The Neighbor from Hell

I had barely made it home before the knocking started again. I put in my earbuds and pretended not to hear.

A week earlier, a couple moved into the apartment across the hall. During the move, the wife, Caitlin Graham, got so hot and sweaty that she asked to come inside and cool off in my AC.

I let her in to be nice.

That one favor turned into a nightmare.

That same evening, Caitlin came back with her husband, expecting me to let them spend the evening in my air-conditioned apartment.

Since she was pregnant, I tried to be patient. I explained that I lived alone and wasn't comfortable having people over all the time, then suggested they buy an AC unit for their apartment.

"You think those things are free?" she snapped.

"Who's paying for it? You?

"And what about my electric bill? You gonna pay that every month, too?

"I'm not even worried about you making a move on my husband, and you're giving me a hard time? Stop being so uptight!"

Her audacity left me speechless.

I refused to let her in, but she spent the entire night banging on my door.

Things only got worse. She called my office over and over, demanding that I come home and turn on the AC. When I blocked her number, she pestered the property manager, John Crawford, to call me for her.

I even called the police, but they brushed it off as a dispute between neighbors and did nothing.

Now, the pounding grew louder. Caitlin's shrill voice cut right through my front door.

"Hey, Tracy! I saw you come home! Open the door. My baby's been roasting in this heat all day!"

I kept ignoring her, hoping she would wear herself out and leave.

Then a robotic voice announced, "Incorrect PIN."

She was trying to guess my door code.

After her third failed attempt, the lock's alarm blared.

I finally lost my temper. Shaking with anger, I shouted through the door, "What's wrong with you? When are you gonna leave me alone?"

Caitlin kept at it. As soon as the alarm stopped, she punched in more random numbers, setting it off on purpose.