Page 6 of Unexpected Danger
“No, but I have been receiving some questionable texts. I reported those to the police department this morning.”
"Did Mr. Nuss threaten you during other times you spoke to him?”
Londyn bit her lip. That had been over the course of a few months. She talked to numerous people daily. But she would remember if he’d threatened her. “No, he didn’t. He wasn’t happy, but I don’t remember any threats, not like this most recent time.”
“Did you inform your supervisor?”
“After I spoke with him, I did tell her about the incident and filled out a form. I didn’t think too much about it as far as danger goes, because some people are just so angry and say things in the heat of the moment. While it rattled me, I attempted to brush it aside the best I could, hoping that would be the end of it.”
“Does Mr. Nuss live in Rowland?”
“Yes, I believe he does.” Londyn attempted to visualize Mr. Nuss’s address, but with the constant flow of accounts she dealt with each day, it was nearly impossible.
“We may need more information if we can’t locate Mr. Nuss via the resources we have available to us.” Both Officers Gann and Nelson stood. “We will do another perimeter check before we go, as well as patrol the neighborhood for the rest of the evening. In the meantime, if you see the man again, please call 911 immediately.” Officer Gann offered his hand, and Londyn shook it.
“Thank you.”
They exited into the shadowy night. Londyn locked the door and stood, her back to it for a few brief seconds.Lord, please allow me to sleep in peace for You alone make me dwell in safety.She quoted one of her favorite Psalms, calling upon the One who could protect her better than anyone could.
Chapter 3
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 nevertrulyalone. 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 supposedto 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, inparticular, 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.
