I wasn’t quite finished with the story I was telling by the time 2025 ended and so decided to continue it until it reached an ending point. Then I will start a new one. Besides, I kind of want to see where Penelope ends up. And so we have…
Day 203: Penelope nodded.
Penelope nodded. She wasn’t certain how Agent Michaelson would take being told he had to report to Delia, but figured she could word the request somewhat differently.
“And I will contact Francine about whoever did what at her place. She probably forgot to set an alarm. The rooms would have locked but she wouldn’t know if someone tried to enter without permission if she forgot to set the alarm.” Delia shook her head.
“I’m sure she will appreciate it,” Penelope said.
Delia snorted. “I’m sure she’ll yell at me for interrupting her scheduled trip,” she said. “But it has to be done. For now, I am going to see what mess was made in my house and settle in and unpack. I probably won’t make it to this evening’s happy hour or if I do I will be so out of sorts as to be poor company, but tomorrow perhaps I will see you.”
“That would be nice,” Penelope told her. Delia nodded and then turned to her front door, She walked determinedly forward and to Penelope looked as though she was preparing for battle.
Penelope went back inside her own house and locked the door behind her. Tiredness was still pulling at her, but she thought she probably ought to relay Delia’s request to Michaelson before she lay down for her nap.
“I think I left the phone on the table.” Penelope said. With the front door secure she went back upstairs and found her cell phone where she left it. She picked it up and pulled up Michaelson’s contact information. She sent the call and waited. It rang twice before he picked it up.
“Ms. Douglas,” Michaelson said. She guessed she was in ins contacts list. “I’m afraid I don’t have much of an update for you.”
“Ah well I do have a bit of one for you. The woman who owns the house next door, Delia Grantham has returned. She is going in to assess whatever damage the unplanned visitors did and she wanted you to contact her once you found out who was doing what at her place while she was out of town. I didn’t actually get her contact information though.”
“Not a problem,” Michaelson assured her. “I can stop by in the morning and speak with her as well as you with any updates.”
“You will have updates by morning?” Penelope asked.
“With luck,” Michaelson said. “It is a bit …tangled at the moment. But I will let everyone know that the owner has returned and has questions. That actually might help with the questioning.”
“Oh apparently she had a company, The Weston Agency, lined up to water her plants if that helps.”
“That does,” Michaelson said. “It seemed they had some sort of permission and we weren’t sure if the owner gave it directly. We might be able to trace things through the company. Thank you.”
“Glad to help,” Penelope said. “And hopefully you can find out who was in Francine’s place as well.”
“Francine?” he asked.
Penelope relayed the information Delia told her about her other neighbor.
On the other end of the line, she heard a heavy sigh. “I will definitely be by to speak with your neighbor in the morning.”
The call ended and Penelope yawned. “Nap time,” she told herself. Penelope picked up her phone and went into the bedroom. She kicked off her shoes and wiggled out of her jeans. She managed to unhook her bra and with some effort slide it out of one of her shirt’s arm holes. It took the last of her effort and she was more than ready to collapse into bed.
Ten til Midnight 