We returned home to Sandlake later that day. Chief Smith agreed that there was little more I could do. As Roy dropped me off by my apartment, I saw my neighbor Fran getting out of a taxi with a couple of bags of groceries. “Mrs. Massey,” I called as I grabbed my suitcase from the trunk. “Do you need some help?” She smiled in relief and handed me a bag. “Sean, I told you to call me Fran.” “Sorry. Since last names became common, I’ve gotten in the habit of using them to show respect for my elders.” She chuckled. “Elders? You’re older than my last name.” “I probably am.” I led her to the elevator and followed her in. She raised an eyebrow. I usually took the stairs. “Therapy,” I explained. She nodded. “Can’t let your fears rule you.” She had always been supportive of me and my claustrophobia, never judging or pushing. “Where’s Sonny?” I asked for a distraction. Usually, her son took her shopping. His wife didn’t have the time with three kids in sports. “He had to work late. They have some big new account.” “I know that feeling. I’ve been there a few times.” “Are you back now, or is it another moon cycle?” “I’m back.” “Did you catch them?” “No, we didn’t.” “Kara will be happy to see you.” I raised an eyebrow. She patted an ear, making her hearing aid squeal. “I’m deaf, not blind. I saw you two at the New Year’s Eve party. And she spends a lot of time at your place.” The building had a New Year’s Eve party each year. I’d finally gone with the encouragement of Rich and Sahar. They had wanted me to bring Roy so Sahar could fix him up with one of Rich’s coworkers, Jacquie. Sahar had been right. They had gotten along and were now dating. I’d spent most of the evening with Kara. “You should ask her out. She deserves a nice guy.” “I did. We have a date on Saturday.” The elevator door opened to my relief. Fran led the way. “Good.” I chuckled. I hadn’t expected her to play matchmaker. “You two would make a nice couple.” “I hope.” “What are you doing?” “Going to the Hitchcock marathon.” She opened her apartment door and I followed her in. “You’ve always enjoyed his movies.” “I have?” It was true, but how would she know? I started helping her put away the groceries. “You took my sister to see several of them.” I spun around to look at her. “Sissy?” She nodded. “I didn’t recognize you at first. It wasn’t until you caught that mouse for me. The way you were talking to it reminded me of how her boyfriend used to talk to our cat. That got me wondering. Then you brought that mushroom bread to the New Year’s Eve party. No one else has ever made something like that.” She handed me a box of cereal to put in the cabinet. I grinned. “Undone by mushroom bread.” I put the cereal away and turned for the next item. “Like I’d tell your secret. How many times did my sister sneak out to see you? Did I ever tell?” “But you thought I was human.” She waved it off. “So what if I did? Of the guys my sister dated, you were probably the nicest to me.” “How’s Paula?” “She passed away about ten years ago.” “I’m sorry.” Fran had been born late in her parents’ lives. Their other children were much older. They hadn’t given much attention to Fran. Paula had filled in for them. I’d followed suit when we’d been dating. “Thank you. I can handle the rest. You go unpack.” “Thanks.” I slipped an Almond Joy from my bag and left it on the counter. I’d often shared my candy with her. I’d have to get some Mounds. She’d liked those better. Back in my apartment, I started unpacking. I considered checking my place for bugs. The army had bugged the place in the past. There was still one bug in the closet wrapped up and buried under enough blankets and pillows that there was no way they might overhear anything, even when a lover gets loud enough the neighbors complain. I’m not sure why they stopped with that one. I know they still monitored it because I’ve used it to contact Gillman. I decided to check for bugs in the morning. There was a knock on my door. I looked out and saw Kara. “Hi,” I said as I opened the door. “Hi, I saw a light under the door and thought I’d check to make sure it was you.” “It’s me. I just got back. Come back to the bedroom while I finish unpacking.” She followed me. “Are you okay?” “I guess.” “What’s wrong?” “Wrong? Nothing.” I busied myself with unpacking. I needed something to do with my hands. “Are you sure? No innuendos, no promises to behave just ‘let me unpack.’” “It’s just that I just found out that I used to know Fran when she was a kid. I dated her sister for a while.” “And that upsets you? You’ve dated plenty of women.” I cringed inwardly at that statement. Most women don’t like that reminder. “I’m not upset, just surprised. I’ve never run into someone years later.” “What about your friends from Hartdale?” Kara took my toiletry bag into the bathroom for me. “That’s different. I knew I was going there and I knew who they were. I haven’t seen Fran since the sixties. She’d been a kid then. I didn’t even recognize her. That’s never happened before.” She sat on my bed and pulled clothes out of my suitcase, laying them beside her. “You’ve never run into someone you knew before?” “No. I usually try to move several states away to reduce the chance.” “Do you think anyone you used to know saw your pictures online and recognized you?” “Tif, my ex saw a resemblance, but she thought I was dead. I’d imagine some others may have seen me, but it’s been long enough most would probably think I was too young to be the man they knew.” Kara laughed. “When was the last time you were too young for anything?” “It’s been a long time.” “What happened?” I thought a moment. “My brothers were on Earth with my mom and I had a fight with my dad so I wanted to go be with them to get away from him for a little while. I was only fifteen so I wasn’t supposed to open passages to Earth myself. I got caught as soon as I went through. My mom sent me back and told my dad what I’d done. I got stuck tending the palace stable by myself for a few days.” “So what was Fran like as a kid?” “Her sister, Paula, got stuck watching her a lot. Fran looked up to her and always wanted to follow her around. I tried to respect that and included her when we went out sometimes. And I’d share my candy with her. She wasn’t that fond of almonds though, so I’d bring some Mounds for her, or sometimes, some other candy.” “That was sweet.” I shrugged. “I didn’t want her to feel like I was taking her sister away.” She nodded. “Like I said, sweet. Not every guy would even care.” I nodded and led Kara back to the living room. “Do you want something to drink?” I offered. “No, that’s okay. I should get going. I only stopped by because of the light.” “And what if it hadn’t been me?” “I’m assuming an intruder wouldn’t have opened the door. And I would have gone back to my place and called the police.” I nodded. “That’s better. Don’t take chances.” She rolled her eyes. “Yes, Mom.” With that, she left.