Read Online Annie's Neighborhood (Harlequin Heartwarming) by Roz Denny Fox - Free Book Online
Authors: Roz Denny Fox
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hadn’t even reached the door when a call came in regarding a carjacking. “I’ll take it,” he told his dispatcher. “Koot’s off duty and on his way home. Notify Morales, will you? See if he can come in a little early and meet me there.”
Forty minutes later, Sky glanced at his watch as he signed the last report and turned the night shift over to Joe. It was seven-ten. He was closer to the library than his house. Even at that, it’d take him another ten minutes to get there—and he’d be arriving really late.
Sky drove straight to the library. He was sure he stank of sweat, and maybe still had vomit on the toe of one boot. Too bad. He wouldn’t sit in the back row. He’d stand in a shadowy corner, out of everyone’s way. According to Annie’s flyer, the meeting would end at eight-thirty. With luck he’d be there for the last forty-five minutes—the part with audience questions and Annie’s answers.
He’d attended a meeting in the community room on a few other occasions. Thank goodness he didn’t need to waste time hunting down the librarian to get directions.
The door to the room stood open. Sky softened his steps when he drew nearer so as to not disrupt the meeting. It was strangely silent inside the room, although he’d expected a controversial, maybe explosive give-and-take—his main reason for coming tonight. He wanted to make sure things didn’t get too heated and out of hand.
He peered into the room. A side table held a large plate heaped with what appeared to be homemade cookies. The room smelled pleasantly of fresh brewed coffee. Sky spotted a big urn on the same table. Beside it sat paper cups, cream, sugar and napkins. She was ready for a crowd. At the front of the room Annie rested her forearms on the podium. All around her in half circles stood rows of empty chairs. Not a single soul had come to her event.
He must have made a noise at the door, enough for her to lift her head. Their eyes met and Sky’s stomach tightened. He found himself deeply affected by the disappointment etched on her face.
“You must feel vindicated,” she said, indicating the vacant chairs. “You told me this was a foolish idea. What I can’t believe is that everyone stayed away.”
Sky stepped into the room. “I didn’t come to gloat. I came to keep the peace. After I saw your flyer, I thought you’d have a full house. Maybe it’s the time. Six-thirty is early for people who work downtown and travel by bus. They have to get home, prepare and serve a meal and catch a bus back out to a meeting. That’s why teachers at our schools start open house and parent meetings at eight.”
“I didn’t know that. So, you didn’t hear a rumor that people were warned off by anonymous phone messages from gang members?”
Sky tensed. “No. When? Where?”
“A coworker of Mike Spurlock’s claimed he received one of these calls late last night. Woke him up, he said, and he told Mike it was enough to make him stay away.”
“Where are the Gilroys and Spurlocks? Why aren’t they here to support you?”
“They’re already part of the renovation project. But to be totally truthful, they’ve been edgy since the break-ins.”
Sky felt edgy, too. He didn’t like hearing that the Stingers had issued threats. The leaders—and few gang members knew who they were—had a vested interest in keeping neighborhood kids who did their bidding under their thumbs. They definitely wouldn’t like the fact that one of the objectives on Annie’s flyer indicated that beautifying the neighborhood was part of a larger strategy aimed at renewing family values and banishing gang activity. “It doesn’t look as if anyone’s going to show up, Annie. Why don’t I help you clean up the room?”
“That’s kind of you, but I see you’re still in uniform. I’m sure you have other duties.”
“No, I’m off. I intended to go home and get out of the uniform before dropping by here. But a late call tied me up.”
“Then I
Forty minutes later, Sky glanced at his watch as he signed the last report and turned the night shift over to Joe. It was seven-ten. He was closer to the library than his house. Even at that, it’d take him another ten minutes to get there—and he’d be arriving really late.
Sky drove straight to the library. He was sure he stank of sweat, and maybe still had vomit on the toe of one boot. Too bad. He wouldn’t sit in the back row. He’d stand in a shadowy corner, out of everyone’s way. According to Annie’s flyer, the meeting would end at eight-thirty. With luck he’d be there for the last forty-five minutes—the part with audience questions and Annie’s answers.
He’d attended a meeting in the community room on a few other occasions. Thank goodness he didn’t need to waste time hunting down the librarian to get directions.
The door to the room stood open. Sky softened his steps when he drew nearer so as to not disrupt the meeting. It was strangely silent inside the room, although he’d expected a controversial, maybe explosive give-and-take—his main reason for coming tonight. He wanted to make sure things didn’t get too heated and out of hand.
He peered into the room. A side table held a large plate heaped with what appeared to be homemade cookies. The room smelled pleasantly of fresh brewed coffee. Sky spotted a big urn on the same table. Beside it sat paper cups, cream, sugar and napkins. She was ready for a crowd. At the front of the room Annie rested her forearms on the podium. All around her in half circles stood rows of empty chairs. Not a single soul had come to her event.
He must have made a noise at the door, enough for her to lift her head. Their eyes met and Sky’s stomach tightened. He found himself deeply affected by the disappointment etched on her face.
“You must feel vindicated,” she said, indicating the vacant chairs. “You told me this was a foolish idea. What I can’t believe is that everyone stayed away.”
Sky stepped into the room. “I didn’t come to gloat. I came to keep the peace. After I saw your flyer, I thought you’d have a full house. Maybe it’s the time. Six-thirty is early for people who work downtown and travel by bus. They have to get home, prepare and serve a meal and catch a bus back out to a meeting. That’s why teachers at our schools start open house and parent meetings at eight.”
“I didn’t know that. So, you didn’t hear a rumor that people were warned off by anonymous phone messages from gang members?”
Sky tensed. “No. When? Where?”
“A coworker of Mike Spurlock’s claimed he received one of these calls late last night. Woke him up, he said, and he told Mike it was enough to make him stay away.”
“Where are the Gilroys and Spurlocks? Why aren’t they here to support you?”
“They’re already part of the renovation project. But to be totally truthful, they’ve been edgy since the break-ins.”
Sky felt edgy, too. He didn’t like hearing that the Stingers had issued threats. The leaders—and few gang members knew who they were—had a vested interest in keeping neighborhood kids who did their bidding under their thumbs. They definitely wouldn’t like the fact that one of the objectives on Annie’s flyer indicated that beautifying the neighborhood was part of a larger strategy aimed at renewing family values and banishing gang activity. “It doesn’t look as if anyone’s going to show up, Annie. Why don’t I help you clean up the room?”
“That’s kind of you, but I see you’re still in uniform. I’m sure you have other duties.”
“No, I’m off. I intended to go home and get out of the uniform before dropping by here. But a late call tied me up.”
“Then I
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