Someday/The ChoreSomeday
The doorbell rings, I don?t bother to get up. Just lay here on the bed, naked, cool breeze blowing in from the sea. She has the key. Come-in, come-in, I think to myself. I can hear the lock click. The door opens and closes. She?s in the kitchen now, ah yes, the coffee. She will start the coffee before she comes in here. She?s in the room now; I hear the clothes whisper as they come off. She slides in beside me. Her warm flesh against mine. I begin to stir. There is nothing like waking up in the morning to good sex. It stirs up the blood and really makes for a wonderful day ahead. Someday, if it were possible, I could settle down with someone like her. Later we get up and showered. We go out on the balcony and have our coffee. What should we do today?
I know what I should be doing, I think to myself. It took many weeks to track her down, but I always find them, never failed yet. But this time, well, she just got under my skin a bit. Soon though, I?ll finish it.
Do? With the breeze blowing like it is today, it?s just right for windsailing. Ok, that sounds fun. Lets go down and have breakfast first, then I will call have them bring a pair down to the beach. Breakfast sounds good. We went back inside and dressed. I placed the thin case in my shirt pocket. You always eat with them don?t you? The chopsticks? Yes, I?ve had them for a long time now. A friend carved them from ivory. I don?t use these all the time. The wooden ones at the restaurants work quite well. Most of them are made of bamboo you know. Quite strong wood actually.
She was lovely, tanned, and lithe. But she had a dark side. Why is it, when some people have so much going for them, that they just have to do something so stupid? Everyone knew how dangerous he was. He wasn?t all that high up in the family, but he was an important cog in the operation. He is what?s called a conduit. He receives and passes on important items. Manly money, cash, lots of it. She learned more of what went on at the office than was good for her. She saw the comings and goings, and wanted some of it. She wanted a lot of it. She watched and waited. Other things passed through, expensive things, gold, silver, jewels. But mostly cash. Cash would be good, but much too bulky. Gold, she liked gold and silver, but again, bulky and heavy. So she waited. Jewels were on her mind. Small lots came through. Worth lots of money, but still she waited for the right score. Greed, it can get you every time. Waiting and listening, she did have patience. One day just after lunch, the call she had been waiting for came in. It was a Tuesday. A very important package was to arrive in three days. She already had her plans made; just a few minor finishing touches were needed. She made a few calls to set up a meeting with her boss and some associates in Miami. That would put him out of the office and out of the city until Monday. She booked him on a Thursday night flight. It was not unusual for her to handle things while he was away. It had happened many times before. The next three days dragged by for her. Friday came, the package arrived. They went into the office, the courier and two bodyguards. She opened the safe. The courier unlocked the cuff and chain from the briefcase. He opened it and took the package out. It was about the size of the metropolitan phonebook. It was heavy; she placed it in the safe and the three men left. The hands on the clock moved slowly the rest of the day. All she could think of now, was the six and a half million dollars worth of diamonds sitting there not fifteen feet away. How did she think she could walk away with that and get away with it? She can disappear for awhile, but she has to sell them and there are not many places to do that. It was time. She had already wrapped the package up, looked just like a birthday present. She turned off the lights, closed and locked the door. She was beginning to sweat, she hated sweat. She took the elevator down to the parking garage and drove home. She packed what she would need. Ate a light dinner and slept for a few hours. It was mid-night when she drove away for the last time. She drove the rest of the night. It was dawn when she arrived at the rented garage. She unlocked and opened the overhead door. Went in and started the car. She certainly did her planning. Once a month she would come and take the car out, put about a hundred miles on it, then have it serviced and re-park it. She removed the things she had from one car and put them in the other. She drove the old car in and closed and locked the door. She drove to a hotel on the outskirts of the town and got a room. She showered and crawled into bed, to tired to eat. It was late afternoon when she checked out. She drove to the restaurant just down the street. Not really her kind of place but it would do. She ate, and then was on her way once more. She did a good job on her disappearing act. I learned where she was selling the stones. She didn?t get as much for them as she wanted, but she did get a lot more than what you would normally get for stolen jewels, as the theft of course was never reported. You can live on one and a quarter million for a long time. Live, that?s the key word here. I followed her. And I, as usual, would just happen to run into her from time to time after we arrived here. The island is not all that big, so it was very easily done. Restaurants, the beach, the hotel. On the sight seeing tour we just happened to sit together. Yes, we really hit it off. Well, all things come to an end. Someday, age will catch up to me and I will settle somewhere. I?m almost sorry it?s not now and with her, here.
