Page 209 of Daddy's Naughty List

Damage to the rubber gasket around the refrigerator door.

Water damage to the carpet in the bedroom where her bug barricades had splashed.

Melissa didn’t even get mad. Of course, the owner wouldn’t return her money. At least he wouldn’t get any more of it.

Looking at the last piece of paper, she discovered a picture of her grabbing her tools out of her car as she visited a yard she cleaned. It was grainy and obviously produced on someone’s home printer. She could tell it was the Wilson’s home. It was in the northern section of town, over twenty miles from this apartment complex.

Melissa steeled herself from looking up. She didn’t know if he was still watching, but he couldn’t see she was scared. What should she do? Quickly, she folded the sheets and stuffed them in her pocket.

“Come on, Melissa. We’re going to get some hot chocolate with everyone before we head home,” Rocky called.

“Coming!” she promised and ran across the parking lot to him.

“Was there anything important in that pile?”

“Maybe. We can look at it later,” Melissa suggested.

Rocky studied her face. “You look upset. Maybe I should see it now.”

“Later, Daddy. I want to get out of here.”

“Okay, Lissy. Let’s go get some hot chocolate.”

“Okay, little girl. You’ve been too quiet. What’s going on?” Rocky asked.

“It’s nothing. I’m here now, so everything will be okay.”

“That does not reassure me, Lissy.” He watched her put her hand on her hips. That wasn’t a normal posture for Melissa. What was happening? “What’s in your back pocket?”

“Just some paper.”

“Let me see it.”

“Daddy. It’s all good. You don’t have to worry about it,” she told him.

Her use of the word ‘worry’ escalated his focus. “Let me see them now.”

Melissa opened her mouth and snapped it shut. She grabbed the pages and handed them over. He could feel her eyes on him as he unfolded the sheets. Glancing over the accounting sheet from the apartment, he knew that wasn’t the problem. The next was.

“How long ago was this taken?” Rocky asked.

“Last week. That’s my new shirt Tami gave me after the other one couldn’t be saved from the bloodstains,” Melissa admitted.

“This was under your door?”

“Yes. There’s something else, too.”

Her tough demeanor cracked a bit. Rocky saw the corners of her mouth tremble. He watched her as he shuffled to the next page. Silently, he read the message.

“We’re taking this to the police, Melissa. Get your shoes and your wallet.”

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