"It's probably nothing," Joy said. "Some hive reducers moved around, a loose gate latch. Could have been weather or animals."
"That's what Mateo thought at first." Andre opened the folder, spreading out photos. "Before they burned his boss's orchard."
Joy leaned forward despite herself. The images showed charred trees, destroyed equipment, scared faces. Each photo was labeled with dates and locations. A clear escalation over time.
"The community's been dealing with this for three years," she murmured.
"Exactly. Which is why I've been working on prevention strategies." Andre pulled out more papers. Diagrams and schedules filled the pages. "I've mapped vulnerable properties based on the attack patterns. If we can get ahead of them..."
Joy studied the documents, appreciating the thoroughness even as uneasiness gnawed at her gut. "This is a lot of work."
"I want to help." His earnestness was almost painful. "I've already purchased security equipment for your property through the department's special budget. Cameras, motion sensors, the works. Top of the line stuff."
"You already purchased this equipment?"
"The department has funds specifically for at-risk businesses." He pulled out another sheet. "I could install everythingtomorrow. Full coverage of your workshop and hives. I'd personally check your perimeter every morning."
Between her uncle Heath and her older cousin Gabriel, two cops watching out for her, she didn’t need a third. At least her cousin Valeria was bringing some much-needed feminine wisdom to the Bear Partrol.
Joy's hands stilled on the papers. "You want to patrol my property every morning?"
"And evenings. Maybe mid-day if things escalate." He traced routes on a hand-drawn map. "Based on public records, I've worked out the most efficient pattern. Your workshop is here, right? Based on the building permits?"
Joy’s heart sank as tension rose, heating her face. "You looked up my building permits?"
"Public information. Same with the property boundaries, septic locations, access roads." He didn't even pause, pulling out another diagram. "See, if we put cameras at these angles..."
"Andre." Joy's voice came out very quiet. "How much research have you done on my property?"
He looked up, seeming to register her tone for the first time. "I'm trying to be thorough. This is what I do. Threat assessment, strategic planning."
"Without asking me."
"I wanted to come prepared." Confusion flickered across his features. "Show you I take this seriously."
"You mapped my entire property without talking to me first."
"The information was publicly available?—"
"That's not the point." Joy pushed the papers back toward him. "You decided what I needed and made plans for my land without any input from me."
His bear rose behind his eyes, frustrated. "Someone was on your property. What if next time they do more than move equipment around?"
"The issues I told Rollo about were probably nothing. Weather, animals, my own forgetfulness."
"You can't be serious." His voice hardened. "Look at these photos. Look what they did to the orchard, the brewery. You think you can handle this alone?"
Joy's temper flared. "You can’t just walk in here with a folder full of plans and expect me to hand over control of my property."
"I'm not asking for control. I'm offering protection."
"Protection I didn't ask for. With equipment you already ordered. And patrols you've already scheduled." She gestured at the papers. "Did you plan on asking my permission at any point?"
Andre's jaw tightened. The sweet, bumbling man from ten minutes ago vanished, replaced by something harder. "I'm doing my job."
"Your job is to coordinate with willing participants, not make unilateral decisions about my security."
They stared at each other across the small table. Joy could smell his frustration mixing with genuine fear. Her mountain lion recognized a predator backed into a corner.
