Free Just to be Left Alone by Ginny Lynn

call the girls
with this new development.” He paused and then asked in a low voice, “So, what
are you wearing?”
    I
laughed and immediately felt better. Laughter was always the best medicine. I
hung up with him before calling Felicia and Chastity on two-way. They both
reacted the same way as Conrad. Things needed to look up.
    I
stayed out by the pool for a couple of hours before going in for lunch and a
shower. When I got back into the den, I couldn’t find Bella until I heard a
noise coming from my bedroom. Slowly walking in the doorway, I took a moment to
figure out where it was coming from. Opening my closet door, I saw her lying on
some clothes in my hamper.
    Bending
down, I lifted her out of the pile and looked to see if she was all right.
Placing her on my bed, I checked again and she seemed to be unharmed. She was
shaky and not moving, but responded to my rubbing her soft fur. I wondered how
she had gotten in there considering I hadn’t gone in there this morning, or had
I?
    I
phoned Parker and he informed me that all the arrangements had been set up for
work tomorrow. The crew would be at the warehouse by eight-thirty in the
morning and would start the initial repairs.
    I
decided to meet Parker at eight with bagels from the bakery. He offered to
bring coffee. The workers would get a treat on their first day with us and
would need it for the work load they had to complete.
    Parker
and I would have to supervise every little detail of the day and report to
corporate on the progress, so I planned for a late evening.
    I
cleaned up the apartment for the next couple of hours and felt quite content
with myself once I was done. I needed the housework as an outlet for my stress.
    I
finally settled down on my bed with Bella and saw a favorite old movie was
starting.
    A
few hours later, Conrad checked in from home and was working on something he
brought home with him. He wanted to see me after I finished with work tomorrow.
Since I wasn’t sure what time I would be leaving, I told him we would have to
play it by ear. He rang off after saying he would call me on his lunch break
tomorrow to see how things were going.
    As
soon as I hung up with him, I got a text message from Raven. She was having fun
at her shoot and would be back home tomorrow evening. She wanted an update on
my trip to the police station so I explained everything to her including the
latest bit about not being able to find Jason. She was disappointed, but knew
we would catch up with him soon. I laughed when she typed that he was borrowing
a rock to hide under. I told her all the others agreed with her and that she
could call me at work tomorrow if she got in early enough. I wished her a
goodnight and no jet lag.
    I
watched the rest of my movie then fixed a light dinner. I called Felicia while
I got ready for bed. She was trying to sell a house to a major league ball
player who was in town, so I let her go.
    I
settled into bed wearing my usual camisole and shorts while Bella curled up at my
feet. I turned on the radio for a while and fell asleep listening to the
soothing melodies.
    I
never heard Bella hiss before running away or the man next door come in to
slide his eyes over my body as I slept. He was there for five minutes before he
crept away.

 
    * * * *

 
    Monday
morning came and I was ready for it. Within twenty minutes of getting up, I was
on my way to the bakery for my gift to the crew. Traffic was light. I even
pulled into the parking lot right in front of Parker. He was shuffling to balance
the box filled with two decanters and a bunch of tiny packets. I opened the
door for him as he grunted a good morning to me.
    I
saw the stress on his face and asked, “Did you sleep well last night?”
    “Yeah,
in pieces. I have something on my mind. I don’t know if I can talk to you about
this or not,” he replied as we made our way to the break room.
    “You
can talk to me if you need to. What’s it about?” I