I walked into the kitchen, kicking cans and bottles out of my way as I went. It was getting harder and harder to remember a time when I didn’t have to kick trash out of my way as I walked through my house. It was starting to seem like a whole lifetime ago. The roaches didn’t even scatter the way they used to. Hell, I used to not even have roaches. The house was clean. It smelled good, I smelled good, and everything was neat. Looking around now, there were no traces of any of that. It really was no more than memories from another lifetime. A lifetime I would never again know or be a part of.
Before I fell into the well of pity that was headed my way, I leaned over the sink and looked out the window, searching the broad’s yard. I didn’t figure she’d be out yet. It was still pretty early, which made me wonder where the red-haired guy was going at such a time.
I imagined her in bed, sleeping soundly. Probably naked. Naked and waiting for me. Waiting for me to come into the house quietly, sneak up the stairs, slowly pull back the covers, and slide into bed beside her without waking her up. Then, she’d want me to pull her tight against me. I could almost feel her breasts in my hands as I thought about it. I imagined her to smell of flowers of some sort. It wasn’t something I liked, but I could overlook it. I smiled as I imagined the things I would do to her. Some of them, rough. Others, even rougher.
I felt the bulge in my underwear. I had to stop thinking of her now. I wanted to save everything so I could give it all to her.
I grunted as I realized it would have to wait. I had no idea if Owen was home or not. I wanted no interruptions when I was with the broad, so it would have to wait until I knew where those two idiots were.
I was tired from keeping watch and waiting all night. I’d sleep today, and then tonight, I’d wait for everyone to go to bed. Then, I’d go next door, where she’d be naked, waiting for ol’ Bernie Bear.
14 Jill
I heard Andy speed away. I had no doubts that Owen was with him. I wasn’t sure what they were trying to prove, but I didn’t really care.
I held my hair back with one hand and steadied myself with the other. When the heaving finally stopped, I pushed myself away from the porcelain bowl and fell against the wall. My forehead and the back of my neck were damp with sweat. My hands trembled. My stomach gurgled.
I waited a few minutes to be sure I wasn’t going to be sick any more. When I was fairly certain I would be okay, I got up and took a careful, slow, cold shower. It made me feel better immediately, but I still wasn’t myself. I was positive I’d be able to get through the day once I ate breakfast. Just in case, I had dry toast and water. I didn’t want to push my luck.
I left Andy a note telling him I loved him before I headed out the door to work.
Thinking it was a fluke that I’d been so ill earlier, I assumed the worst was over. It was a sudden onset of sickness. I didn’t have the flu or anything. I just woke up sick. But I felt better now.
Until I got to work.
As I pulled into the parking lot, I was overcome with nausea. I didn’t even make it to my parking space. I had to slam the brake and throw open the door. I leaned out and barely avoided ruining the interior of my car. I struggled to undo the seatbelt while leaning my head out the open door, and keeping my foot on the brake.
That was me; always multitasking.
When I was sure I was finished. I pulled my head in and shut the door. I turned the air conditioning on full blast and turned all the vents toward my face. The cool air made me feel better, but I was still weak and shaky. I continued on to my parking space. I sat in the car, unsure what to do. I should go in. I hated to miss work. But I couldn’t work like this. Vomiting every few minutes was not library etiquette. And even though I felt a little better now, I could feel that the worst wasn’t over.
I called my boss, telling her I couldn’t make it. She was worried, but I assured her I’d be fine. It was probably just a bug that would go away in a few hours. At her insistence, I agreed to go to the doctor. I wanted to go home and go back to bed, but I was already dressed and out. I knew my boss wouldn’t let up until I agreed to go. She worried too much. But I finally agreed to go just to shut her up.
15 Owen
Andy was careful to not be obvious as we followed Jenson up one street and down another. We kept a few cars between us when possible, and when that wasn’t possible, we stayed a few car lengths back.
“Where the hell is he going?” Andy asked, more to himself than me.
“I don’t know.” I yawned.
“I’m glad we don’t live in a big city. This would take all day.”
“You’re the one who wanted to stalk him,” I reminded him. Then I yawned. “Nobody said stalking was easy. If you want, we can go up to the prison and you can ask someone. They’ll tell you.”
“You don’t even know anybody in prison,” Andy said.
“I know somebody who’s about to be in prison,” I retorted.
“Oh, you know you’re having fun. This is the most excitement you’ve had in a long time. At least, that I know of.” He looked at me and winked, which told me he was referring to Carla.
I was getting ready to tell him how big a pervert he was, but before I could, he hit the steering wheel and cussed.
“What?” I asked.
“We lost him!”
“We what?”
“I looked at you for a second, and when I looked back, he was gone. We lost him. Damn it.”
We looked for him for quite a while. We circled the block several times where we’d last seen him. Then, we started working our way around to nearby streets. Finally, we spotted his car.
Andy straightened up, both hands on the wheel, eyes locked on the road ahead of us. “I’m not losing him this time.”
Andy didn’t have to be so tense for very long. Jenson pulled into a parking lot and parked his car. We parked at the far end of the lot where we could still see him, but he would never suspect us.
“Am Vets?” Andy asked. “Is he a veteran?”
“I don’t know,” I said, yawning. “Maybe.”
I struggled to think of what war he would’ve been in. Apparently, Andy was doing the same.
“Korea?” Andy pondered aloud.
“Maybe.” Then I added, “Maybe he just knows some veterans and comes here to see them.”
We were silent for a while, watching the door. Jenson remained inside.
“This doesn’t solve our puzzle at all. We must’ve missed something. He must’ve ditched the bag when we lost him.”
“Andy, he didn’t know we were following him. It’s not like he saw his opportunity and hurried up and ditched it. He didn’t have time to go anywhere far. Besides, how do you know he doesn’t still have the bag in his car?”
I could see Andy mull this over. “Yeah, maybe he still has it.” He slowly turned his head toward me, and I knew what he was thinking.
“No,” I said. “I’m tired. We’re not going to sit here and wait for him.”
“Why not?” Andy asked, as if he were a child.
“I’m exhausted, guy. I’ve been up all night, which by the way, I don’t usually do. I don’t work nights, remember? And I want to get some rest so I can go to—“
“Carla’s? Is that what you were going to say? You’d rather spend time with her than your best friend. I can’t believe you.”
“You know that isn’t true. Besides, it was you and your wife who insisted that I begin seeing someone, and as I recall, that someone was Carla. You both said so.”
“Whatever. The point is you want to rush back home so you can hang out with her when we’re on to something here, man. We could solve this riddle in a matter of minutes and put everyone’s mind at ease.”