Lessons From a Younger Lover by Zuri Day Read Free Book Online Page B

former classmate and good friend. “Y’all fools have so little to do that you’re harassing old ladies now? What, is Kristy’s closed or out of donuts?”
    Carlos gave an all’s clear to the other officers. His partner walked to the patrol car to make a report, shaking his head as he did so.
    â€œWe got a call, ma’am,” Carlos directed his comment to Mary. “One of your neighbors thought they saw a burglar on your roof.”
    â€œThat was me, fool,” Ransom said. “Miss Mary has squirrels getting in through a hole in the attic window. I found the culprit of the break-in, an old tennis ball. One of the kids probably threw it when Miss Mary wasn’t home and the hole’s been there ever since. I guess it’s good the neighbors are being vigilant, though. Who called you?”
    â€œThat’s confidential.”
    Ransom snorted.
    Carlos once again directed his words to the home owner. “You have good neighbors,” he said with a smile. “It’s nice to know that you’re all looking out for each other. You can’t be too careful. And even though this was a false alarm, you might want to consider taking additional measures since you live alone. There are affordable alarm systems available, and dogs not only make good pets and companions, they’re great protectors too.”
    â€œWell, I sure do appreciate it,” Mary murmured shyly. Getting attention from the handsome man had her blushing like a teenager. Still fit and feisty at sixty-two, she often wondered who the old woman was staring back from her mirror, and what happened to the thirty-something she thought she’d see forever.
    â€œSome company will be moving in soon.”
    â€œA relative or somebody?” Ransom asked.
    Mary gave him the once-over. “Or somebody…” she answered in a that-is-none-of-your-business voice. Her sparkling eyes and pursed lips showed there’d be no further explanation.
    To underscore that fact, Mary walked over to the table and picked up the aluminum tray of cookies and a stack of napkins. “For you and the other officers,” she offered Carlos.
    â€œOh, thank you, ma’am. But we couldn’t take all your sweets.”
    â€œI insist, you handsome devil. Give them to your boys out there.” Mary gestured to the street where the other officers lounged between the two parked patrol cars.
    â€œWell, thank you, ma’am. Since it appears everything is under control here, we’ll be on our way.”
    â€œI appreciate your looking after me,” Mary called out to the officer’s retreating back.
    He threw back a wave and within minutes, the cars were gone.

9
    Gwen stood in the shadows of her front porch, waiting to see the perpetrator marched off in handcuffs. She’d ventured just outside her door as soon as the officers drove up, had watched two of them walk up the front sidewalk while a third had disappeared around the side of Mary’s house. Muffled voices followed. Gwen couldn’t make out the conversation but since there was no shouting or gunshots, she breathed a sigh of relief that the criminal would be taken away peacefully.
    Gwen came to full alert as two officers walked back to their patrol car. The officers could be seen clearly under the streetlights, and while they seemed intent on doing their business, there was no sign of stress that she could pick up from their body language. Gwen couldn’t believe they were being so casual at the scene of a crime.
    When the third officer came away from the shrubbery laughing and holding what looked like a cookie tray, Gwen’s curiosity could take no more. Where is that low-down gangster thug? How could he have escaped? The police cars had barely pulled away from the curb when she came out of her hiding place and marched across the lawn.
    â€œMiss Mary! Miss Mary?” she said as she rapped the door’s knocker. “Miss Mary,