Derek nodded. “As okay with it as any man in his condition can be.”
“Okay well, do they have a set a schedule for you, or…” She trailed off, she really hadn’t any idea how this was supposed to work.
“No. You let me know your schedule, I am yours any three days of the week you choose. I’m just not available on Sunday’s or Tuesday’s, I work with someone else those days.” Derek specified. “However, Home Health Care did explain to me that you want to start at part-time care but at some point you would likely need more full-time assistance. They already know my schedule though, so it’s likely that when that time comes, you will be assigned a second person who can fill in the gaps . But for now, when did you think would work best?”
Naya did some quick calculations. “Well, I guess let’s do Monday, Wednesday, Friday to start? Vance usually sleeps in late, but I would want you here when he wakes up to help him get ready if he needs. So how about ten in the morning? And your shifts are eight hours, correct?”
He nodded. “That works, and yes. I take a half hour lunch, but I will stay from ten in the morning until six every night. My job is to help with medical care and household chores, errands, or whatever needs to be done that the person no longer can on their own, so I can assist with whatever Vance needs done on those days.”
“Perfect. Well, no chores here. I do want you to make sure Vance eats lunch, I’ve been leaving it in the fridge and coming home to it untouched. And then on Friday’s if you could take him to his chemo appointment at two in the afternoon? He was driving himself…but it’s gotten too hard.”
“I understand, and I can definitely do those.”
“Other than that, whatever he wants you to do is up to him. He’s an adult—”Her voice cracked. “—And this is his home.”
“Yes ma’am. Well, I will report back to Home Health Care that things went well and that I’ll start Friday, since it’s Wednesday?”
“Sounds great to me.” She said as she suddenly remembered her forgotten pizza in the microwave and randomly popped open the door to her now cold slice, she would have to reheat it again.
“Perfect. Home Health Care will call you to verify, but if you want to give me the house key for tomorrow, I’ll say bye to Vance and get out of your way the evening.”
“Certainly.” Naya grabbed the spare house key off the wall and handed it to Derek. She would need to make another copy at some point. “Here you go.”
“Thank you. I’ll show myself out, have a good night.”
Naya responded automatically and slipped her pizza back in the microwave, resting her elbows on the counter as it made its slow revolutions. She could still feel her emotions rippling right beneath her normally composed surface. She would need to figure herself out before she returned to work. She couldn’t end up crying on her first case. She would never live it down.
She scarfed down her pizza as quickly as the temperature would allow, wishing like hell she could go for a run right now. It always helped to clear her mind, but duty was calling and she had a murderer to find.
She had wanted to talk with Vance about Derek, but when she looked in the den Kevin was still there, and they were clearly having a ball with the shooting game they were playing. So instead she decided to settle for a quick goodbye. After all, Vance could text her if he wanted to.
“Later Vance.” She called out as she walked to the door.
“See ya, catch those bad guys for me, will ya?”
“I will.” She smiled at their inside joke. It started when she had first become sheriff.
She caught Kevin’s eye just as she stepped out the door, and she couldn’t be quite sure, but she though she saw him wink at her. Maybe it was her imagination.
CHAPTER 6
MARK
He was bored. Really bored. The young girl hadn’t fought enough and it had been over too quickly for him. He missed the days when he could play mind games with women for years instead.
Now he was just sitting in his apartment, staring out the window, his disguise making his face unbearably itchy. Granted, he could probably take it off. He doubted anyone was really looking for him, especially here and on the third floor. But he was also a cautious man, and he knew the one time people let their guard down was often the time they got caught. He wasn’t taking that chance, he had too much work to do.
He turned away from the window and looked at what he had spent all day setting up in his room. Granted, it was rough. But he could perfect it as the days went on.
If only he hadn’t had to get a job! He would’ve been able to devote all his time to his work, but unfortunately he had to pay for his room somehow. And he needed to be a model tenant if he wanted to stay under the radar, so that meant he couldn’t miss rent payments.
All in all the job wasn’t too bad, he had some great coworkers. They had even invited him out for a beer after work the other night. He had to decline though, he couldn’t let anyone get to close, it would be too risky.
He surveyed his set up again. It definitely needed work. But even though he was bored he just didn’t feel like devoting himself to it tonight. What he did feel like, was doing some scouting. He pulled out his phone and opened his favorite feature.
