CHAPTER NINE
Morgan was unsure what time it was when she was jarred awake by Caesar’s barking.
Heart pounding, she got out of bed and went to see what was troubling him.
The apartment was small enough that it took very few steps to reach the kitchen and the entrance.
On tiptoes, she faced the door and waited for any noise.
The dog raced to the front door and stood there, sniffing and barking.
Silently, Morgan picked up the dog and listened.
She heard footsteps descending the stairs.
Quietly, she moved to the kitchen window overlooking the drive. Standing away from it, she peered through the glass to see someone running up the driveway toward the street.
Mark and Ashley had begun to leave backyard spotlights on, so Morgan was pretty sure the figure was that of a man.
Wrapping her arms around herself, she took calming breaths and let them out slowly. Her fingers had gone cold when she went to pick up Caesar’s warm body.
“Good dog, Caesar,” she murmured, rocking him in her arms.
For whatever reason, someone was after her. She knew she’d have to do something more than get a dog. Perhaps she should stay somewhere else. She didn’t want to bring any harm to Ashley, Mark, and their kids.
Morgan checked the time. Two o’clock.
She went back to bed, but there was no way she could go back to sleep. Caesar finally nestled up against her and softly snored.
###
The next morning, she called Brad to tell him that she was returning Caesar and why.
He listened quietly and then said, “I think you’d better stay here. The farmhouse has an adequate security system, which is one of the reasons I bought it. And with Sid and Caesar on alert, I believe you’ll be very safe. As you know, I have an upstairs guest room, and you’re welcome to use it.”
Morgan sighed with both relief and disappointment. She hated losing her independence.
“Think about it,” said Brad. “No matter where you end up, I think it’s wise to leave your apartment until we find out what’s going on.”
“Okay, you’re right. Caesar, bless his heart, did an excellent job of alerting me. But I realize that he needs to be at home with Sid. I’ll bring him to your house as soon as I get ready for work.”
“I’ll have the coffee pot on,” said Brad. “Then I think we’d better write down all that’s happened to you. Keep a timeline of it.”
“You’re right. I can’t really go to anyone without details worth following up on. I know that it was a man running away. I could tell from his build and the way he ran. But I didn’t see a vehicle.”
“That’s a start,” said Brad.
“Thanks for being so sympathetic and not brushing away my concern,” Morgan said. In the past, whenever Morgan had tried to speak to Dale about any concerns, he’d waved them away, making her wonder if she was overreacting.
Morgan quickly packed an overnight bag with a few things she knew she’d need for the next day or two. Then she packed up the bag of Caesar’s things and took both to her car, which was parked inside the garage as Mark had suggested.
She returned to get Caesar and carried him down the stairs, along with her purse, phone, and laptop.
###
A short time later, she pulled into the driveway of Brad’s house.
Caesar began to bark and scratch at the back door to get out as Sid bounded toward them.
Morgan climbed out and lifted Caesar from the backseat of the car, laughing when he and Sid touched noses in a greeting before running off together.
Brad came out of the house, stopping to pet Caesar before coming to her and retrieving the suitcase from her hand. “Welcome.”
“Thanks, but I promise I won’t be a guest here. I intend to pay you rent or do something in return for your hospitality.”
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll get things sorted out as soon as we can,” said Brad. “I’ve got some fresh coffee made. Get settled and enjoy a cup before we have to leave for the office.”
As a thought occurred to her, Morgan’s stomach curled. “We can’t appear to come into the office together. Rosalie would have that news all over town.”
“Gotcha,” said Brad. “No worries. I’ll head in now so you can take your time here.”
Morgan accepted a house key from him and followed him inside.
Brad put her suitcase in one of the upstairs guest rooms and left.
Standing inside the guest room, Morgan looked through the colored-glass window and could discern the shape of his car as he drove away.
She hung up the few things she’d brought with her and put her toiletries and bathroom items away in the guest bathroom. The painters had, thankfully, completed painting the upstairs rooms, and though the furnishings were sparse, it was enough for her to be comfortable.
Downstairs in the kitchen, she found the coffee pot and poured herself a cup. Though it was a chilly morning, she went onto the back deck and took a seat in one of the chairs. She needed a moment to think.
