Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
We enter the school and I reminisce about the days when I was a student here. I hated coming to this place every day. I was more interested in practicing martial arts and working out than learning about history and literature.
My mother was a teacher then, and she didn’t much like my attitude. The place hasn’t changed much in twenty years, but if my teachers looked like Tess, I may have been happier to be here.
I stop into the office to see my mother who greets me with a look of concern.
“Is something wrong, Mama?” I ask as she hugs me.
“I was going to ask you the same thing. Did you find anything out about the man in my backyard? I feel like I haven’t seen you at all since that night.”
“Oh, yeah. Everything is fine. He’s an associate of mine.”
“So I don’t have to worry about you?”
“Never. I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it for a long time now.”
“Well, it’s good to see you. You and Tess are spending a lot of time together, and I miss you. Maybe the two of you can have dinner with me tonight?”
“Absolutely. What time should we come over?”
“I was thinking we could go out.”
“Out?”
“Yes, out. We still have a restaurant in town, you know, and a pretty good one at that.”
Shit, I don’t want to tell her no but having both of them out in the open together like that is a risk.
“I’m not really in the mood for that. Maybe I can pick something up for us?”
“No. We’re going out. I haven’t dined out in a long time because I hate eating alone. Now that I have company, I want someone else to cook for a change.”
“Okay, then. We’ll go out. Now, if you don’t mind, can I borrow your car? I have some errands to run today. I’ll be back in time to pick you up.”
I drive to Main Street and park across the street from the only restaurant in town. This is something I used to do whenever my boss wanted a night on the town. I’d go first and scope the place out, memorizing the layout and looking for potential security risks.
I walk the perimeter, checking the windows and exits then head inside. I order some lunch and try to commit the faces of the staff to my memory. I remember once when a rival dressed like a waiter to get access to a boss. He was shot and killed before he got out of the restaurant but not before he killed his target.
Satisfied with both my inspection and my sandwich, I drive to the local jewelry store to pick out a gift for Tess and then to the florist to buy roses for the two women in my life. I spend the remainder of the day sweeping the town like a beat cop on patrol. I find it hard to believe Dario and his crew are commuting out here every day to spy on or harass us. There must be a place here in town where they’re holding up and I’m intent on finding it.
I’ve nearly given up when I decide to drive ten miles out of town to check out the seedy little motel where my high school friends used to host drinking parties. I should have thought of this place before. Dario is drawn like a cockroach to places with bad reputations. Assholes like him seem to blend in well in places like that. I park at the edge of the parking lot and watch for a while.
“It’s now or never,” I tell myself and approach the black sedan.
When I was in the city, I picked up a GPS tracking device. I was going to put it on Tess’s car, but I think tracking Dario is an even better idea. I plant the device in the rear wheel and slip away unnoticed. No more surprises. Now, I’ll know when he’s coming and be ready.
I skid into the school parking lot just in time to pick up my mother. She gets in the car, but I wait until Tess comes out.
“I didn’t get to tell her about tonight,” I explain.
“I did. She knows to meet us at Flannery’s at six.”
I ignore my mother and get out of the car, stepping into Tess’s path.
“I didn’t think I’d see you until later at dinner,” she says as I kiss her cheek.
“I know. I just couldn’t drive away without touching you.”
“I like that.” She shoots a sneaky look at my mother who’s grinning at us through the windshield.
“I’ll see you later, baby girl.”
“I’ll miss you. I’ve missed you all day.”
“I’ll tell you what. Go get changed for dinner and I’ll come pick you up in mom’s car. That way we can all drive over together.”
“You don’t have to do that. Flannery’s is close enough for me to walk there.”