3. Declan frowned and took another sip from his coffee.

"So he didn't find it?"

Miranda shook her head.

"As far as I can see, none of his belongings are in the apartment. I had a good look around once he'd left, just to make sure. It's a little unnerving that someone used to live in the apartment and yet there's no record of it." she paused, staring thoughtfully at the floor.

"I don't understand why the apartment was empty when I applied for leasing it. there should have been furniture and other belongings if this man was only away for a few months like he had stated. Surely he would still have access to a key to the room, also."

Declan shrugged.

"Maybe he lost it?"

Miranda looked over at her companion, amused.

"Highly doubtful. He did mention something about a friend supposedly looking after the place for him, so - "

"If you find him, then you should be able to have the key returned and feel a whole lot safer about being in your new apartment," Declan concluded for her.

"Hmm. I should have questioned him further," she stated, referring to the young male that previously lived there. "I'm assuming he has some other place to stay. or surely he would have sought another way to convince the landlord that it was his apartment. I do remember him arguing that he had the lease papers with him though."

Declan sat up straighter and grinned.

"Well? Perhaps Ms. Boyle will have them," he referred to Miranda's landlord before continuing, "and then you can at least find out who this guy is and hopefully who the friend is, or was" he grinned, "that should have been looking after the apartment."

Miranda nodded.

"I'll see if I can find out anything from her this afternoon. Got a class this afternoon?" she asked, changing the subject.

Declan sighed and nodded. Miranda frowned at her friend's sudden change in mood.

"What's up?"

He shrugged and sunk into his chair.

"Nothing, I'm fine."

Miranda raised her brow as a flush quickly arose on her friend's face. Declan looked up at her quickly before resting his eyes on something else in the room.

"Right - spit it out."

Declan quickly rose from his seat, refusing to look at Miranda.

"Sorry, gotta go. I'll catch up with you later - let me know what happens with your apartment, ok?"

Miranda nodded, dumbstruck as the flustered professor raced out of his office, barely managing to stay upright in the mess that occupied the room. She sighed and shook her head. What was that all about? Shrugging, she slowly stood and headed out of the room. Whatever it was, she would find out soon enough. Perhaps Peggy knew.

***

The young doctor sighed and rushed down the hallway. He was late for an appointment, yet again. He skidded to a stop outside a small office and took a deep breath before knocking loudly on the doorframe.

Peggy Fowler looked up from her desk and smiled at the young man.

"Hi, Brian. Come on in," she gestured to a seat opposite her.

The young man smiled apologetically and quickly sat down.

"I'm sorry I'm late. I was chatting with one of the elder doctors. What was his name?" the young man screwed up his face in concentration, signalling defeat after a few moments.

"Can't remember. anyway, I was chatting with him about one of the lectures he gave yesterday and got carried away and before I knew it -"

Peggy held up her hand, signalling him to stop. She smiled.

"It's fine. Now you wanted to see me about something?"

The young man nodded his head vigorously.

"You may be aware that all of this years young doctors need to take part in a session with a more experienced doctor."

Peggy nodded in confirmation and he continued.

"And it should be in the field of what we want to later excel in. and because of this, I was wondering if you'd be willing to let me sit in on one of your sessions?" he asked hopefully.

Peggy smiled and nodded.

"That should be fine Brian. I'll check with the client to ascertain they're ok with it, but it shouldn't be a problem. When did you need to do so?"

The young man sighed with relief, a large smile erupting.

"Sometime over the next week," he stated.

Peggy grinned, surprised that the students had been given such a short timeframe in which to complete the task. Or perhaps Brian had just left things to the last minute. She thought of the excitable young man and concluded that this was probably the case.

"I'll find a suitable case for you and let you know in a day or two?" she checked with him.

Brian nodded and quickly rose from his chair.

"Thanks, Dr. Fowler! I'll see you later," he commented before rushing out of the room, almost colliding with someone as they paused at the office door.

Peggy looked up at the pale figure in her doorway and smiled, surprised to see Miranda.

"Miranda, what can I do for you?"

The young woman turned her focus from the rude man that was still rushing down the corridor and focused on what Peggy was saying.

"Hi, got a minute? I was wondering if you knew what was up with Declan, he's acting weird."

The older woman smiled. When was Declan not acting weird she asked herself?