Page 20 of Valentines In The Presidential Suite

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.”