The Alpha Next Door

. Unable to put herself or her encounter with Bennett to

iculous. She c

life had nothin

f him. And how she became so tongue-tied and clumsy at the same time whenever he was anywhere near.

spell had he

ion. Something to kee

where she was interning with the museum’s curator of antiquities. Not the one most recently

h sophistication, Sofi…something. Sheesh she thought to hersel

oing. Hoping she’d reply and make her sane again. She was spending far too much mental energy o

hing to occupy her time, Stella sur

uched on her nightstand. She yanked on one

. Even her books were too much to handle.

ged them, back into place. Grabbing the to

coming easy that night. Not sleep. Not even reading. S

t t

window. From where she stood, she had a cl

was a very busy man. Setting up for a p

ngs. There was a stage, with a long podium, on one end. Several rows of chairs, two banquet style

t was the crowd Bennett surrounded himself with. The

s? At th

orous looking men and women finished arranging ta

ind of pattern onto the soil. Despite the extra light from

hone

her screen. It read, “H

ore at herself than her f

here for.” Came t

what she was seeing. A midnight garden

“A picture is wort

Bennett’s backyard, snapping a photo of the gar

ed, letting her know Man

r eyes wander back to Be

d on to a new activity

were the

gg

ectangul

sses and men in expensive suits. In the middle o

buzzed the phone

this?” S

ackyard.” St

ure?” Mand

. This time a photo, the same one she’d sent actually. Only enlarged, with

y. It looked like it was taken from a boo

atch for the one in the picture you se

picture of Bennett’s back yard. A better one of the ground etching. She z

gh.” She te

ting fast and furious now. One message cam

here? Is there an altar?” And, finally, o

ons, checked for clues

is about?”

was right there in front of her eyes. But how did Man

you some de

rfect. Stella tho

rdeners. She could barely see the tops

they were dig

thought. It

ng a formal gathering at that hour could be considered normal. Well the altar was a lit

off

ot normal. Not

why was he burying a body in his ba

handle. Forget it. Forget him. She had to figure o

hone

lance

ice down her spine. Sending a jolt of ad

on the event down below she saw that everyone of