As I pondered these unsettling thoughts, my moment of tranquility was interrupted by the sudden ringing of the house phone, which rarely happened as most people contacted me on my cell. Interestingly, I had silenced my cell phone earlier to focus on my work, and this surprise call from Miley, especially after the recent break-in, must have been due to her inability to reach me.
The unsettling emotions I had been grappling with faded momentarily, replaced by curiosity and concern over Miley's unexpected call. I moved quickly to answer the phone, my heart beating a bit faster than usual, eager to hear what she had to share.
Without thinking, I reached out and grabbed the phone off its base, though I instantly regretted it, half-expecting it to be one of those pesky marketers. You know, t
