Lisa Abbot had to admit that she was a little bit afraid of her new tenant. James Clark was always polite and respectful, but there was something oddly menacing about him.
Before he moved in, Lisa had done a thorough background check on Clark and there wasn't even a hint of trouble. He worked as a remote consultant for a federal agency and spent the rest of his time hiking the Virginia hills that surrounded Lisa's property.
More than once, Lisa thought about asking Mr. Clark to find another place to live, but she really needed the money to pay the mortgage on her ranch. It had been so much different when she was first married. Lisa had been deeply in love with her husband Frank and when they bought the ranch, she thought her happiness would never end.
The changes came gradually; Frank began drinking and became abusive. Lisa tried everything to help him, but the violence became worse and on one terrible night, Frank tried to kill her. The judge sentenced Frank to ten years in prison and Lisa dreaded the thought of him being free.
Over time, Lisa became used to James' somewhat eccentric lifestyle and looked forward to seeing him come back from his excursions into the forest. He smelled of Maple and Pine and there was something of the wilderness in him.
One night while Lisa was at the kitchen table paying bills, she heard a noise outside and assumed it was her dog Plato, but she was shocked to her core when her ex-husband Frank started banging on the door- demanding to be let in.
The door splintered as Lisa reached for her phone and Frank grabbed her by the throat. Lisa tried to fight back but Frank was enormously strong and cruel.
Under the onslaught of blows, Lisa felt herself getting weaker and then it suddenly stopped. From out of nowhere, James stood in front of Lisa-protecting her from Frank's rage. Her ex-husband drew a knife and lunged at James, but her roommate easily evaded the blade and in a blur of motion sent Frank tumbling to the floor.
After the police had taken Frank away, Lisa was curious about something. "How come you came back early from your hike?" she asked James. He looked toward the hills and answered: "I just had a feeling that you needed me."
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