Seattle after Midnight

“It just seems odd you would do this favor for someone you only met last night.”

“Actually, Georgia, I met you more than a month ago. It’s you who only met me last night. Let’s just say I want to ensure the continued success of Seattle after Midnight.”

WITH A PROMISE to stop by later that evening to install the security system, Pierce walked Georgia to the door, past Robin who didn’t even try to pretend she wasn’t interested in their conversation.

As soon as Georgia was gone, he handed Robin the file. “Put this away, please.”

Robin took a peek inside. “She didn’t sign the contract. Did you get a retainer?”

“I did not,” he said in a tone meant to discourage further questions.

“I see. She’s a friend, then.”

“She isn’t a friend.”

“An admirer?”

“Robin…”

“Would you like me to put your rose in a vase?”

He retreated behind his office door, closing it firmly between them.

GEORGIA STOPPED at the IGA to pick up her groceries, then went home to cook. She was relieved to find no roses waiting for her when she returned and gave herself over to the double pleasure of cooking and listening to Vivaldi for a change.

She was spooning chicken cacciatore—her mother’s recipe—into individual serving containers when her doorbell rang. She wiped her hands on a towel then went to see who was there.

Pierce stood on her welcome mat, a large cardboard box in hand.

Her heart thumped at the sight of him. He was dressed as he’d been in the office that day, in jeans and a black shirt made out of cotton so fine it looked as soft as silk. He wiped his feet on the mat several times before stepping inside. It wasn’t raining, but the evening sky was dreary.

“I didn’t expect you so soon.” She sounded breathless, not at all like herself. But Pierce didn’t seem to notice—not her voice or anything else about her, either.

He settled into work right away, and after watching him for a while, she returned to the kitchen. She checked on the beef stew simmering on the stove, then made a batch of cheese biscuits. When those were ready, she labeled several packages for Fred and placed them in a cardboard box.

Pierce was in the entry, installing a motion detector in the corner of the hall.

“I’m going to take this over to my next-door neighbor, Fred.”

“I saw him on the porch when I came in. Seems like the kind of guy who likes to keep an eye on things.”

“That’s Fred all right.” He’d been like a mother hen since she’d moved in. Warning her about the dangers of the big city and the need for a pretty, young woman to be careful. Meanwhile, he went to sleep with his front door unlocked at night.

Chuckling to herself, Georgia stepped over the hedge and found Fred on the porch, as if he were waiting for her.

“Thought I smelled something cooking over there.” He gave her a smile and a wink. “What did you make this week, Georgie-girl?”

“Let’s go inside and I’ll show you.”

She spent the better part of an hour talking to Fred, who insisted she share half a beer with him while he ate her stew. She stored the casseroles in his freezer and made him promise he’d eat one every night.

“Toast and cereal are fine for breakfast and lunch, but you need at least one real meal every day.”

He patted her hand. “You sound like my daughter.”

She knew Fred’s daughter could only afford to visit once every three or four years. She usually preferred to visit Seattle in the summer. Which meant Fred spent every Christmas alone. Maybe next year, she’d invite him to South Dakota with her.

“Did the show go well last night?” Fred asked, as she was preparing to leave.

“Pretty good, thanks.”

“I’m sorry I missed it.”

“That’s okay.” Fred was not a night owl, but it was sweet the way he always enquired about her show.

She left his house, hopped the hedge, then bounded up the shallow steps of her own porch. The second she opened her front door an obnoxious, unrelenting screeching filled the air.

Georgia shrieked, then covered her ears. Pierce galloped down the stairs, shot her a look of disbelief, then rounded the corner toward the back door where he’d installed the main control panel.

A moment later, Fred limped over, arriving on her porch just as Pierce managed to disable the alarm.

“I guess it works,” she said sheepishly to Pierce when he returned.

“I’d say so.” Pierce offered a hand to her neighbor and the two men chatted about the system for a few minutes. Fred seemed pleased that Georgia was taking security seriously.

“This neighborhood isn’t as safe as it used to be. Why just the other day I saw a strange man sitting in a car across the street. Seemed like he was casing the block, if you ask me.”

“Oh?” Pierce looked interested. “Can you give me a description of this guy?”

“Would if I could, but he was wearing a baseball cap and my eyes aren’t as good as they used to be. I tried to run outside to get his license number but my knees were acting up real bad that day.”

“Do you remember which day this was?” Pierce asked.

Fred traced back over the past week and finally settled on a day just before the first rose had been delivered.

“If you happen to notice him again, I’d be glad if you’d let me know.” Pierce gave Fred one of his business cards. “Now, let me show you both how this new security system works.”

Pierce led Georgia and Fred to the kitchen where the control panel had been installed next to the rear entrance. He explained how to activate the system and how to change the four-number code.

“Keep this portable unit by the front door,” he told Georgia, handing her a plastic box about the size of a fat TV remote control. “As long as you punch in your code within thirty seconds of opening the front door, the alarm won’t go off.”

Later, once Fred had returned home, he nodded at Georgia. “Your neighbor made it over here pretty quick for an old guy.”

“Fred’s one of the good ones.” She brushed a dab of flour from her jeans. If only she’d had time to change before Pierce showed up on her doorstep. “What do you think about that man he saw on the street?”

“Could be your guy. Can’t say for sure, of course. I hope Fred will call me if he spots him again.”

“I’m sure he will. Fred takes it personally if anything bad happens on the block.”