The cop read back the details of my complaint. While I listened, I did calculations in my head, figuring out all the things my insurance might not pay for.
“Any idea who might have done it?” the cop asked. “Someone with a grudge?”
“Have you got lots of paper? I’ll give you a list of suspects.” My voice threatened to crack. I clenched my free hand, breathing deeply through my nose while I willed myself not to break down.
“I’ve recently fired a chef, so it could have been him. Or maybe the people who want to buy my café figured I’d be desperate to sell if I couldn’t open for business. Also, I’ve just announced my engagement to a celebrity, and his fans don’t think I’m good enough for him. They’ve been threatening me online.”
“That’s quite a list.”
“Surprising, right? I’m actually delightful.”
“Uh-huh.” For some weird reason, the cop didn’t sound like he believed me, and when he didn’t ask for more information, I doubted he’d even bother looking into the crime.
After hanging up, I started toward the closet where I kept the mop. The quicker I cleaned up the excess water, the better.
But it was eerily quiet, and the café was getting dark as the sun went down. With the walls so wet, I was afraid to turn the power back on in case the wiring short circuited and started an electrical fire.
I tugged my phone back out of my pocket, and my finger hovered over Carlotta’s name in my contact list.
Then my finger drifted to a different name on the list, and it wasn’t Carlotta I called.
Kade answered his phone. “Hello?”
“It’s me.” My voice caught on the words.
“What’s wrong, Nat?” Weirdly, the sharp worry in his tone made me feel steadier.
“Someone vandalized the café. They flooded the place. I don’t know why. Nothing’s stolen. They must have just wanted to make a mess.”
“You’re there now? Who’s with you?”
“Nobody. I’m going to clean up as much as I can before I get out of here, but it’s the worst possible timing. Gigi and Butch were supposed to stop in tomorrow.” It was hard to keep my tone even when frustrated tears were pricking my eyes. “Kade, could it have been one of your fans who did this? Carlotta said there have been some nasty comments online. Maybe even threats.”
He sucked in an audible breath. “Lock the door. I’m on my way.”
I hung up and was mopping in the semi-dark kitchen when a bang on the door startled me out of my skin. I let out a shriek, and it took my heart several seconds to settle back into my chest cavity.
“Nat!” It was Kade’s voice. “Nat, let me in.”
Dropping the mop, I ran to open the door.
Kade swept in like a reassuring hurricane, gathering me into his arms. “Are you all right?” he demanded. His worried gaze roved over me, examining every inch of my face.
“I’m okay.”
He dragged in a breath, then let me go slowly, as though reluctant to stop touching me. Looking around, he took in the broken lock on the window where the hose had been shoved inside. “If I find out who did this…” he muttered darkly.
I let out a shaky laugh. “If we find out, I’ll hold them down while you hit them. No, wait. Other way around.”
“We can take turns holding and hitting, but in the meantime, I’ll secure the window. Do you still have a toolbox in the storage room?”
He disappeared out back for a few minutes, and emerged armed with tools. While he worked on the window, I mopped up the last of the water. It had soaked into the bottom of the drywall, and the whole place smelled of wet wood. I’d have to close the café while it was fixed.
This was the last thing I needed.
I mopped harder, attacking the floor while I cursed whoever did this. And I was so busy obliterating every last bit of moisture, I didn’t notice the hammering had stopped until Kade eased the mop from my hands.
“Come on, you’ve done as much as you can. I’ll take you to my place and make you some dinner. You should eat.”
“I’m not hungry.” The anger drained out of me, leaving despair in its place. “I want to go home.”
“Okay, let’s go.” He locked the door behind us and checked everything was secure before walking me to my front door.
When we reached my doorstop, he said. “I don’t want to leave you alone.”
“Come in.” I pushed my door open. “I’ll fix you a drink.”
“I’ll fix you a drink. What would you like?”
“There’s some wine in the fridge. Will you have some with me?” I rubbed my neck. My muscles were sore, probably because my shoulders were so tense. Rolling them back and forth, I tried to relax.
“Sure.”
He poured the wine while I sank onto the couch. Kade brought the glasses over and sat beside me. His gaze was still worried and watchful, and he sat close enough for his knee to bump my thigh.
“Carlotta didn’t tell me people were commenting online about our engagement,” he said. “Have you seen what they’ve been saying? Did you let the police know?”
I sipped my wine, my muscles relaxing a little more as the liquid slid down my throat. “Carlotta wouldn’t let me look, but apparently your fans don’t think I’m hot enough for you.”
Kade choked on his wine. He coughed, thumping his fist against his chest. “What?” he spluttered. “You can’t be serious.”
I shrugged. “You’re a heart throb. I doubt anyone would be good enough in the eyes of your fans.”
“Carlotta should have shown me. I need
