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What bothered her most was the lack of security Her door opened to a second floor balcony with an outside flight of stairs, and there was nothing to prevent so in That was the ive Bronco any personal information - not until she knew she could trust him, if ever

The apartment came with just a few dishes and pans, but no television or radio The oven only worked half the ti, even on the lower shelves, and her only other appliance was a toaster she bought at a garage sale for a dollar Therefore, she usually picked up just a few things at a tis that didn't require much preparation or preservation

What she had in the way of entertainment was a GSTS company provided phone, and her own laptop with co robbed while she was at work, she was careful to hide her laptop behind her stove eachbefore she went to work Without that and her friend, Bronco, her seclusion would have been unbearable

She stared at Bronco's picture for a few ically wedged her chair under the doorknob of her front door, and got into bed She still couldn't get over it He had been right there in Denver the whole time

Laura was still asleep, and the cook and the chauffer were otherwise occupied, when Teresa went to the Connellys office It held several bookcases filled to the brim with novels, a couple of brown leather chairs, and a television set that looked older than she was

She sat at the desk and lifted the lid on her employer's laptop There wasn't much on the social calendar and when she looked back at some of the events in past weeks, Laura had cancelled almost all of them

"Probably too drunk," Teresa whispered

She scrolled forward and found nothing but eot to an entry scheduled for the Saturday after next

The notation read:

Gladstone Charity Ball - Fill moment, she stared at the entry Off the top of her head, she could think of a dozen reasons to attend the ball, especially if Laura and Matheere going to be there The ball would ht in America, and by then, what she came to do would be accomplished

It was perfect

Teresa opened the top drawer and as she hoped, the engraved invitation was there She picked up the house telephone and entered the RSVP number