Chapter 4

More than once I had dressed myself with a plan to go back to Luna Ferus and see if Mr. Tall and Dark showed up again. I was just too chicken to do it. Nothing seemed to kill the lingering frustration, I felt like a rat on a wheel.

My dissatisfaction hit a high by Thursday and I started with the obsession as soon as I got home and then added a bottle of red wine. Last thing I remember from Thursday night was talking to the wing back chair that had been my grandmother's in the family room. She used to sit in it and talk with me for hours about anything. I felt a little better discussing with it why I was losing my mind.

I woke up Friday morning in my bed to the beeping of my alarm. I didn't even remember setting it. I wandered out toward the kitchen and stopped short.

I definitely did not remember buying a big bowl of fruit for the counter or the flowers sitting in the middle of the table. I whirled to the kitchen door and checked the alarm pad. It was still a solid red light. That meant the alarm was armed, at least I thought so. I opened the kitchen door and the screaming wail assured me it was on.

My heart was hammering in my chest as I turned off the alarm and stared at the new additions in my kitchen. A knock at the kitchen door sent me out of skin almost literally.

A man was standing outside holding up a badge in the small window at eye level. His dark blue uniform was pulled over a muscular frame. I opened the door hesitantly and just stared at him.

"Police ma'am. Are you OK? I heard the alarm go off. Did anything happen?" the man asked, his gaze shot around the kitchen then settled back on me.

"No, I opened the door and the alarm was on and ..." I left the statement unfinished.

How could I tell a complete stranger that I found fruit and flowers in my house in the morning? I would sound like a crazy lady.

I opted for just staring at him for a moment. He continued to glance past me into the kitchen then asked quietly, "May I come in ma'am. Just to make sure you're okay."

I didn't have a good answer for that so I opened the door. He slid in quickly and scanned the kitchen. I shut the door as he moved from my kitchen down the hall. I was staring at the flowers when he seemed to reappear behind me.

"Beautiful flowers," he said.

I grabbed the counter and started, I hadn't heard him come back into the kitchen.

"Yes, beautiful," I managed to choke out. It suddenly struck me and I asked, "Why are you here? How did you hear my alarm go off?"

He smiled a very roguish smile and responded, "Just in the area ma'am," as he walked out my kitchen and back toward his waiting car.

I wasn't sure what to do with the fruit. It looked wonderful, but eating something you just found in your house seems like a bad idea. That's when I remembered the sleeping pills. They must have done it!

Those pills have been known to be associated with outrageous episodes of sleep walking and sleep driving. Adding the alcohol must have been the final push for me. I must have gone shopping last night in my sleep! Well, no more pills for me.

Feeling slightly less crazy I munched on a juicy pear, I remembered how much I liked fruit. I really should try to keep some in the house. I laughed at that out loud. I'm known as a connoisseur of the microwave meal, me with fresh fruit in the house, hah!

Opening the refrigerator I was floored. It was stocked with fresh meat and fresh vegetables. I picked through the bounty and found eggs, bacon and fresh bread. My usual milk and mustard were still there, just put in the door, not center stage like usual. I wondered where I had found a place at that time of night to do all this shopping.

I wasn't going to waste the bounty though. Eggs and bacon I do know how to cook, so I did. It was wonderful. I'd even bought sandwich meat and cheese so I made lunch for later. What would my coworkers say when I didn't hit the local deli for lunch!

I had wasted a lot of time on non essentials this morning, so I got ready in a hurry. I threw on a blue sweater and a tailored pair of black slacks. Luckily, I found my black clogs where I had left them in the laundry room. I made my drive into work like a wild woman. On the plus side no one pulled me over this time.

The clinic was crazier than usual. I felt a little distracted and rushed as I got to my last patient of the morning.

"Saul, I'm Dr. Grant," I stated as I opened the door to the room.

The tall man inside smiled at me and sat obediently on the exam table. His long dark hair was pulled to the nape of his neck. I glanced at my computer screen and saw the chief complaint was physical. He looked surprisingly young to be 45, but I continued with my usual exam and questions.

During a lull in my queries he asked me, "How was your breakfast this morning?"

It was a strange question, but not the strangest I've had.

"Good thank you, more filling than usual," I said to him and continued clicking down the physical questionnaire on the computer.

"Eating healthy is the key to a healthy life," he said.

"Hard to disagree with that," I replied.

"It's easier to want to cook when you have a large family, harder when you live alone, huh?"

Now he had my attention completely.

"What do you mean?" I asked looking up at him.

"I just noticed you didn't have anything to eat that wasn't single serve, frozen or prepackaged. Living in a large family I never had to eat like that. Nothing fresh either, we always have fresh things to eat."

I was dumbstruck, how did this man know anything about what I had to eat. I narrowed my eyes as I crossed my arms across my chest.

"How would you know?"

"I stocked your kitchen last night for my Al-, for Mr. Latro, he was concerned you didn't have any food to eat. He was also worried about your safety, you don't drive very well."

"Who's Mr. Latro?" was all my brain could come up with

Saul raised an eyebrow at me and sighed, "You met him several nights ago at Luna Ferus, from what I heard he would be hard to forget. You all had a short but interesting meeting at the restaurant."

"You mean the man from the ... bathroom?" I asked quietly.

"Yes, the man from the bathroom," he answered.

"Why are you here?" I asked as I sunk down into one of the chairs along the wall

"I'm very non-threatening; he thought this would be the best way to approach you. Mr. Latro didn't think you would panic at work. You seem a little over sensitive. He would have talked to you last night, but you took something and wouldn't wake up. He was very concerned and sat with you all night."

"Wait, wait, wait - I have an alarm, I have door locks how did you get in my house and ... and sit with me," I stammered out.

All I got in response was a shrug. "Anyway" said Saul, "He'd like to take you to lunch, to talk. Don't take too long, he'll get impatient."

I sat in my chair and just stared at the man as he slid off the table and moved for the door. He stopped and looked at me for a moment, and then he turned and walked out of the exam room.