"I still don't know." Crystal bit her lower lip and looked again at the pictures. The apartment was better than the one she had just lost and the cost was substantially less. "Is there a laundry room on site?"

"Better than that." He pointed at one of the pictures. "See those louvered doors? The washer and dryer are in there. All you need to do is buy your softener and detergent." He pushed the first picture in front of her again. "Did you have a dishwasher in your old apartment?" "No."

"Maintenance just installed a new one in this townhouse not two months ago. Surely a busy woman such as yourself would appreciate the convenience of having a dishwasher and laundry facilities."

"Four-fifty plus half the utilities?"

"Exactly. Of course you do need first, last, and your security deposit," he said sweetly.

Crystal sighed and stood up. "This just isn't going to work."

"B-but this would be perfect for you," the red haired man protested as he rose to his feet. "I've been in this particular apartment and let me tell you it is absolutely gorgeous." He waved his hands excitedly. "What could possibly be wrong?"

"I don't have that much money."

"If you need a week or two, I'm sure I can save it for you."

"I can't wait a week or two. My apartment burned down last night. I need a place now."

"Oh you poor dear," Peter gasped, bringing his hands to his face. Crystal rolled her eyes and opened the door. "Wait." He stepped around the desk and closed the door. "I'm sure we can work something out. We can take payments on the last month and security." He reached over and picked up the pictures. "Take another look and tell me that isn't the dream apartment. Did I tell you that it was within walking distance of the Super Mall and Bragg Lake?"

Watching Crystal stare at the pictures, it was all Peter could do not to giggle with excitement. "Before you turn it down, Miss Sheridan it is Miss, isn't it?" He smiled at her nod. "Let's go take a look at it, shall we?" Without waiting for an answer, he picked up the phone and dialed Laura's number. To his intense delight, the writer wasn't home. "Well now," he said as he hung up the phone. "If you'd like to ride with me, we can be there in five minutes." He took the key taped to Laura's folder and put it in his pocket.

"I'll take my own car," Crystal said firmly.

"Um sure, that's fine. Would you mind dropping me back off here when we're done?"

"My car is a mess," she lied. "It's best to take both cars."

Peter shrugged his shoulders and smiled. "Miss Sheridan, I guarantee you will adore this place."

Once they arrived at the complex, Crystal had no choice but to agree with him. Fifty townhouses were scattered about the property, winding roads and trees helping to create a sense of privacy between the buildings. Following Peter's lead, she pulled her car into a parking space.

"Have you ever seen a more exquisite place?" Peter asked as she stepped out of her car. "We have a full time grounds crew and maintenance is just a phone call away." He led the way up the walk to the front door. The door opened into a tastefully designed living room. Abstract art pieces hung on the walls and cactus plants graced each end table. The couch and matching chair were made of soft brown leather and a rather formidable television took up most of the entertainment center.

"Laura has the best taste when it comes to decorating," Peter sighed. "Let's go see the kitchen, shall we?"

"Is this where the washer and dryer are?" Crystal asked as they passed by a louvered door.

"Yes. Now look over here, Miss Sheridan. This is a chef's delight. Spice rack, lazy susan, and this stove has detachable burners that you can replace with a griddle or grill."

"I've never seen a stove do that," she admitted, looking at it carefully. One wall of the kitchen was nothing but glass with a sliding door that led to a comfortably-sized deck. Peter opened the door and led the way outside. A round white table with cushioned chairs took up one side while a gas grill sat on the other side.

"Those trees are mostly oak and maple," Peter said, pointing at the half-acre of trees that buffered the complex from the nearby lake. "They're very pretty in the fall when they change colors."

"Uh huh," Crystal replied disinterestedly as she stepped back inside.

"Well, I suppose there's nothing left to show you but the bedroom." He walked toward the stairs. "You'll absolutely adore the balcony." He put his foot on the first step and stopped when he realized that she wasn't following him. "Miss Sheridan?"

The stripper was still standing in the middle of the kitchen, nodding with approval. "Four-fifty plus half the utilities?"

This time Peter couldn't contain his excitement. He clapped his hands together and smiled broadly. "I'll just go get the paperwork out of the car." "Wait a minute. Shouldn't I meet this Laura person before I make a decision?"

I suppose if you feel that's really necessary..." He picked up the black book next to the phone and began flipping through the pages. "I'm sure Miss Taylor is at her editor's. I'll just give her a little call."

But Laura wasn't with her editor. She wasn't at her brother's or mother's any of a dozen other places that Peter called. Crystal was getting more nervous as time passed. Peter had given her the rental application to fill out while she waited and with every question the stripper felt more nervous. She had fallen in love with the place and worried that the writer wouldn't approve of her. The townhouse was ten times better than her previous apartment. When Peter went outside to retrieve the papers, Crystal went upstairs and found the bedroom that she hoped would soon be hers. It was larger than she had imagined, with a good sized walk-in closet and a sliding glass door that led to the balcony shared with Laura's bedroom. Despite her apparent disinterest in the view, Crystal found herself looking forward to waking up to the sight of trees and sky. It would be a welcome change from the billboards and brick walls that had been the view from her old apartment.

Peter was about to give up when the phone rang. "Hello?"

"Peter?" Laura's voice sound far away. "What's going on? My mother said you've been looking for me."

"Where are you?"

"At a pay phone downtown. What's so important and why are you at my place?"

