Free Prey of Desire by J. C. Gatlin

day.”
    The words
were barely out of her mouth when Zeus’ ears perked up. He instantly turned his
head toward the front door. There was a soft bump. Then the
jiggle of the knob. Zeus barked and ran to the door.
    Kim followed,
as the door knob turned. It sounded like someone was trying to unlock the door.
    Zeus
barked and jumped at the door as Kim put her face up to the peep hole. There
was a man standing there on the porch. Startled, she stepped back and the
Doberman growled. Kim opened the door.
    “Whoa,”
he said holding out his hand. It was Addison Gaynor. “Please accept my apology
if I startled you, Kimberly. And, please, forgive my unannounced intrusion.”
    “What
were you doing here?”
    “Looking
for Mallory,” he said quickly, seeming to brush-off her question. He nervously
raised a hand and swept his fingers through his graying hair. A key ring looped
around his index finger jingled and a house key tapped his cheek.
    Kim
noticed this immediately. Embarrassed, he lowered his hand, hiding the silver
ring of keys in his palm. Kim stared at his fist and pressed him for an answer.
    “Were you
inside her house?”
    “She
isn't home.” He shook his head and stepped forward. Kim blocked the door with
her body, holding him at the threshold. She asked again.
    “Were you
in her house?”
    “She gave
me keys, but no. I've been waiting for her in my BMW,” he said, then added, “She's
seeing another man, isn't she?”
    “I don't
know,” Kim said. Zeus whimpered, reminding her that he was in pain. He had to
go ,   now . She clutched the leash and held the dog between them. “Maybe she's working late”
    “She
works at home.” Addison persisted.
    Kim
looked down at Zeus, who was staring longingly at a newly planted tree. “I
don't know where she is or what she's doing. Listen, I don't mean to be rude,
but...”
    Addison
cut her off. “I've waited for her all afternoon, ever since you two disappeared
on me at the diner. Let me just wait in your home until she returns.”
    “No, I
don't think that's a good idea.” Holding tight to the leash, Kim kept Zeus from
running.          Across the street on the
sidewalk, Mrs. Roundtree was walking Little Rosie.
Zeus noticed this too, as his body suddenly stiffened and pointed toward the
offending Pekingese.
    Addison
glanced behind him in their direction, then turned
back to Kimberly. “I've got to know who she's with.”
    “No,
Addison...” Kim started. Zeus growled at the Pekingese, then turned toward the
tree and whimpered. He looked up at Kim, then suddenly noticed Little Rosie
again and growled. Kim tightened her grip on the leash and shook her head at
Addison. “What are you doing? Are you spying on her?”
    “I know,
I'm becoming obsessive again,” he said, finally taking a step back. “I'll
depart.”
    He turned
and stepped away from them.
    Kim
watched him return to the curb and slip inside his red BMW. The headlights came
on and the car quietly pulled away.
    When he
was finally out of sight, she let go of the leash. Like a rocket, Zeus
scrambled into the parking lot, barking at Mrs. Roundtree and Little Rosie. Then he stopped abruptly, almost stumbling over his feet, and
changed course to his favorite tree.

 
 
 
 
 
 
    8
    Invitations
from
    The
Dead & Gone

 
 
 
    Wednesday,
January 12, 2000 
    11:12 AM

 
    “You were
out with the baseball player last night.” Kim studied Mallory sitting on the
edge of the bed in her loft, and shot her a disapproving smile. “Weren’t you?”
    “Of course.” Mallory
nodded and ran a hand over the ripples in the bedspread. She had dropped by to
talk Kim into lunch again. But Kim requested a favor instead. Now, Mallory
turned her head and crinkled her nose. “Why?”
    “Because
Addison almost caught you, and I had to cover. That’s why.” Kim stood at her
small closet trying on a red dress that showed off her legs. Ross had always
said that it was his favorite. She hadn’t worn it