Writing goes better than expected, which is good because I’m behind as it is. That I’m behind on schedule was to be expected, my best friend is dying, and I’m working many hours right now. Plus Max’s front paw is still worrying me.
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Here’s a fragment of -- His Guardian Angel!
“When are you leaving for work?” Darren asked. Collin looked at the clock that hung in the living room. “In about an hour,” he answered. “I’ll drive you,” Darren said, and he sounded determined. Collin frowned. “Why would you do that?” “To make sure that you stay safe,” Darren answered. “I don’t think so,” Collin protested because this was not what he was waiting for. He didn’t need his friends to watch over him, that was ridiculous, wasn’t it?
“It’s not necessary, really. I have my phone. So I’ll call if I need you, okay?” Collin assured his friend. Darren looked grim as he said, “Freddy has disappeared. Now, someone is harassing you. I think that there’s a connection. You should be careful. Hell, we all should be on our guards because we still don’t know why Freddy vanished.” Collin knew that his friend was right, but he refused to live in fear. He had lived in fear for far too long, and it wasn’t healthy.
“I will be careful. I promise. And I even call you when I’m at the gym. How’s that?” Collin said, smiling. Darren didn’t look convinced, but there was nothing that he could do about it. Collin was an adult, and if he didn’t want protection, then there wasn’t much Darren could do. “Alright, but I don’t like it,” Darren conceded. Collin clapped his friend on the shoulder. “Thank you,” he said as he went to his room to dress for work. Right now Collin wore slacks, and at work, he always was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.
Even though Collin had refused Darren’s offer to drive him to work, he felt a bit uncomfortable. Collin still reeled from the encounter with the creep at the supermarket parking lot. It hadn’t dawned that Freddy had disappeared and suddenly this guy had harassed him in front of the supermarket. Was there a connection?
Collin parked his car on the parking lot that was behind the gym. He got out and locked the vehicle. He was halfway to the gym when he got that uneasy feeling again. Now he knew that he was being watched. Collin walked faster; he was even more skittish after the encounter with that creepy guy.
“Are you alright?” Derek Duval, Collin’s boss, asked. And worry showed in his eyes, which surprised Collin. “Uh. Yeah. I’m fine,” he replied carefully. Derek was behaving oddly. “Well, if you need me, I’m in my office,” Derek said, then he turned and walked toward the office. The man hadn’t made a pass at him, and that wasn’t like his boss. Derek had never forced Collin, but he always made a pass as soon as he saw him. The man hadn’t even flirted, and that was strange. A feeling of dread crept up his spine; something wasn’t right.
Collin took his place behind the counter and concentrated on the computer screen, which showed the list of people who had come in to work out. Collin worked at the gym for several years, and he knew every customer. So, when an unfamiliar name popped up, he pulled the man’s file on the screen. Collin was the only one behind the counter, so no one would ask him why he was interested in this particular file. His name was Braxton Riddle. Riddle? Really? Collin’s blood ran cold when he saw the picture of the newcomer. It was the same man that had harassed him in front of the supermarket. Shit!
Now Collin was alarmed. Was he in imminent danger? Whatever this was, it wasn’t a coincident that this Braxton Riddle had applied for membership at the gym. The guy must have known where he worked. Did this mean that the creep was stalking him? Fuck!”
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