CHAPTER EIGHT
As soon as the man in the gray car left, Morgan pulled into the driveway and drove to her parking space inside the garage. She pulled the car to a stop and got out.
Looking carefully around her, she dashed to the back door of Ashley’s house and knocked.
Mark answered the door. “Hi, Morgan. Is something wrong? You look upset.”
“May I come inside?” she asked.
As she stepped through the mudroom into the kitchen, Ashley appeared. “What’s going on?”
“A strange man was parked in front of the driveway, blocking it. When he wouldn’t move, I went to talk to him. He said he was under the impression the house was for sale, and he wanted to get a look at it.”
Ashley and Mark looked at one another with shock.
“The house isn’t for sale. If that ever should happen, you’d be the first to know,” said Ashley.
“Of course,” agreed Mark.
“But that isn’t the only strange thing. He said, ‘Now that you are home, I’ll move out of the way.’” Her mouth dry, Morgan clasped her hands together. “How does he know who I am and that I live here? I’ve never seen him before.”
Mark frowned and glanced at Ashley, then at her. “It’s strange, and I don’t like it.”
“I’m too afraid to go into the apartment by myself,” Morgan told him. “Will you go with me? I want to make sure no one is there.”
“Of course,” said Mark. “I haven’t seen anyone around. Have you?” he asked Ashley.
“No, I haven’t,” she said, hugging Morgan. “You’re right. You shouldn’t go into your apartment alone.”
“C’mon,” said Mark. “I’ll get my flashlight and go with you.”
“Thank you both,” said Morgan. “I thought you might think I was overreacting, but there was something wrong about the whole thing.”
“I agree,” said Ashley. “Thank you, Mark.”
Morgan followed Mark out of the house and walked with him to her parking space in the garage to make sure nothing was out of the ordinary there. When that area seemed fine, Mark headed up the stairs to her apartment, moving as quietly as he could.
She handed him the keys to the apartment, and he unlocked the door.
“Stand back,” said Mark, using the flashlight to look around the entrance and kitchen. He moved through the rest of the apartment and returned to her. “Everything seems fine. Now we can turn on the lights and look together.”
As they moved through the space, Morgan realized how vulnerable she was. Maybe it was time to get a dog. She’d talk to Brad to see what suggestions he had for one. She loved both of his dogs but thought a smaller one, like Caesar, would be best.
###
Lying in bed, Morgan thought back to her time living with Dale. She’d paid off the bills associated with his business, even the one gambling loan she was unhappy about. She’d covered them all, hadn’t she? There should be no reason to suspect anyone was after her for those old problems.
From now on, she’d have to be more careful.
###
In the office the next day, Morgan waited until things were quiet before tapping on Brad’s door.
“Yes? Come in,” he called out to her.
“I need to talk to you about something. When I went home last night, a car was parked in front of the house where I rent an apartment. It was blocking the driveway to the garage and my home. When I asked the driver to move, he pretended to be looking at a house for sale, which I know to be untrue. And he knew who I was. It made me and my friends very uncomfortable.”
Brad got up and closed the door except for an inch or two.
“Please have a seat,” he said, giving her a worried look before he settled behind his desk. “Go on, tell me more.”
Morgan lowered herself into a chair in front of his desk, unsettled by his concern.
“My friend, Mark, checked the premises of my apartment before I went inside and could find nothing amiss. But after he left, I realized how vulnerable I am in my space. I might consider getting a dog. I’ve heard that’s one of the best things you can do if you’re worried about your safety. ”
Brad studied her. “Why would anyone be trailing you?”
“My husband made some foolish mistakes in Florida,” she said.
“Not only did he take bad loans to cover gambling debts, but his business was also falling apart. After he died, I had to pay off all his debts, which is why I ended up selling my house and renting an apartment from a friend of mine here in town. Maybe I missed something.”
“I see,” Brad said. “What kind of dog are you talking about? Shouldn’t you first make sure you have proper security locks? Getting a dog is a big responsibility.”
“I have a security system. Still, I want something more. My space is limited. I need a small dog like Caesar to warn off any intruders. Also, it needs to be small because I might need to carry a dog up and down the stairs, which are steep.”
“When I was growing up, I had a Dachshund, which is why I have Caesar. They’re a delightful breed and would be a good choice for you because they’re very territorial.
No one would come to the door without the dog barking.
” He shrugged. “Sometimes Caesar goes overboard, but that’s part of the breed.
Other than that, they’re fun to have around, very loyal, very protective.
I think a Dachshund would be an easy choice for you. ”
“Rather than a puppy, would you know of any place I could get an older dog who could easily fit into my home?”
“Let me think about it. The breeder where I got Caesar sometimes has older dogs available for adoption. I’ll look into it and let you know. In the meantime, why don’t I lend you Caesar? That will help you decide what kind of dog you want.”
“If that wouldn’t be too much trouble, it would be an ideal solution,” she said. “What about Sid? Will he miss Caesar?”
“I’ll take care of Sid with extra attention. He’ll be fine,” said Brad. “I would hate for anything to happen to you.” His cheeks flushed with emotion, and even though this situation was vastly different, Morgan knew he was thinking of his wife.
Morgan got to her feet. “Thank you so much for your understanding.”
“If it’s convenient, I’ll bring Caesar by after work, and we can see how he does,” said Brad.
“Okay. I’ll order pizza and make a salad for supper to give us both time to see if Caesar is willing to stay with me.”
