those boys about being idiots!” said Donna. She was furious and now I was too, now that I understood who this man was.
“You may want to watch how you talk about my nephews, girly.” He had lowered his voice. I noticed then that Max and Axel had arrived, and were sitting at a nearby table. Max was facing the broken window, with his back to us. Axel was staring at the man we were talking to. The look on his face can only be described as dangerous.
“Just take the hint girls, you are playing with the wrong people. And you,” he looked at Donna. “You have a big mouth.” Donna snarled about ready to go over the counter at him.
“I also have a size four foot that is going to connect with your ass unless you get the hell out of here!” She told him.
“Damn right, I am calling the cops.” To my surprise the man smiled slightly.
“Feel free.” He turned and sauntered out the door as I dialed 911. I saw Max lean over to Axel. Axel nodded, got up, and followed the man out. Interesting, I thought, then a dispatcher answered. I explained the situation and she assured me an officer was in the area. To my surprise he did show up within minutes. He was actually a plainclothes detective who had been nearby. He took my statement and Donna's, as well as another copy of the day's security camera footage, even though I’d already given a copy to police earlier. His name was Detective Hanlon.
“This may give us what we need to stop this harassment, Ms Holloway. I’m a little surprised I didn’t see the incident report on the computer this morning. However I’ll look into that and will keep you informed,” said Detective Hanlon.
I felt better after this visit from the police. The detective actually seemed interested and involved. I watched as he left. He intercepted two uniformed officers who had just arrived, spoke to them briefly and then they left. They were looking at each other nervously. That made me feel uneasy. I did not know exactly why, though.
Max rose and watched my neighbor George stapling up a tarp. One side started sagging and Max stepped over and grabbed it, holding it up for George to staple. He continued helping George, and soon the tarp was neatly stapled over where the window had been. A billionaire helping at grunt work. Will wonders never cease, I thought. Then he spoke with George a moment and turned, walking over to the counter where I was. I started making a cappuccino.
“It’s on the house. Thank you for helping George. I appreciate it, and I am sure he, did too.” Max smiled and did not argue the free coffee. Unlike everyone else, he did not ask what had happened. He already seemed to know.
“Helping George was no problem. I go into his store occasionally for this and that. Nice old guy,” he said. Then he gestured around at the damage. “I am glad no one was hurt.” I nodded. That had occurred to me.
“The timing was clever,” I pointed out. “It was before George or Gaspar would be here to notice, yet late enough no one would be around.” he nodded.
“That says something about who ever did it. It is a little late for drunks screwing around, or hooligans.” The way he said the last part told me he had been listening to the conversation with the man in the leather vest. I met his eyes and they were still beautiful and at this time shining with concern.
“I have to say I am more than a little worried for you. Guys like that do not warn people without a serious, to them, reason. It also bothers me that there was no incident report for the first police visit.” It all did seem strange to me too. I remember my grandfather saying to me that coincidences do happen, but several in a row were not to be believed. Donna finished serving a drink to a customer and came over.
“May I borrow my boss for a moment kind sir?” she asked Max. He smiled.
“Of course Donna,” he said. He nodded and smiled at me and went back to his table with his coffee. Donna led me over to the end of the counter away from everyone.
“Normally I would not point this out, but I figure you would want me to.”
“Ok, what is up?” I asked.
“Well, you are wearing red flannel pants, pink tennis shoes and a yellow blouse with a sweat jacket on over it. I am surprised your head has not exploded yet.” I looked down in horror. I had completely forgotten my plan to change after meeting the cops first thing this morning. I raised my hands to my hair and realized the bun I put it in had come loose. I was a wreck. I glanced over the shop and there were two more customers coming in.
“I can't disappear now. Damn I look like shit.” Donna smiled.
“Be right with you,” she called to the new customers.
“I can take care of this. Here I will prove it.” She turned and walked out where everyone could see her.
“Ok, listen up my friends and valued customers. This lovely lady here.” She pointed to me. I saw Max was trying hard not to smile. “Has been up since four this morning dealing with all of this.” She gestured at the window. “Would any of you mind if she took a break and I handled things here. It may take a smidgen longer but the time is going to a good cause.” The response was heart felt and immediate.
“Nah”
“Go on honey, you deserve it!”
“Of course not!”
“No problem dear.”
“I got time.”
“It would be fine,” said Max. “In fact I am waiting for my ride so if the lovely Donna needs a hand, I have always wanted to sling caffeine.” Donna turned back to me. Max took off his jacket and winked at me. I felt a lump well up in my throat and couldn't speak. I put a hand over my heart towards my customers and turned to go. I smacked Donna on the shoulder but she saw the tears welling up.
“Take care of yourself sweetie. We got this.” As I went up the stairs to my apartment I could hear her ordering the billionaire around. I decided to take advantage of all the kindness and really take care of myself. So as soon as I shut my door behind me I slid to the floor and had a good solid cry.
***
I entered the shop again feeling ready for anything. I was dressed in a casual business skirt suit. Blue with a white blouse. Clean, my hair professional and just a touch of makeup. I was even wearing low heels, which is something I don't normally do working the shop. Crying had released most of my tension and I was ready to take on the world. That turned out to be a good thing. Detective Hanlon was waiting for me. There was no one else in the shop except Max, Axel and of course Donna. Donna saw me come in and I saw her smile with relief. She turned back to the detective.
“You'll have to ask her, officer,” she said. He looked at me.
“I would like to have a few words with you and your friends if I may Ma’am. Can you close up a few minutes?” I saw Donna wince. She knew how I felt about that.
“Sure, it sounds important. Do we still have that be right back sign Donna. I know you didn't throw it away like I asked.” She blushed and nodded, going back to the store room. I got coffee for everyone and had them delivered to the table when Donna walked past with the sign. She shut the door and hung the sign. I sat and she came back standing behind me. The detective looked over at Axel.