Chapter 11: The Boundary Holds
Leo folded the note neatly and tossed it into the trash can beside the mail sorting tray. He looked up at Maya, his expression calm and resolute. "I'm not leaving his tools on the porch. If he wants them, he can arrange to pick them up through a neutral third party, or he can forget about them," Leo said firmly. Maya let out a small sigh of relief, clearly dreading the thought of Derek lurking outside their front door. "Do you think he’ll try to cause trouble at the shop?" she asked, her concern shifting to Leo's safety. "Let him try. My boss, Frank, knows the deal. Derek isn't allowed anywhere near the bays," Leo reassured her, walking over to place a comforting hand on her shoulder.
The refusal was a test of their new boundaries, and Derek didn't take it well. Two days later, while Leo was at work, a heavy pounding echoed against the front door. Maya froze on the living room sofa, her heart leaping into her throat. Buster immediately sprang to life, racing down the hallway with hackles raised, letting out a terrifying, booming bark that shook the front panels of the door. "Maya! Open up! I know you're in there! I just need my gear!" Derek’s muffled voice shouted from the porch, laced with alcohol and desperation. Buster slammed his paws against the inner wooden door, snapping his jaws in a display of pure, protective aggression that sent a clear message to anyone on the other side.
Maya forced herself to stay calm, remembering Leo’s instructions. She did not approach the door, nor did she speak. She simply pulled out her phone and dialed Leo’s number. Within five rings, Leo picked up. "He's at the door, banging and yelling," Maya whispered into the phone. "Stay inside, don't open it. I'm calling the police right now," Leo replied, his voice hard as steel. Before Derek could strike the door again, the sound of a police cruiser turning onto their quiet street with sirens off silenced him. Through the peephole, Maya saw Derek hesitate, curse loudly under his breath, and sprint off the porch toward his beat-up sedan just as the cruiser rolled up to the curb.
