Dunc had to leave to supervise the cleaning at his house so he and his mother could return to it that evening. Amanda had a project due. They both tried to keep their focus on the things that needed to be done. Their minds often drifted in the direction of wanting to explore their new relationship. Those thoughts were overwhelmingly strong.
***
“So our choices are to let Joseph come after you and catch him on video abusing you?” Dunc leaned back in his chair, frowning at Amanda. “Or I start following you around like a guard dog for life?”
They were sitting in Amanda’s studio. She was at her computer, and Dunc was seated next to her. “I’ve done everything legally I’m supposed to. That’s the way things work.” Amanda nodded at Dunc.
“I don’t like the options. Well, I like the following you around option, but I think you’d get tired of that after a while.” Dunc smiled at Amanda.
“Dunc. I know you don’t like it, but catching him on video is the surest way to get him arrested.”
“He might hurt you.” Dunc shook his head.
“I can give you the account information for the cameras so you can see what’s going on. I’ll get Dew and Sallie out of the house. I have a sneaky suspicion that someone is watching the house. I just can’t figure out where they’re hiding.” Amanda looked up at the camera in the corner of her studio suspiciously.
“What?” Dunc followed her gaze, noticing that she was fixated on the camera.
“Whoever set fire to your display knew to keep out of the range of the cameras.” Amanda turned her back to the camera and whispered. “One of those cameras was angled on your front door.”
“I know. I let them do it when they asked.” Dunc nodded slowly.
“But some random person setting a fire would not know where the cameras were pointed.” Amanda scrunched up her face in thought and tapped her fingers on her desk. She sighed. “I need to call my dad.”
“No.” Dunc scowled. “You’re thinking that Joseph or someone working with him has access to the cameras, right?”
“Yes.” Amanda nodded.
“If someone is watching the cameras, then the moment they see you alone, they’re going to make their move. You haven’t been alone since they were installed, have you?”
“Dew and Sallie go out grocery shopping or to run errands often, but that’s always during the day.”
“But not at night?”
“They’re always at home.” Amanda nodded.
“Then we need to get them out of the house at night and see what happens. If we can control the situation, it’s less dangerous for you. I’ll be close enough to stop him.” Dunc looked at Amanda in concern. “I do not like using you as bait.”
“Unless you want to hide a body, this is the best way.” Amanda sighed, leaning back in her chair. She reached out to Dunc and took his hand. He scooted his chair closer, then leaned over to kiss her.
“Oh, that’s sweet.” Dunc jumped and lost his balance and fell into Amanda’s chair, knocking it and both of them onto the floor. Sallie giggled from the doorway, with Dew snickering right behind her.
“Sallie!” Amanda groaned flat on her back on the floor. “What did I tell you about doing that?”
“What?” Sallie looked innocent. “You used to say dumb things and make faces at Dew and me when you’d walk in on us doing the same thing.”
“Do you mind?” Dunc groaned, trying to get the chair out of the way so he and Amanda could stand.
“Your mother wanted to let you know dinner’s ready.” Dew waved from the doorway. “Chicken pot pie! It smells so good!”
“You two behave!” Sallie giggled, turning and pushing her husband playfully away from the door.
“Behave?” Amanda smirked at Dunc as he helped her up.
“I aim to misbehave.” Dunc grinned back at her.
“Thank you so much for putting that thought into my head.” Amanda giggled.
“What thought?” Dunc leaned down with a smile.
“That I want to dress you up like a certain starship captain for Halloween.” Amanda took a step back and looked at Dunc from head to toe. “Or make you my personal John Wick. That might work better.”
Dunc laughed. “I already have a perfect costume.”
Chapter 8
I t took several days to get Dew and Sallie out of the house for the evening. Amanda gave them money and encouraged them to have a date night between the two of them and watch a movie. They tried to talk Amanda into making it a double date and bringing Dunc along. She made an excuse that he was busy with work, and she also needed to get some things done. It was true.
***
Dunc sat on his porch staring at the charred sections of his lawn. All the debris had been collected and discarded. The heavy smell of smoke and charred wood still covered his front yard. He had settled onto the porch with a couple of bottles of root beer to pass the time until night fell.
Several times kids came by and waved to him. Some of them came up and expressed their sadness about what had happened. A few even asked if he was okay.
He smiled and let them know he would do an even better job next year for the kids. He didn’t know what he was going to do, but it would be better. Dunc’s thoughts were more focused on Amanda and what might happen that evening.
He was worried out of his mind, and there were parts of him screaming at him that there were other choices. He could suggest that Amanda move, and he could follow her. It was a ridiculous notion, but at the moment, he
