Free Bound by Danger by Terry Spear

had…”
    She turned quickly to Dave. Charlie. What could he have that someone might have wanted? Her heart raced. What had Charlie been up to the last several months? She rubbed her temple as she stared at the table.
    Dave touched her fingers as if trying to coax something out of her. She shook her head. “The man broke into the wrong place.” She rose from the chair. “Maybe I ought to hang around for Charlie.”
    “We’ll leave a note.” Dave grabbed the dishes and crossed the floor to the kitchen.
    She walked across the living room and reached for her purse, then turned to see him watching her. “Did you want to do the dishes while I’m taking my shower, and then join me later?”
    “No. Wait a minute.” He hurried over to the couch and pulled the gun from under the pillow he’d been sleeping against.
    She wasn’t sure whether he just acted paranoid or really believed someone wished her harm. Then again, being in the military police probably made him wary of situations like this. She handed him her keys and waited while he unlocked her door. As soon as he motioned to her, she slammed his door shut and dashed across the landing.
    He grinned at her, then peeked out the door. “Not a soul saw you.”
    “Thank goodness for that. Just across the complex lives one of the guys I work with. It wouldn’t do for word to get around post I spent the night at my neighbor’s apartment.”
    Dave smiled broadly. “Just being neighborly.”
    Deidre grabbed up a cushion to the couch lying on the carpeted floor, then noticed Dave studying her legs. “Uh, I guess you can tidy the cushions, while I get ready.”
    He grinned. “Certainly.”
    If his past performance was anything like how he normally acted, it wasn’t like him not to rush to help her. She assumed he enjoyed the view way too much.
    After a welcome shower, she slipped into her bathing suit. She pulled on shorts and a T-shirt.
    Dave placed her phone book back in its drawer as she walked into the kitchen.
    “Do you want to take an ice chest, Dave?”
    “Ice chest?”
    “Sure, for cold drinks.”
    “I’ll get the ice out.” He pulled the tray from the automatic icemaker.
    She grabbed the ice chest out of her coat closet. “Soft drinks or spring water?”
    “Water’s fine with me.”
    He hurried to fill up the ice chest while she applied lipstick to her lips. “I’ve got sunscreen and a towel, plus a change of clothes.”
    “I have a bag waiting.” He hesitated to leave her alone.
    “I’ll be fine, Dave. I’ll scribble a note to Charlie.”
    “All right, but don’t—”
    The phone rang, and she glanced down at the Caller ID. Marilyn Johnson. She grabbed up the phone. “Hello?”
    “Hi, Deidre, it’s me checking—”
    “Charlie! I was worried—”
    “Sorry, Deidre. I planned to spend the afternoon with Marilyn. Take a drive around and show her some properties.”
    Right . “Okay, Charlie. I’m going boating with Dave. Did you want to come, too?” She just couldn’t ask if Marilyn wanted to go also.
    “No, I’ll take a rain check.”
    “Charlie…” She wanted to tell him what had happened but fearful he might have something the thief wanted and with Dave listening in, she hesitated. Turning her head away from Dave, she said, “Somebody broke into my apartment this morning.”
    “Are you okay? Did you want me to come home?”
    “No, I’m all right. I don’t think the thief’s going to be feeling really well for a while.” She lowered her voice. “Charlie, the police think the man was after something. You didn’t have anything here that he might have wanted, did you?”
    “No, not me. I mean, I ran into a bit of trouble on my last job, but I don’t have anything anybody would want to steal. I’ll talk to you about that later. Marilyn’s coming.”
    “Charlie—”
    “Got to go, Sis.”
    Deidre hung up her phone and sighed deeply. Knowing her brother, he had no clue as to what kind of a mess he was in now. She had to