Why was she being followed? Had she taken care of all the details in Florida?
When she got to her office, she’d check to see if she could find anything online related to Starshine Pool Services, the pool maintenance company Dale had owned in Florida.
She’d sold the business to help pay off debts.
Toward the end of his life, her husband had been dealing with unsavory characters, which was one reason she couldn’t wait to leave Florida.
She helped Caesar off her lap, rubbed Sid’s ears, and headed into the kitchen. Time to go into the office.
###
Rosalie lit up when Morgan walked in. “How was your weekend?”
“Short,” said Morgan, playing along with her.
No way would she ever let Rosalie know she was staying at Brad’s house.
That would be a disaster. Though she enjoyed Brad’s company and was grateful for his help, he’d never indicated any real interest in her.
And now, with her worries about her safety, the last thing she was thinking of was a relationship with a man.
“Mondays are always hard,” Rosalie commiserated with her. “Did you go to any other restaurants in town?”
“No,” said Morgan. “I’m a stay-at-home kind of woman.” She waved. “See you later. I’d better get to my duties.”
Brad was on the phone when she arrived at her desk. Before anything could interrupt her, she turned on her computer and looked up Starshine Pool Services in Florida.
The company was nowhere to be found.
She checked pool service companies outside Orlando, where they’d lived, and again found nothing.
In the time she’d sold the company and left, what had happened to it?
She’d once suspected one of his workers was selling drugs.
But Dale had assured her that if it were true, which he doubted, he’d fire the kid.
As far as she could tell, there would be no reason to think anyone following her had anything to do with her life in Florida. It just didn’t make sense.
Brad stuck his head out of the office. “Get settled?”
“Yes, thank you,” she answered, keeping her tone businesslike. “What do you have for me to do today?”
“I want you to start some online research for me,” he replied. “I’ve drawn up a list of things that might be helpful. I’ll email them to you.”
“Okay,” she said, glad she’d be helping with a case. This is the type of work she’d hoped for when she’d come to work at the firm.
###
That evening before leaving for home, Morgan checked in with Brad. “I’m leaving, and I thought if it’s okay with you, I can cook dinner as payment for your kindness.”
He grinned. “Really? That would be nice. I need to make one more phone call, then I’ll come along when I can.”
As Morgan left the office, she was delighted to see that Rosalie had already gone.
She got into her car and drove to her favorite market to get fresh ingredients for dinner. She’d peeked into the refrigerator at Brad’s house and knew he didn’t have much to eat.
With satisfaction, Morgan carried several bags of groceries to her car. Fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and sugar snap peas, chicken, steak, hamburger meat, and an assortment of fruit filled the bags, along with bakery items. She’d even bought treats for the dogs.
She had no idea how long she’d be staying with him, but wanted to make sure it wouldn’t cost him anything to have her there.
She loaded the groceries into her car and headed to his house, anxious to see how the dogs had fared.
As she pulled the car to a stop and got out, she heard the dogs barking with excitement. It made her more determined than ever to find a dog of her own.
She unlocked the front door with the key Brad had given her and laughed as the dogs charged at her, wagging their tails in delight. She patted them properly, and she put them out in the back so she could carry the groceries inside.
She brought in all the bags, unloaded them, and placed the contents where she thought they should go. Brad could make any changes he wanted.
Morgan decided to make a quick and easy lemon chicken casserole. She put it together, and she washed the lettuce for a salad. Then she checked the time and slid the casserole into the oven to cook. If Brad wanted a late dinner, the casserole could keep warm.
She poured herself a glass of chardonnay she’d purchased, and with a sigh, took a seat at the kitchen bar. The dogs came and sat at her feet. Looking at them, she realized how lonely she’d been.
Her cell rang. Ashley.
“Hi,” said Morgan. “Did you get my message this morning?”
“Yes, that’s why I’m calling,” Ashley said. “How long will you be staying at Brad’s house? You mentioned you didn’t know.”
“I still have no idea. We both think it’s a good idea for me to be away from my apartment.
As I told you, a man came to my apartment door in the middle of the night.
I saw him thanks to the lights Mark has put up in the back of your house.
I don’t want anything to put you or your family in danger.
That’s why I think it’s best if I’m not there. ”