Acquiring Trouble

After all, I’ve been here in DC for the past month.” David mimicked her positioning in his chair and looked at her with one raised eyebrow.
    “Oh, I know it’s a wink-wink type thing. I just thought I’d offer my help to make it more profitable to us. I think some of the scare tactics could use some tweaking, that’s all.” Morgan waited for David to respond, but he didn’t. He laced his fingers together and rested his pointer fingers against his lips as he thought. There was no sense in pushing it. “Well, I’ll let you think about my proposition. While I’ m here, I’m going to grab some things from my office. If I hurry I can be back in Kentucky tonight if you don’t need anything else .” Morgan stood up and slung her purse strap over her shoulder.
    “Thank you, Miss Hamilton. We’ll be in touch.” Morgan nodded and flashed a smile before turning on her heel and walking out of the office. “Oh, and Miss Hamilton. We really need those farms and your clock is ticking ,” David called after her.
    “I’ll do whatever it takes to get them for you,” Morgan said earnestly before walking out the door.
     
    Miles finished cleaning the kitchen and stared at the business card Cade had left. He picked it up for a closer look. The doctor specialized in PTSD treatment. He opened a drawer and tossed it in. He had way more important things to worry about than spilling his guts to a shrink.
    “Come on boy, let’s get to bed . ” Bill wagged his tail , his short legs rush ing to keep up with Miles as they checked the locks and armed the security control.
    Miles stripped of f his clothes and pulled down the sheets on his bed. His legs slid around the soft cotton as he pulled the sheets up to his bare chest. For the first time in his life Miles thought his bed seemed lonely. A picture of Morgan’s black hair , fanned out over his white sheets , sent a shot of pleasure through his gut. Could something so wrong be so right?
     
    Afghanistan, s ix y ears ago…
     
    Miles felt his heart beating rapidly as he pushed a bloody, battered , and unconscious Cade into the car . He grabbed the keys and slowly walked around to the trunk. The pounding slowed and he envisioned the person in the trunk straining to hear if anyone was coming. Miles took a deep breath and felt the tug of the bullet wound. He took a couple more calming breaths and felt centered. He raised his gun and got ready to open the trunk. He heard every click as he slowly slid the key into place. He opened the trunk and jumped back. Geese honked as they spilled out of th e trunk and ran off into the de sert .
     
    *      *      *
     
    His eyes shot open. Something had made his geese very upset. His hand automatically reached behind the headboard and pulled out the handgun he kept there.  He slid out of bed and pulled on a pair of black athletic shorts. “Bill, come here boy.” Bill quietly growled as he trotted over to him. “I need you to stay in the bathroom, okay? Be quiet. No barking.” Bill reluctantly laid down on the bathmat and put his head on his paws.
    Miles’ s bare feet padded over the hardwood toward the staircase . With the gun in his hand he quickly looked around the corner and down the stairs. Faint noises came from the kitchen as he quickly and silently came down the stairs. Instead of getting to the kitchen from the living room, he cut through the dining room. A figure in black was le aving the kitchen and making his way to the living room. Miles tossed a look around and saw that the power had been cut. No lights flashed on the oven and the motion detecting lights were off in the backyard. No wonder the alarm didn’t go off. He bet the phone lines were similarly cut.
    Miles felt the darkness from inside overtake him. His mind and breathin g slowed. The heavy gun became part of him. A quick glance showed that the intruder was alone and armed. Miles evaluated the exit points and devised his strategy for attack in seconds.
    Miles crept back through the dining room and waited. He knew his breathing was soundless as he tuned into each noise the intruder made. Miles heard him make his way through the living room and to the base of the stairs. He heard the man look up toward the bedrooms and place his foot on the bottom stair. That’s when Miles made his move.
    Miles lunged from the shadows and took the man down to the hard floor. He wrapped one of his arms around the man’s midsection. He used the other arm to reach for