Pale Stranger

trip back took an hour l

ary apartment it was

ches welcomed me home

sed his offer to stay at

us

..." I mutter

sty old recliner and di

acation for the next week

ner. How can

adn't been sued for fa

over for some of his Lasa

ila, it's Trixie. How d

om the phone when she l

alive! Dracula d

pints less than before

rolled my eyes when the

. Besides the phone, is t

ndi

ing voice. "It's all fin

enise is in charge of the

was

oss that I'm taking a vac

orr

k the boss will allow t

" Sheila worr

e enough overtime pay

to com

to do for a-" Sheila let

ffer he made you, are y

n know what I'm doing,

sonal secretary for a wee

ight back to

se?" she c

ome check up on you a

isn't burnt d

ve you know I haven't d

background and screa

efore you go tell me

o call the hospital. Bye

obody e

rms over the side of t

look up at the ceiling.

e been mistaken for a Ro

nking about through those

ns stood in for his glacierriver blue eyes, and th

ragged my hand over my f

gest in my life, but I c

eat tha

om. I needed to comfor

om, tossed the card with

bed. I hardly noticed wh

dialed and she picked up

I'm a

und alive," s

nced over at my kitchen

"But I've got a temp jo

something

om was shrewd with th

ephant out o

I knew exactly how g

ything about money

have to do?" Mom alwa

oney first an

mind is thinking of," I

, making phone calls and

ou count licking

legitimate? He's not tr

ll

" I finished for her. "

lon

nyone can bring comfort

n mother that

ght, I promise. It's not

him or a

drove out to the h

e by a speeding vehicle

screaming action, and a

my car against a tree. Th

wheel; she glanced at me

try to consume me. Fo

from the heat, and s

way like an old lady l

house ten minutes late.

hadn't had any breakfas

bed onto the porch. I kn

e knob was unlocked and

stently irritating noise

stomping o

the door to Benson's r

inside. The man hims

elf. "Damn her!

finished

e intrusion and whipped

ck. "Angel! Is it

ly at this tim

e. You're late,

e going to do, fire me

early caused our car

parting gift to you," h

it. I'll need you to be h

nother

promotion. "Wait a minu

st run to see if I can do

; I could have really use

and ran his hand throug

t help that he hadn't com

t another secretary with

th me until then. I have

g the connection to

ll be sure to have th

mis

ome wit about you, but

s with Constance must

cars would have been