“That sounds like a deal,” said Brad. “I have an afternoon court date, but as soon as I’m through, I’ll let you know, and we can arrange a time to meet.”
“Thanks,” said Morgan, grateful he hadn’t brushed off her worries. She was an independent woman who’d lived on her own for most of her adult life, minus the two years with Dale.
###
That evening, Brad arrived on her doorstep, holding Caesar in one arm and a large bag in the other.
When the dog saw her, he wiggled with excitement in Brad’s arms.
“Come in, come in,” she said, patting Caesar’s head before Brad entered and set him down.
“Yes, you’ll have to carry a dog up and down the stairs,” said Brad. “Dachshunds tend to have problems with their backs if you’re not careful with them.”
They both chuckled as Caesar headed to the kitchen closet, where Morgan stored food.
“I bought some treats for him. Okay if I give him one?” she asked Brad.
“Sure. He’s already had dinner, but I brought his food, bowl, favorite toy, harness, and blanket if you both decide he’s going to stay a while.”
Morgan chuckled. “I bought him a blanket and a cuddly toy, but thought we’d see how things go before doing more than that. How about a glass of wine? I have the pizza warming in the oven and a salad almost ready to go.”
“Wine sounds great,” said Brad, taking a seat at the little round table in the kitchen, which served as both a dining room and a kitchen eating area.
She handed him a glass of wine and sat down at the table opposite him with her own drink.
He looked around. “This is nice.”
“Thanks. It’s small but well laid out. It’s a blessing to be able to stay here. My friends, Ashley and Mark, own the house and decided to add an apartment over the garage as an extra source of income.”
“I noticed the trees and the garden. It’s a beautiful setting,” said Brad.
“The fenced yard will be a suitable place for Caesar or another dog to run and play.”
At hearing his name, Caesar walked over to her and jumped up into her lap.
Laughing, Morgan hugged him.
“I guess it’s settled. Caesar can stay here until you can get a dog of your own,” said Brad. “Besides I’m super busy and Caesar will be content here.”
“I’ve noticed how much busier you’ve been,” said Morgan.
“It will only get worse. More and more cases involving families are being brought to court,” he said. “Drugs are a big part of it.”
“I’ve noticed that when typing up notes on various cases,” she said.
“I’m hoping to have you do more and more research for me. Are you willing to take that on?”
“Yes,” Morgan answered without hesitation. “Family law is so much more interesting than business law.”
Brad chuckled. “I’ve always thought so.”
Morgan served the dinner, and they ate, talking comfortably about the town.
When it was time for Brad to leave, Caesar went to his side. Brad knelt beside the dog. “You’re going to stay, Caesar. It’s all right.”
Morgan knelt on the other side of the dog. “You’ll be with me. Okay?”
Morgan held her breath as the dog seemed to decide if it was what he wanted. When Caesar stayed at Morgan’s side as Brad got to his feet, she let out a puff of relief.
“Thank you so much for your help,” she told Brad, as he got ready to return home.
He gave Caesar a pat on the head before leaving.
Morgan waited for a while, then said, “Want to go outside, Caesar?”
The dog yapped and ran in circles of excitement.
She retrieved the harness from the bag of items Brad had brought, and after she finally got him hooked up and into her arms, they left the apartment in a burst of energy.
Carefully, she carried the dog down the stairs and then led him to the fenced-in yard, where he ran around nose to the ground, getting used to the territory.
Ashley came out of the house and walked over to her. “So, this is the dog you’re trying out?”
Morgan laughed. “I’m glad you don’t mind.”
“Mark and I think it’s a great idea. We don’t like having a strange car hanging around the house. Have you called the police?”
Morgan shook her head. “Not until I have proof that someone is after me. I’m happy, though, that Brad didn’t disregard my concern.
I think it reminded him of what happened to his wife, and he’s making sure I have Caesar around until I get a dog of my own.
He’s checking with Caesar’s kennel for a Dachshund for me. ”
Caesar came over to them and wagged his tail at Ashley. She leaned down and patted him.
But when Mark walked toward them, the dog moved to Morgan’s side and barked in a high-pitched sound, ending in a howl, much like the cry of a wolf.
Startled, Morgan and Ashley looked at one another and laughed.
Mark talked calmly to the dog and sat back on his heels, and Caesar finally approached him for a pat on the head.
When Mark stood, he grinned at Morgan. “Caesar might be small, but there’s no question that he’s going to let all of us know if there’s trouble. He’s a great watchdog for you, Morgan.”
“Thanks to my boss, I have him on loan,” she said.
“After seeing this dog, I’m sure our kids are going to try to talk us into getting one. He’s adorable,” said Ashley.
Morgan hooked Caesar to his leash. “Time for me to turn in. Thanks again for understanding. We’ll see how he does when he’s left alone during the day. I’ll try to get home at lunchtime, but I’m not sure I’ll make it.”
“No problem. I’ll even test Caesar to see if he barks when I come around,” said Ashley.
Morgan walked the dog over to the stairway and lifted him up in her arms.
At the top of the stairs, Morgan hugged the dog and set him down before opening the door and going inside.
Freed from his harness, Caesar ran into Morgan’s bedroom, jumped up onto the bench at the end of the bed, and hopped up onto the duvet, where he lay, giving her a doggy smile.
Morgan laughed. “Looks like you’re more than happy to settle in.” She tossed his blanket to him, and he circled under it until he was satisfied enough to lie down right in the middle of the bed.