I don’t like that name.” the girl said calmly as she walked over to stroke the German shepherd behind his ears.“I’m sorry.” Tim said, “But... you don’t have to like it.”“Where are you Tim?” asked the girl, smiling.“I don’t know. Your room, I guess.”“Exactly. And I say what I can or cannot do in my room.”“What?”“I also mandate what others do or do not do in my room.”“I could just leave.”“No, you can’t.” said the girl, who was now lounging on the bed. “The only people who come in or go out are the. Plus she often had to go away to conferences. In fact shewasn't even sure if the owners allowed tenants to have pets at all. Butshe could just imagine it now, claw marks on the leather sofa, her bestsatin and lace embroidered throw-over for the bed that Liz had broughther back from Egypt ripped etc.Liz was pretty out-going like that, she did things on her own a lot tooshe realized. They still got on great and she could relax and be lesscontrolling, more daft in a way when Liz was around,. ..I need tofind out about you before it's too late." Tom held her to him, hiswords a quiet whisper. "You know how it will be. I won't be kind. You willknow that you are mine." She pulled back, staringinto his eyes - counting the lines at the corners, watching his eyes glint inthe moonlight. "I know how it will be. But I know you won't hurt me - notreally" she whispered to him. They entered his home handin hand, locking the door behind them. He tossed his keys on the coffee tablein the living. When he came back rather late in the evening after having stopped at his favorite watering hole for a drink he found Mary still sitting at the window. She got up when she saw his enter the driveway. As he got into the house he smelled meatloafs. The table was set for one and while he ate Mary sat in the living room quietly. When he went to put his dishes after finishing his dinner he saw only that there was no sign of her having had any food. All the dishes he could see dirty were his morning.