Dear Rita

“You’ve got to be joking!”

He gave her a glance that said she had no idea what she was talking about. “It’s a mean, nasty world out there, and people do lots of mean, nasty things to each other. Including children.”

“Why would anyone want to do that to me?”

“Simple burglary, most likely. Unless….” He stopped, thought for a while, and then went on, “Unless someone has it in for you. As we were discussing over dinner, your writing stands a good chance of making you enemies.”

Her mind was yanked backward several hours, past their disastrous dinner, to that chilly online encounter back in the coffee shop. Are you afraid of heights?

The look on her face must have told him something, because he stepped forward and placed both hands gently on her shoulders. He had to dip his head somewhat to look her in the eye.