Moon Over Montana by Jackie Merritt

Author:Jackie Merritt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Silhouette
Published: 2003-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Outside, skulking in the dark shadows of the building and nearby trees, Alfred peered up at the lighted window in Linda’s apartment. It was the only one spilling light and he suspected the room was Linda’s bedroom. Was she up there or wasn’t she? He was so upset and anxious over Paul’s anger today that he would do just about anything—short of breaking in when Linda was home—to get his hands on that journal.

But there was only one way to see into that second-story window and find out if Linda was home or not. Did he have the nerve to climb a very tall pine tree? Alfred’s heart began pounding fearfully and a shudder shook his body. He had never climbed anything higher than a three-step utility ladder. Linda could have gone somewhere and taken the mutt with her. This could be it, the big chance he’d been hoping and praying for.

He forced himself to the foot of the tree that was nearest the lighted window and began the physically grueling climb, using his arms, thighs and knees to hang on when there wasn’t a branch sturdy enough to bear his weight, slight as it was. He hugged the tree in abject terror whenever he looked down; he was afraid of heights and escalators and elevators and…and Montana! He felt like bawling, but decided he could do that later. Right now he was on a mission—one that would do James Bond justice.

Putting on a tough expression and deliberately muttering a choice curse, he forced himself up the branches until he was level with the window. But he wasn’t facing it squarely and could only see a small portion of the bedroom. He moved cautiously and maneuvered himself around the tree to get a better view. His foot slipped and he began falling.

Horrified screams accompanied his fall as he hit one branch after another and scraped his skin on the bark of the tree. He hit the ground with a thud; the wind had been knocked out of him and he lay gasping for air.

Inside, Linda exclaimed into the phone, “My God, what was that?”

“What was what, Linda?”

“A horrible crashing sound. A voice, too, I think. Tag, hold on, I’ve got to take a look outside.” She set the phone down and hurried over to the window. There was nothing to see, beyond the usual pitch-black, nighttime shadows. Frowning, she returned to the telephone. “There’s nothing. I can’t imagine—”

“Call the sheriff.”

Tag sounded so gruff and demanding that Linda was taken aback. “I’m not sure that’s necessary,” she said slowly, surprised that he would speak that way to her. “There are things going on around here all the time. I’ve heard noises at night many times.”

“Call the sheriff! Linda, if Sammy wasn’t sound asleep, I’d be over there faster than you could dial the phone. But I can’t leave her alone in the house. This should be checked out. What if some crackpot is trying to break into your apartment? Or someone else’s apartment?”

“No one is trying to break in, for goodness’ sake.

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