ARIEL HAS THIS X-BOYFRIEND HANGING AROUND

Well, it’s off to the coffee table with the laptop and a cup of coffee.  The porch is sheltered from the rain but has no barrier against the cold.

Mark finally left Ariel’s house having found nothing that would help him in his quest for information.  He wasn’t able to re-lock the door he  forced open. Hopefully she wouldn’t suspect that it was him inside searching through her things. Maybe he should take something to make it look like a burglary.  No, he couldn’t do that to her. I must really be getting desperate he said to himself.  I almost went to far.  Mark heard their voices coming up from path and ran off through the back yard into the next street.

     “Do you want to come in for a bit, Joe?” Ariel smiled up at him but was secretly wishing he would say no.  She just wanted to climb into a relaxing bath and soak up some silence and air conditioning.

     “I hope you don’t mind,” Joe answered.  “I think I would like to head back to my room and catch up with my e mails.  I am hoping for a lead for a new project.  How about I call you for a late dinner?”

     “Sounds great,” she said.  “I am a little tired too. She waved good-bye and unlocked the front door.  She felt an unexplainable chill as her eyes scanned the room.  Everything looked fine, but, it was as though something had been disturbed.  She couldn’t quite put her finger on just what was different.  Walking into the kitchen to put the left over food away, she noticed the back porch door was partially opened. Her heart raced and she gripped a kitchen chair.  Fear came upon her like a wave rolling hard from the winds of a storm.

     “Joe, Joe,” she yelled out. “Oh my God! Joe!”

     She finally found the strength to let go of the chair and run after him.  “Joe,” she kept yelling.

     “Hey,” he finally answered. “What’s wrong?” He ran back toward her.

     “Dont’ go in the house, Joe.  Somebody might still be in there.  I mean.   I mean. Well, the back porch door was open and I am sure I locked it. I guess we should call the police or something before we go back in.”

     “I doubt there is anyone still in there.  If there was, he would have run off with all this commotion. Come on, I will go in with you and we can call the police.  Try to calm down Ariel. I am right here.”

     When the police finally arrived, Ariel had finished her inventory. “No officer, nothing is missing,” she said.

     “Are you sure you didn’t leave the door open,” the officer asked her.

    “I am positive,” she answered him.  She stood there with her hands on her hips looking at Joe.

    “Well officer,” Joe spoke up. “Ariel has this x-boyfriend who has been hanging around. Maybe you should check him out. He is staying somewhere here on the Island.  He’s been kind of giving Ariel a hard time.”

     “Is that right, Miss?” the officer asked.

      “Well, sort of. But, I’ve known him for a long time. I can’t imagine he would do something like this. What would be the point?”

     “You can’t be too careful,” the officer said. “Make sure you check all you locks each time you go in or out.  Call us if you have anymore problems.”

     Joe looked at Ariel. What luck he thought.  This is my chance. Ariel won’t want to be home alone now.

     “Ariel,” he reached for her hand. “I think it would be a good idea for me to stay here tonight. I definitely don’t want you to be alone after this.”

     “I don’t know,” Ariel moved away from him. “I don’t know what to do.”

     “Don’t worry,” he said. I will sleep on the couch. I just want to make sure you are safe.” He starred into her frightened eyes with a calm gentle stare. “Come on Ariel, we have known each other for a long time.  He could feel the excitement building inside.  I have to control myself he thought. I can’t let her see what I am feeling.