Chapter 18: The Blizzard

“What are you doing here in this blizzard?” Dan asked. “You should have called. I would have picked you up at the airport.”

“No. I got a rental car. I’m good.”

“I saw you pull into the driveway earlier when I was leaving for the store. I brought you a few groceries to tide you over. Unfortunately, we’re in for some bad weather, and I don’t know when this is going to let up.”

He took off his snow boots at the door and followed her into the kitchen.

Susan pointed to the letter on the table. “Do you know anything about this letter? Was it there when the locksmith came to change the locks?”

“There was nothing on the table when I checked the house yesterday,” Dan said. “I’ve been keeping watch on the house, and I haven’t seen anyone around. I’ve come in a few times and checked the thermostat. I had it on 55 degrees. I didn’t want the pipes to freeze.”

“That’s strange. The house was warm when I arrived.” Susan padded to the thermostat. “It’s set on 71 degrees.” She had an eerie feeling. It was as if Blaine knew she was coming home and had turned the heat up.

“I know for certain that I set it on 55 degrees.”

Dan pulled out a chair and sat down at the kitchen table.

“Thanks for the groceries,” Susan said. “What do I owe you?”

“A plate of your homemade chocolate chip cookies. I sure have missed them.”

Susan laughed, then busied herself with putting away the groceries. She was taken by surprise when she opened up the refrigerator to put the milk away. There were two bottles of champagne and an unopened half-gallon of milk. She checked the expiration date on the milk Dan had just brought. They were the same. A shadow crossed her face. Susan looked in the meat drawer, and there were two tenderloin steaks. And in the vegetable bin, there was a fresh head of lettuce and tomatoes. And there was more: eggs, bread, and cinnamon rolls—all fresh and unopened.

Susan shook her head in disgust and put the tea kettle on for tea.

“Blaine has been in the house since I changed the locks,” Susan said. “I haven’t had a chance to check the whole house. Would you mind checking the basement?”

“Be glad to,” Dan said.

“Here, take this,” Susan said, handing him the 6-inch kitchen knife she’d been carrying around.

Dan patted his holster. “Nah, I’ve got my Glock. I’ll leave it for you.”

Susan went into the living room and turned on the gas in the fireplace. There were two logs on the grate. Susan didn’t remember leaving it this way, but it was to be expected because Blaine had lived in the house for quite a while after she’d left.

The teapot whistled, and Susan made two cups of tea and went in by the fireplace. She sunk into an easy chair, put her feet up on the ottoman, and covered herself with a white afghan that her mother had made years ago. It was beginning to feel like home.

When she heard footsteps in the hall, she called out, “Your tea is on the table, Dan. Come and join me.”

When Dan didn’t answer, she called out again. Still no answer. Susan rose and went to the hallway and perked her ears. The basement door opened, and she screamed a piercing scream.

“My God, what happened?” Dan asked, jolted.

“I heard footsteps in the hall. I thought it was you.”

“No, I was in the basement.”

Susan put her hand to her thundering heart. “My imagination must be getting the best of me. I could have sworn I heard footsteps in the hall. Your tea is on the kitchen table. Come on in by the fire and talk to me.”

“I’m not sure you should be staying here alone,” Dan said, plopping down in the overstuffed chair next to her. “I can stay in your spare room if you want.”

“Don’t be silly. You’ve got your dog. You wouldn’t want to leave Murphy alone.”

He took a sip of tea. “It wouldn’t hurt for one night.”

“How have you been?” Susan asked. “I know it must be tough since Shelly died.”

“It’s been hard. I’ve been lonely. I play poker once a week with the guys, and I’m talking online to a nice lady from England.”

“A dating site?” Susan asked.

“Yep. It’s a friendship site. It’s nothing serious. How about you? Dan asked, eyeing the diamond on her finger.

She held up her hand. “I’m engaged. Derrick doesn’t know I’m here. I was going to call him, but my cell phone doesn’t seem to be working.”

“If you’ve got a different server from what you had before, it may not work here.”

“Yes, I do have a different server, but hopefully, the landline will work.”

Dan went to the kitchen and picked up the phone on the wall. “Got a dial tone. It was out earlier.”

“Great,” Susan said, relieved.

“Well, I’d better be going. My English lady expects to hear from me about this time every night.”

Susan laughed. “I’m going to call my guy, too. I’ll make you those chocolate chip cookies tomorrow.”

“Call me if you get nervous. I have a spare room.”

“I’ll be fine,” Susan chirped as she showed him to the door. “Thanks for the groceries. See you tomorrow.”