You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 714

Brandon had a bit of a reputation in the detective squad. He was young, single, no family to worry about, and everyone knew he was the type to throw himself into work. Still, even the toughest guys needed a break, and tonight he was finally heading home. Of course, Ruby had picked this exact night to wait for him at his doorstep.

It wasn’t the first time she’d done this. He should have been used to it by now, but every time he saw her, something inside him twisted. There was no real reason for it. They hadn’t had any kind of falling out. They were almost strangers, really. Still, being around Ruby always left him on edge, in a way that never happened with Patricia. Patricia was complicated, always scheming, but there was something honest about her, something solid that made you trust her deep down.

Ruby, on the other hand, was the total opposite.

His apartment complex had been around for years. It was one of the oldest buildings near the station, the kind where the elevators were added long after people moved in. But the management was decent, the streets were clean, and the neighbors—mostly elderly—were friendly and looked out for each other.

When he walked through the gate, someone always called out, “Hey, Officer Lantz, looks like another young lady’s waiting for you!”

Brandon just kept walking.

A grandma would pipe up, “Is it the same one as last time? Did you break her heart or something?”

“Please, don’t say that,” Brandon said, shaking his head. “Her family’s in trouble with the law. She keeps coming to me for help, but everyone knows what’s done is done. There’s nothing I can do, and honestly, it just makes things harder.”

Once he explained, the teasing usually stopped. Instead, someone would remind him, all serious, “You have to stick to the law, Officer. That’s your job.”

“Of course. I know,” he’d reply.

Brandon took his takeout and headed inside. When he got to his floor, he found Ruby sitting by his door, hugging her knees. Her designer Chanel suit looked out of place against the faded, dark red door that had definitely seen better days.

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