CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The week began with a number of unexpected cases for Brad. He relied on Morgan to help him with details, including making reservations for him at a hotel in southern New Jersey so he could participate in an investigation of a case of child abuse that began in New York.
“Will you check on the dogs for the two days I’ll be gone?” Brad asked her.
“Of course. Make sure I have the keys to your house, and I’ll take care of them in the morning and feed them at night.”
“If you’d find it easier, you could move into my house for those two days,” Brad said. “Blue could stay with my dogs.”
“That would make it a lot more convenient for me.”
“Okay. Done.” Brad handed her the keys to his house. “I’m taking off after lunch, so you can move in at any time.”
Rosalie stopped Morgan in the hallway. “What’s this I hear about you moving into Brad’s house?”
“Oh, I’m just taking care of his dogs for him while he’s gone. Nothing more than that,” Morgan said, wishing the time would come when she could tell Rosalie the truth about how she felt. However, that wasn’t how she and Brad wanted any romantic news about them to be made public.
“Listen, girl,” said Rosalie, placing her hands on her hips and giving her a steady look. “I know a catch when I see one. Don’t let this one go.”
“You know how strict the partners are about office dating.”
Rosalie waved her hand in dismissal. “Bah! Don’t listen to them. They’re out of touch.”
“Well, there’s nothing to report. If that time comes, I’m sure you’ll be one of the first to know,” said Morgan, realizing she and Brad would have to be more open if and when they decided they wanted to commit to a relationship.
In the meantime, she didn’t want any pressure placed on either of them.
###
Morgan packed some of her clothes and personal items, and even more for Blue, for their stay at Brad’s house. The effort to move in would be worth the convenience.
As she drove to Brad’s house, Blue seemed to sense the destination and yipped with excitement from his travel bed.
When they pulled up to the house, Blue’s yips turned to howls. Laughing, Morgan hurried to get him out of the car and raced to the front door with him.
Inside, Brad’s dogs were barking.
Morgan opened the door, led all three dogs to the kitchen, and opened the doggy door to the outside, where they raced around the yard.
Satisfied that things were okay with the animals, Morgan went through the house and out to the front, intent on getting the luggage inside.
As she approached her car, a dark, black SUV with tinted windows barreled down the driveway toward her. Morgan went on alert. Something was suspicious about the car. Her thoughts flew to Constance, and she wondered if Constance had heard about Simon having Thanksgiving with her and was annoyed.
Morgan’s temper flared. She was done fighting with Simon’s daughter-in-law.
She marched over to the car, ready to confront the driver.
The man behind the wheel rolled down his window and studied her, letting his gaze wander up and down her body in a creepy way that made Morgan even more furious. “You can tell Constance that I’m going to report her if she continues this threatening behavior.”
“Look, lady, I don’t know what your beef is with someone named Constance. I’m here to see Brad Hamlin.”
“He isn’t here,” said Morgan, trying not to stare at the scar running down the man’s cheek.
“Well, then, give him this. You can tell him I’m a friend of Nick Carelli. A friend who takes care of any bad business for him. Got it?” He handed her a manila envelope. “Make sure he gets this. We’ll be keeping an eye on him.”
He closed his window and backed up the driveway at such a speed that it amazed her.
She waited until he’d turned around at the street and pulled away, then, on trembling legs, she went to get the dogs.
There was no way she’d stay here until she made sure it was safe to do so.
She texted Brad to call her when he had a chance.
Inside the house, Morgan gathered up the food, treats, bowls, and beds for Brad’s dogs. It’d be crowded, but she’d ask Ashley if the dogs could run free in her fenced yard. Otherwise, she’d find a dog park. All three dogs were well-behaved.
As Morgan lifted the last two plastic bags to put into her car, the envelope she’d placed on the table beside her purse slid to the floor. Immediately, the two Dachshunds grabbed hold of it and tugged, breaking open the envelope and scattering one-hundred-dollar bills across the kitchen floor.
Morgan stared in shock, then went into action. “No, Blue. No, Caesar,” she cried, snatching up the money. What in hell is going on?
The dogs stared at her as she tried to stuff the bills inside the torn envelope. “We’ve got to get out of here.”
She put leashes on the dogs and led them to her car. They sat together in the backseat as she went inside the house to pick up the remaining bags, the envelope, and her purse.
As she headed back to her apartment, she called Ashley and asked for permission to put the dogs in the yard.
“What’s going on? I thought you were spending a couple of nights at Brad’s house,” Ashley said.
“I’ll tell you about it when I can do so in person,” said Morgan. “Something weird is happening with Brad. I’m bringing all the dogs back to my apartment, where we’ll be safe.”
“Oh my! Hurry back. Do you need me to do anything for you?” asked Ashley.
“Having the dogs use your backyard from time to time will be a big help,” Morgan said. “We’ll be there soon.”
###
When Morgan pulled into the driveway, she noticed Ashley standing in her backyard waiting to help her, and tears stung her eyes.
Ashley was such a loyal friend. She’d rescued her from an unstable situation in Florida and given her a chance to start her life over again.
Now, here she was ready to help her again.
Morgan stopped the car next to the backyard gate and got the dogs out of the car one by one to bring them inside the yard.
Ben and Lizzy ran out of the house.
“We want to see the dogs,” Lizzy cried.
Ben instantly went to Sid and patted his head while Lizzy knelt beside the two Dachshunds.
“Okay, kids, stay with the dogs while I help Auntie Morgan with her things,” said Ashley.
As soon as they stepped away from the children, Ashley said, “Spill, girl.”
“Let’s get this stuff inside first. Then, I’ll show you the problem,” said Morgan.
The two women made a couple of trips to bring the gear into the apartment, and then Morgan said, “Have a seat.”
As soon as Ashley lowered herself into a kitchen chair, Morgan placed the torn envelope in front of her.
Ashley gave her a puzzled look. “What’s this?”
“Open it,” said Morgan, sitting down.
“Wow! Where did all this money come from? How much is it?” asked Ashley.
“I haven’t had time to count it, but it’s a lot,” Morgan said. “A tough-looking man delivered it for Brad. He told me to tell him he’s a friend of someone named Nick Carelli. It looks like a bribe.”
“Not a payoff,” said Ashley. “Either way, it’s not good. Have you told Brad?”
“I asked him to call me,” Morgan said. “I know he was scheduled into the evening with meetings.”
“When is he due home?” Ashley asked.
“Not for a couple of days. But now, he may need to return early. We’ll see. In the meantime, I don’t feel safe being there. The man said they’d be keeping an eye on Brad.”
Ashley shuddered. “I don’t like the sound of that.”
“Me, either. I was so scared I almost couldn’t walk back into the house because my legs felt so weak,” Morgan admitted. “The man terrified me. The way he looked at me, the way he talked, was like something from a creepy television show. I still can’t believe this is happening.”
“Oh, Morgan. Sometimes, life can seem overwhelming. This is one of those times. But you know I’ll help you in any way I can. I’d hate anything bad to happen to either you or Brad.”
The adrenaline that had filled Morgan drained away, leaving her weak and scared.