Free A Penny for Your Thoughts by Bess McBride

him?”
    “It’s a small town. He was the one who responded when I got the phone--” Penny bit her lip, but it was too late.
    “When you got what? A phone call? What’s going on?”
    “Nothing, Mom. I just... I didn’t mean to tell you. You’ll worry too much.”
    “Well, I’m worrying more now. Tell me!”
    “It’s just...” Penny rolled her eyes. “I got this phone call yesterday, that’s all. Kind of an anonymous thing.”
    “And you called the police?”
    “Yes,” Penny’s face flamed. It did sound like overreacting when her mother put it that way.
    “Why would you call the police over an anonymous call?” Detective Mom prodded.
    “Well, I didn’t want to tell you...”
    “So you said.”
    Penny sighed. “It was a man. He knew my name. And he threatened to kill me.”
    Her mother’s shriek outdid even the seagulls.
    “What!”
    “It’s nothing, Mom. He hasn’t called back. We think it was a prank phone call.”
    ****
    He backed out of the closet, kept the door open in case he needed to duck in quickly, but he couldn’t resist listening to snatches of the conversation on the balcony. The words carried into the bedroom. He moved near the bedroom door and peered around the corner. As he had seen from the beach, she sat in a lounge chair, one foot braced on the glass coffee table. Her back was to him. He grinned and retreated back into the bedroom to pull open the drawer of the nightstand, moving things to the side...searching. A glint of brass caught his eye. He held the key up and studied it. Not what he was looking for, but if it went to the apartment, he’d take it. He stuffed it in his pocket. He paused to listen for a moment. She was still talking. He searched the other nightstand. Empty. A check of the top dresser drawers revealed nothing. Clothes, socks, lingerie. He fingered a pair of purple lace underwear for a moment, and threw a glance over his shoulder as if he could see her on the balcony.
    “Oh, really?” he whispered with a grin. “Who knew, Miss Therapist? I’ll bet old Jerry didn’t.”
    He tossed them back into the drawer and snapped it shut with impatience, albeit in silence. A search of the other drawers revealed nothing of interest.
    ****
    “Who’s we?” Penny’s mother demanded.
    “Well, me...” Penny rubbed her left temple with her spare hand. “The call was forwarded from my boss’s number in some kind of phone scam thing. I don’t know how it works.”
    “Your boss. You mean Tim?”
    “Yeah, but he didn’t have anything to do with it. At any rate, whoever called probably lives in Michigan somewhere. For all I know, he could be some youngster with a deep voice and little parental supervision. I think I’m going to stop worrying about it.”
    “But now your car has been broken into. Don’t you think something’s up?”
    Penny tamped down a surge of anxiety at her mother’s words. She was down here to heal, not take on new misery.
    “I don’t think so, Mom. I hope not. Let’s change the subject. I’ll let you know if I get another phone call, how’s that?”
    “You’d better,” her mother warned. “That must be a small town if they send the Chief of Police out on a call.”
    “Yes, Mom. It’s small.”
    “How are you doing?”
    Penny knew what her mother asked. She owed her the truth since the woman had provided endless emotional support when Matt refused to keep in touch.
    “I’m okay, Mom. It’s really easy to fall in love with him again. Really easy. He hasn’t changed a bit.”
    “Isn’t he married?”
    “He was, but he’s divorced now.”
    “Hmmm,” her mother grunted.
    Penny took another sip of coffee in the ensuing silence. She knew her mother was searching for words.
    “Penny, please be careful, honey. I hear something in your voice. I’m almost more worried about Matt than I am about that phone call or the vandalism to your car. Well, I’m more worried about you getting your heart broken again.”
    “I know you are,