Free Christmas Haven by Hope White

short. Sofa cushions and pillows were scattered across the floor, the coffee table lay upside down like a dead animal and books had been ripped off her shelves and thrown haphazardly onto the ground. Her favorite afghan, the one Mom crocheted as a high-school graduation present, was crumpled on the floor instead of stretching proudly across the back of the sofa.
    Then realization hit her: no Morgan.
    She opened her new cell phone to call the police, her heartpounding in her chest. She was about to press Send when he climbed through her living-room window.
    He stood and brushed his hands on his jeans. “I thought I told you to stay in the hallway.”
    “I got spooked. I saw some guy coming up the stairs and panicked that it was my long-lost uncle.”
    “Well, this is how they got in. Didn’t bother to close the window all the way.”
    A knock at the door made her yelp.
    Morgan put his finger to his lips and went to the door. He looked through the peephole, stepped aside and motioned for her to do the same. “You know him?”
    She recognized William. “It’s my friend from work. He’s okay.”
    She swung open the door against Morgan’s protest. “William?”
    “Thank God you’re okay. I was so worried after your phone call this morning.”
    “I’m fine, come in.”
    William stepped into her apartment and eyed Morgan.
    “William Pratt, this is an old friend, Morgan Wright,” she introduced.
    Morgan reluctantly shook hands. Being a cop, it was natural to be suspicious of strangers, she figured. But William was kind and hard-working. At forty-six, he’d made it longer with these kids than anyone else at the office, and some days she wished she knew his secret—what kept him going with a smile on his face.
    Morgan shut the door and locked it. She motioned William into the living room and Morgan followed.
    “I tried your cell, but it went into voice mail. I was hoping I’d catch you before you disappeared.” William glanced across the disheveled living room. “Whoa.”
    “Like I mentioned on the phone, someone’s after me and I need to fly under the radar.”

    “I guess that means there’s no way you’d come into the office?”
    “No,” Morgan answered.
    Julie cracked an apologetic smile at William. “I’m not sure I can risk it.”
    “That’s unfortunate. Dynacorp only wants to take a meeting to discuss the grant if you’re the one making the presentation.”
    “That’s ridiculous. You and Helen know the material better than any of us.”
    “True, and Helen was steaming when we she heard about the request. But you put it together, Julie. It’s your brainchild.”
    “What grant?” Morgan asked.
    “Dynacorp is a pharmaceutical company that offers grants every year to nonprofits,” Julie explained. “We applied, and our interview presentation is scheduled for two weeks from now.”
    “They moved it up to next week,” William said.
    “Why?”
    “Something about an executive leaving the country on business.”
    “Sorry to interrupt,” Morgan said. “But I need to get Julie out of the city.”
    “Of course. Julie, if you need anything…” William offered.
    “Thanks.”
    “What do you want me to tell the boss?”
    “I emailed her that I’m taking a family-emergency leave. But—” she glanced at Morgan, then back to William “—let’s see how this stalker thing goes. With any luck, it will be over soon and I can make the Dynacorp meeting.”
    “I hope so.”
    “Here, I have a new cell number.” She wrote it down on the back of a receipt and handed it to him. “Call me with updates, okay?”
    “Sure.” William turned to leave, but Morgan stopped him. “Ithink it would be safer if we all left together.” Morgan glanced at Julie. “You’ve got three minutes to pack.”
    “But my place is a mess.”
    “Can’t worry about that now, Jules. Go on.”
    She knew he was right, and trusted his instincts. Trying to block out the violent image of her trashed living room, she