"I have the absolute best news for you. I found a roommate for you and she loves the place. How fast can you get home?" "Home? Peter I can't come home right now. I have to meet Jenny for lunch and be at the school by three. Can't we do this tomorrow?" "Actually she needs immediate occupancy. Her apartment burned down last night."

"I just can't get there." She sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Did you check all her references and get the deposit?"

"Yes, yes, everything's taken care of," he lied. "My dear, I guarantee she's perfect for you, I mean the perfect roommate for you." "What about later tonight?"

"That'll be too late. She'll look elsewhere and who knows how long it'll be before I can find someone." Peter knew he was pushing his luck but he just had a feeling about the pairing. "Laura, trust me."

"No smoking, no drinking, no loud music, no"

"None of that," he assured her, looking upstairs to make sure the blond woman wasn't within earshot. "I think you'd be surprised at how well you two will get along."

"Peter, I have to get going." She hesitated for a moment. "Are you sure she's what I'm looking for?"

"Positive," he replied enthusiastically.

Laura gave another sigh. "I guess I'll have to trust you on this," she said. "But if this doesn't work out"

"It will, it will," he said quickly, hearing Crystal coming down the stairs. "That's just fabulous, Laura. I'll tell Miss Sheridan the good news." He hung up the phone before she could say anything else. I think Michael and I better go on that trip to the mountains soon.

"Were you able to reach her?"

"Not only was I able to reach her but I arranged everything. Laura said if I like you then it's fine. And if you can ask me any questions you have about her, since I've known her forever. If you'll follow me back to the office, we'll finish up the paperwork and I'll give you your key."

It was after dark when Laura arrived home. The first thing she noticed was that the only room not lit up was her bedroom. Oh no, you're not going to be leaving every light in the house on, she thought to herself as she headed up the walkway.

Opening the front door, Laura found herself assaulted by the smell of cigarette smoke. A blonde woman was sitting on her couch, an ashtray with several butts and three empty beer cans lying on the coffee table next to her. "You must be Laura," the woman said as she rose to her feet. "And you must be Crystal," the writer replied, holding her hand out. "I don't want to get off on the wrong foot or anything but didn't Peter go over the rules with you?"

"Rules?"

Laura brought her forefinger and thumb up and pinched the bridge of her nose. "I don't allow smoking."

"You're kidding." The stripper picked up her beer and took several swallows. "Mister Knight didn't say anything to me about smoking or rules."

"I'll kill him," Laura muttered, tossing her keys on the counter. "I'm sorry but that's just something I can't live with." She picked up the empty beer cans and walked over to the sink to rinse them out before putting them in a plastic bag to store them until they could be returned to the store for the deposit. "Well, it's not the end of the world. You can always go outside to smoke."

"This is going to be fun," Crystal grumbled. "I'll look for someplace else tomorrow." She drained her beer and picked up the newspaper. "Mind if I look through your paper?"

"Help yourself." Laura opened the refrigerator and peered inside. "Have you eaten yet? I have some leftover pasta salad " She didn't see the gagging face Crystal made at the suggestion. " tofu hot dogs or pizza."

"You a health nut?"

"I believe in eating food that doesn't destroy my body." She set the cardboard box on the counter. "The pizza's from Pizza Shed." "I've had their stuff before," Crystal said, rising up from the couch and crossing over to the counter. "What's on it?"

"Not much, mushrooms, peppers, grass" Laura teased, laughing at the grimace on the blonde woman's face. "Just kidding. Mushrooms and peppers, that's all." She opened the box and showed Crystal. "One or two?"

"Two, I'm starving." The stripper leaned her elbows on the counter and used her foot to hook the leg of the nearby bar stool. "Thanks." "You're welcome." The writer wiped her hands on the dish towel. "Let's try this again. I'm Laura Taylor."

"Crystal Sheridan."

"So Crystal, Peter said something about a fire?" She put the slices on the rack and turned the oven on. At the blonde woman's nod she continued. "That's too bad. We had a fire when I was a kid. Were you there when it happened?"

"I was sleeping."

"You were lucky to survive."

Crystal grunted an unintelligible reply and reached for another beer. "You know where Humphrey Street is?"

"I think it's over by Union, why?"

"There's a one bedroom listed in the paper."

"Ugh, you wouldn't want anything on Humphrey."

"Gotta go where I can afford," Crystal said simply. "Look, if Mister Knight had said anything to me about smoking, I wouldn't have taken the place." "It must have just been an oversight on Peter's part." And when I get my hands on him

She let the thought go unfinished. "We can work something out."

"Like what? I smoke and you don't want a smoker."

"So we compromise. You can smoke on the deck and balcony, just not indoors."

"You mean if I want a smoke in the morning I have to get dressed and go out on the deck?" Crystal shook her head. "I'll get one of those air filter things but I should be able to smoke in my bedroom if I want to."

"But nowhere else," Laura cautioned. "He did tell you half of all utilities and you pay for your own long distance calls."

"Don't worry. I'm not one for making lots of phone calls."

"So we'll give it a try and see how it goes." She shut the oven off and pointed at the far cupboard. "Would you please get the plates?"

Minutes later they were sitting at the breakfast nook, eating their pizza. Laura took a sip from her glass of water and glanced at the woman sitting across from her. Crystal was being extremely quiet, only the sound of newspaper rustling coming from her side of the counter. There was something vaguely familiar about the blonde to Laura but she couldn't figure it out. "So Crystal," she began, "I'm a writer. What do you do?"