Chapter 7

Allysia buried her face in the dog's fur..."God, I'm glad you're all right. What would I do without you."

"Umm, I hate to interrupt this touching moment, but could one of you untie me...preferably the one with opposable thumbs...before those guys figure out that they've been bested by a girl and a dog...and come back."

After a frantic struggle on Allysia's part, Duke was untied. "Do you really think they'll come back."

Duke shrugged as he went for his closest gun cache. "I would."

Loading his Glock 17 and pocketing an extra high capacity magazine, he turned back to Alyssia. Taking a long look at her, he continue. "Yeah... sorry to point this out, but now you're part of this...won't be long before they work out that you're next door."

Allysia looked at the treacherous looking gun. "Exactly what is that?" she asked.

"Necessary-and Illegal," Duke admitted as he paused briefly to wipe the blood from his face. "Want me to walk you home?"

"No," Allysia started for the door and hesitated. "Yes."

Duke opened a hidden cabinet, pulled out another gun and offered it to her. Allysia shook her head and picked up the crowbar. "Yeah...whatever," he said tucking the second gun in the waist band of his jeans.

As they approached the Spanish galleon, Marmaduke growled a low warning, and Allysia stopped suddenly. "Why is that light on?" she whispered. "I didn't leave that light on."

"You sure?"

"Absolutely."

She pushed a button on the security remote. "The security system is off, too," she added.

"And you're sure you set it?"

Allysia gave him her best "eat shit and die" look.

"Okay...stay behind me," said Duke.

Through an open door they could see a dozen blood-red roses. Allysia's breath caught. "No," she stammered, paralyzed with fear.

Duke looked around and then looked at her. "What's wrong?"

"The flowers," she whispered weakly.

He walked over to the vase of roses and looked at them. "They look okay to me. You must like red."

"They're not mine."

Duke froze. "They weren't here before?"

"No."

"So someone turned off the alarm, turned on a light, and left flowers?" As he spoke he saw something buried deep in the flowers' midst. It was a small envelope. Carefully he parted the flowers and retrieved it. Allysia's name was handwritten in an old-fashion calligraphy. "It's addressed to you," he said extending the envelope.

Her face filled with fear, and she shook her head quickly.

Duke opened the envelope and brought out a small parchment colored piece of paper. It said 'Welcome Home' in the same archaic lettering used on the outside, and it wasn't signed.

Duke shrugged and looked at Allysia. "Secret admirer?"

She shook her head and mumbled, "stalker."

"Oh..." he nodded, "want me to stay?"

"Yes."