Free Annie's Neighborhood (Harlequin Heartwarming) by Roz Denny Fox Page A

loudly on the Gilroys’ front door.
    They heard the shuffle of feet inside, followed by the hushed voices. Profound relief poured through Annie at the confirmation that her friends were okay. “Peggy,” she called, putting her mouth near the door. “It’s Annie. Police Chief Cordova is with me. It’s safe to open your door.”
    The door opened a crack, as far as the chain lock would allow. George pressed one milky blue eye to the opening. “Peggy, it is Annie. Give me room to open the door.” George accomplished the task, even though his wife, who must’ve been plastered against his back, eased out from around him to sweep Annie into a hug.
    “We’ve been so frightened for you, dear. I called the library. Marta Jones said you were there and in your meeting.”
    “Well, I was there. Not a single person showed up at my meeting,” Annie said. “Uh, except the chief.” She motioned to Sky.
    He broke into their conversation. “Mr. and Mrs. Gilroy, did you see who tagged Annie’s house?”
    “Tagged?” The couple exchanged puzzled glances.
    “Spray painted,” Annie explained. “Tagging is a stylized type of graffiti.”
    “Oh.” This time Annie’s neighbors reached for each other. Peggy’s lips trembled as tears filled her eyes, and George tightened his embrace. “It was dusk when they came,” George said. “We didn’t see their faces, did we, Peggy?”
    Sky’s gaze flicked from one to the other. “I know it’s frightening to witness vandalism, but my staff and I can’t find and charge whoever did this unless someone gives us a tip to go on.”
    “Maybe Mike and Missy got a better look,” George muttered, averting his eyes.
    “We’ll go see them,” Sky said. “You folks have a good evening.” He took a deep breath as he hustled Annie out onto the porch. “They know something they’re not telling,” Sky said under his breath as he glanced back at the Gilroys, who were closing the door.
    “Probably. I hope we get more out of Mike and Missy.”
    But they were stonewalled there, as well, even though Sky did his best to persuade Annie’s younger neighbors to talk.
    Mike thrust his wife behind him and said, “I didn’t get a clear look, mind you. I think it may have been a couple of teenagers out for end-of-school hijinks.”
    Sky’s vexation was more evident when the Spurlocks went in, and he and Annie were forced to pick their way down the neighbors’ darkened walk. “I’ll bet dollars to doughnuts these tags are the handiwork of the Stingers, despite what Mike thinks—or claims to think. If those kids were just out for end-of-year hijinks, yours wouldn’t have been the only house they hit.”
    “You must have some idea which local kids are in the gang,” Annie said.
    “If I did they’d already be in juvie and I wouldn’t have a couple of unsolved drive-by shootings at two homes where nice, studious kids happen to live—plus an unsolved rape. Koot and I are sure the victim knew her assailant, even though she insisted it was a stranger. Her family walked away from a house they’d paid into for five years. I’m telling you this so you’ll understand that these no-name backers like the grip they have on Briar Run youth and won’t give it up without a fight.”
    She pressed her lips together tightly. “I won’t be driven from my home.”
    Sky geared up to say more, hoping to instill a healthy fear in Annie, but his cell phone rang, shattering the silence that had fallen around them. “Great,” he muttered after checking the phone’s readout. “Hello, Corrine. If you’re phoning to give me some half-baked excuse as to why I can’t see Zachary on Wednesday, prepare for my lawyer to file an objection with the family court. It’s my scheduled visitation.”
    The night was still, without even the sound of cicadas. Annie clearly overheard an angry woman shouting at Sky. “I have no idea what dangerous case you’re working on now, Skylar Cordova. We live miles away from you