Page 3 of Unexpected Danger (Mountain Justice #2)
Despite feeling God’s peace overwhelm her, Londyn didn’t get much sleep that night. The next morning, she awoke feeling tired and hoping to get through the day.
She tucked her gun inside her purse, intending to leave it in her glove compartment in her SUV. She wished she could take it into work with her, but according to the handbook, that would result in immediate termination.
God had kept her safe last night. He was faithful. And while she was, for the most part, alone in a new city, she was never truly alone. Yet, while her heart knew this, sometimes it failed to send the message to her brain.
Hence, the fretting last night before God’s peace enveloped her at around two a.m.
She scanned her apartment. It was homey, decorated just the way she liked it, and although she’d never really preferred it as much as her apartment in Pronghorn Falls, it suited her.
But it was a peculiar thing when the security of what should be a safe place was threatened.
Wasn’t someone’s home supposed to be their sanctuary?
It frightened her to think that anyone determined enough could breach any locked door or window.
Londyn attempted to push aside the paranoid thoughts that infringed on her morning.
Worry would do her no good. She gazed at the up-close view of herself in the bathroom mirror.
Tiredness was etched on her face, and dark circles hovered beneath her eyes.
Instead of being in her late twenties, she appeared twice as old.
Londyn fashioned her hair into a ponytail, slipped into a sweater and stylish jeans, and attempted to down some breakfast, although she lacked an appetite.
The picture on the shelf in the living room drew her attention as it often did.
It was one of her favorites with Brodie.
They’d borrowed his dad’s classic Chevy truck and had gone to the county fair.
In the picture, she was holding the oversized stuffed teddy bear Brodie won for her.
He had always been thoughtful that way, and she knew the crazy amount of money he’d spent on the tickets for the chance to win the bear would have enabled him to buy three or four.
He hadn’t given up until he’d won, typical of Brodie Brenneman.
If only things were different. If only things hadn’t ended the way they had.
Londyn held the picture in her hands for a few more seconds before replacing it on the shelf. There was no sense in dwelling on things that would never be. She loved him, had broken his heart, and there was no repairing that, no matter the history they shared.
She snagged her purse from the counter and took a deep breath. She would need to be cognizant of her surroundings, keeping in mind all that Mr. Brenneman had taught her about situational awareness.
Londyn walked around the entire apartment and peered out each window, taking an extra few moments to study, in particular, the area outside of the front window.
Nothing was out of the ordinary, and she saw no one outside except one of her neighbors backing out of the carport.
She slipped out the front door, locked it, then double-checked a second time just to be sure before pivoting and walking to the covered carport hosting the renters' vehicles.
The chill in the air and the gray clouds warned of rain.
With all the moisture this year, at least there would be fewer wildfires.
Londyn peered inside the vehicle into the back seat, then climbed into her SUV.
Rush hour traffic greeted her, something that she had never dealt with in Pronghorn Falls.
She tapped her thumb on the steering wheel, silently willing the lengthy line of cars to proceed through the numerous stoplights so she could get to work on time.
An occasional glance indicated a red sedan following a little too closely.
She squinted, hoping to get a look at the driver.
Was it the man who attempted to break in last night?
She didn’t have time to take a detour. While Sonja, her boss, was a pleasure to work for, she would not condone lateness for any reason, barring an emergency. Punctuality was of utmost importance to her.
Londyn kept an eye on the car behind her.
She’d be surprised if the driver didn’t rear-end her before she made it to work.
She turned right at the next stoplight, and thankfully, the red sedan didn’t follow her.
She zipped into the parking garage and again kept her wits about her as she walked through the doors of Zedde and Associates and collapsed into her chair in her cubicle.
Her friend and coworker, Jasmine Kurtz, poked her head around the corner.
Jasmine’s thick brows furrowed. “Wow, girl, what happened to you?”
“Just tired.” She hadn’t yet told Jasmine about the texts or the man.
“Are you all right?”
“I think so.”
Another friend and coworker, Dustin Haack, stepped beside Jasmine with a box of donuts in his hands.
“Care for a donut, anyone?” He held out the box to Londyn and Jasmine.
Jasmine moistened her lips. “I don’t know when I’ve ever passed up donuts.” She reached for an apple fritter.
