Acquiring Trouble

abruptly, suddenly looking nervous. Morgan turned to find a handsome middle-aged man with dark brown hair. He w as average height, average build , and had a warm smile on his face. He was perfect for P erfect Pam.
    “He looks very nice Pam. Why doesn’t he join us for breakfast?” Morgan asked as she scooted over to make room for the brother-in-law she’d never met.
    “Oh, um. No. Not today. Sorry Morgan, I just love my husband too much to introduce him to you. I can’t take that chance again.” Pam hurried from the room.
    “What do you want for breakfast?” Miss Daisy snapped. Morgan bit her lip to stop from crying. No one wanted her here. It was time to leave.
    “I’m suddenly not hungry anymore. Sorry to have taken a table.” Morgan stood up and hurried out the door as the gossip in the c afé rose to near deafening.
    Morgan made it to her car before the tears started falling. Why did she think things would change after all these years? She picked up her phone and dialed. This would end soon.
    “Hi , ” s he said into the phone. “Friday at four at the Wal-Mart in Lexington.” Morgan hung up the phone and felt a sense of rel ief. It would all be over soon.
     
    *      *      *
     
    Miles took a seat in the hard chair acro ss from Marshall’s desk in the sheriff’s office . He had just delivered several bales of hay to Glenn’s farm to make sure his livestock was well fed for the next month. The fire the other day had completely destroyed the hay he saved up to feed his animals over the winter. While spring was right around the corner, so was rain and new grass.
    “I take it you have news and it isn’t s ome last minute detail for the wedding tomorrow night . ” Marshall said as he pulled out a pen to take notes.
    “Morgan went out of town the other night . She got back around three in the morning. What time did Glenn’s fire start?” Miles held his breath. He didn’t want to believe it, but Morgan was leaving him no choice. He had tried to see her a couple of times this week, but she had always managed to avoid him. So, he was left with no cho ice but to turn to his brother to help him find out if she ordered the attack on him.
    “Five. I had Annie check with the airlines this mornin g. Morgan went to DC that afternoon. But, do you know what is even more interesting? ” Marshall picked up a piece of paper and tossed it across his desk. “She wasn’t the only employee of Top Producers to fly back to Lexington on the red - eye.”
    “What?” Miles picked up the paper and looked at a picture of a man who had armed forces written all over him. “Who is this?”
    “William Brady. His employment record says he’s head of security for Top Producers. D o you think he came here to rei n Morgan in , do her bidding, or to set her up? ”
    “That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it?” Marshall sighed.
    Miles had hoped that all the signs were wrong. H e knew , while Morgan may not have been the one to actually get the dirt on her hands, the evidence pointed to her having a hand in it.
    “Let’s go pick her up and have a chat with her. Do you want to come?” Marshall asked as he stood up and strapped on his gun belt.
    “Yes. I have to find out if she’s involved.” Miles was glad Marshall didn’t say anything more. His mind and heart were already in turmoil.
     
    Morgan pulled her Mercedes into the busy Wal-M art parking lot in Lexington. She looked at the clock on the dashboard and slouched back into her seat. She was early and the best thing to do was to stay as still and low as possible. She didn’t want to draw anyone’s attention during this whole exchange.
    She looked around one more time hoping to see the black sedan she was expecting. As she waited, she couldn’t stop her mind from conjuring up Miles’ s image. Their dates had been fun. Morgan still smiled at the jokes Miles had told. She couldn’t remem ber having that much fun. She never h ad had a reason to smile before. Morgan had been too busy trying to surviv e high school. Then she’d been too busy working to keep her scholarship and earning money to survive. I t should’ve gotten better after landing this job . She guessed she could finally breathe, but she hadn’t.  Instead she had worked hard an d climbed the corporate ladder.
    Morgan hadn’t even realized what she was missing until she saw Miles again. Feelings reared up that she had managed to shove down since the night she left Keeneston.