“You look like you’ve had a rough morning. Everything all right?”
Londyn appreciated Dustin’s concern. “I think so. Just an arduous night.”
“Anything I can do to help?” He reached inside the donut box and handed her a glazed, her favorite kind. “Have a donut. They fix everything.”
She took the donut from him and set it on a napkin before following Jasmine and Dustin to the small rectangular table with the coffee pot, as she did every morning.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Dustin’s brows knitted, his attention remaining on her as he awaited her answer.
“It was just…” The memory of the potential intruder crowded her mind again, and her throat tightened.
Jasmine put her arm around Londyn. “You want to talk about it?”
“I’ve been told I’m a good listener,” offered Dustin.
Londyn supposed there was no harm in telling them what happened.
It would probably do her some good to get it off her chest and share with someone besides the police officers.
Besides, in her brief tenure at Zedde and Associates, she’d formed a close rapport with Jasmine and Dustin.
“It was the weirdest thing. This guy was trying to get into my apartment, or at least I’m fairly sure it was a guy. ”
“What?” Jasmine held her apple fritter midair. “Have you ever seen him before?”
“I might have if he’s the one who was loitering across the street the night before.”
Jasmine’s mouth dropped. “He was across the street the night before? How come you didn’t tell us this?”
Londyn noticed the hurt in Jasmine’s eyes.
“I’m sorry I didn’t say anything. I do think it’s the same one, but I can’t be one hundred percent sure.
It’s intimidating to look out the front door, and there he is, peering back at me after attempting to get in.
” Fear trundled through her. Would he be back tonight?
Dustin’s eyebrows rose into his hairline. “How scary. Did you call the police?”
“I did. They came over and asked me some questions. One of those questions was who it could be that I had made an enemy of that would want to try to at the very least stalk me, and at the worst…”
She shuddered. She didn’t even want to think of the worst-case scenario.
“I can’t think of anybody who doesn’t like you.”
Jasmine had a point. “The only one who came to mind was BJ Nuss, who was not happy with having to pay his bill, even though we have given him numerous chances.”
Dustin poured himself a cup of coffee. “Did the police think the guy had ill intent? Or was he just some homeless dude?”
“I don’t know what his intent was. Honestly, I couldn’t get any sleep, just wondering.”
“So they think it’s Mr. Nuss?” Jasmine took another bite of her apple fritter.
Londyn shrugged. “They don’t know. I think they were going to talk with him today. I received some texts as well.”
“Texts? You think it’s from the same guy?” Jasmine dabbed at her mouth with a napkin.
“Probably. Maybe.”
“We have to deal with some pretty crazy people,” said Jasmine. “But honestly, why would they come to our houses or try to act intimidating?”
Dustin refilled his coffee cup. “Maybe it was revenge.”
“But it’s not our fault that they owe money on their bills,” Jasmine countered.
Dustin leaned his back against the wall. “Do you guys have cameras at the apartment? If so, that could be a big help.”
“We don’t. I wish my landlord would install some, but it’s traditionally been a safe neighborhood. I’m probably the only one ever to have a situation like this.”
Jasmine rejoined the conversation. “I’m going to hope that he was just lost and in the wrong place.”
Their boss, Sonja, walked toward them. “Are we having our staff meeting early?”
“Londyn had some creep try to break into her house,” said Jasmine.
“Oh, how frightening. Did you call the police?”
“I did. They will be talking to one of our clients, BJ Nuss, today to see if it was him. He was the only one I could think of that might be angry enough to do something like that to scare me.”
“BJ Nuss. Yes, I do recall that name from when we discussed his spoken threat on the phone to you.” Worry etched in Sonja’s face.
“This is concerning, and I do want you to add this to the paperwork you’ve already completed about him.
” She tapped her chin. “I’m not sure how Mr. Nuss would have found out where you live.
We don’t give out any information about our employees, including their residences, personal phone numbers, or any other private information. ”
“All he would need was my last name, and he could probably find out where I live by surfing the internet.”
Sonja poured herself a cup of coffee. “Well, I’m just glad you’re all right. And thankful that the police are looking into it.”
“I’m just hoping it was something random and I just overreacted.”