Breakfast was good, I said. Think we should take a nice walk before we windsurf? Yes, but not too far. Ok. I stopped at the desk and left my chopsticks with the clerk. It was an almost daily occurrence for him. We walked only about a mile then cut over and walked down to the beach, then on up to where the sailboards where. Windsurfing can be tricky in high winds and waves. I?m no expert at it so the gentle breeze was just right for us. We spent most of the day either on the water or lounging around on the beach. Late in the afternoon we called it time and took the sailboards back to the pickup spot. We went back to the hotel. I stopped at the desk, and then we went to my room and showered. Hot soapy showers, so invigorating. Later, she went to her room for a nap after we made plans for dinner. I also took a nap after I booked my flight out. I had made my decision and was lucky in getting the six A.M. flight to the mainland with a connection back to the states. We met in the lobby and then took a taxi to the restaurant. I really like this restaurant, excellent Chinese food. As we left I slipped a pair of chopsticks in my jacket. We went to one of the nicer nightclubs for drinks and a dance or two before returning to the hotel. We went up to her room. It was a wonderful day and evening and neither one of us wanted it to stop just yet. We went to the bedroom. She finally fell asleep, and I was tired, with so much yet to do. I got up and went over to my jacket. I returned to the bed and looked at her, peacefully asleep. As I leaned forward, I felt a sharp pain in my chest. I looked down as she removed her hand from the blade. I looked at her. I knew that someday, someone would come for me, she said.
The Chore
I was pissed! You don?t make friends in this business, but I knew of him. He was good. But we all can make that fatal mistake. Sooner or later it happens. Not many get out. A few have made it; at least that?s what I hear. I know of only one. I think I told you about him. Anyway, he?s gone. I just got the word, along with the chore of finding her again. Chore hell, I was going to enjoy this one. She was long gone from the hotel by the time the body was found. I know she must have taken the six A.M. flight out, but no telling what connections she had made. But I?m good at my job. I can find out. I always find out. To tell you the truth, I don?t know who was better at this kind of work, him or me. But we both seemed to know just the right way to get the information we needed. Damn! How the hell did he let her stick him like that? I?m on my way now to the island and the hotel they were in, I?ll find out.
Two days later I check into the hotel. I get into the routine right away. Come down for breakfast every morning at eight. I keep my eyes and ears open, make small talk and spend a little time on the beach. After three days of this I can tell no one talks about what had happened there. The same clerk is there every morning. I start working on him, real slow. I?m good at not letting them know what I?m about. Two more days pass. Then the next morning after breakfast, on my way out, I stop and ask the clerk where the best Chinese restaurant is. He pales just a bit, not that any one would notice, but I did. Yes, I know about the chopsticks. I told him how much I enjoyed good Chinese food, that it was my favorite. He told me of a restaurant that one of the guests had gone to, and how much he enjoyed it. This seemed to get him to open up and after a bit he told me of the guest and his girlfriend. They would go all over the island together and you could tell how much in love they were and it was a real shame that the man had died in his hotel. He said the girlfriend must have been heart broken as she had left suddenly. As he talked to me he put his hand in his jacket. It was an unconscious movement, but again I noticed, and he seemed to be caressing something in there. I looked at him; he blushed and pulled his hand away. Then seemed to think of something and reached in again and withdrew a slim case. He opened it and showed me the ivory chopsticks. He then told me there was no one to pass the mans belongings on to. Everyone knew how the man would pass them to me as he left the hotel in the morning and how I cleaned and polished them for his return. Anyway, all his belongings were passed around to the employees and I received these. He was a very nice man and I will always cherish them. He told me the intruder that killed the man was never apprehended. So that?s the story they have, an intruder. It also told me that he had spent too much time with this woman, he got careless. She is a looker by the pictures of her I have. Geeze, I bet he was thinking how nice it would be to quit the business and settle down with her someplace. He had to be smarter than that, but I bet it went through his mind, and then he got careless. Sometimes you have to get to know the mark pretty well, but you just don?t put off the hit as long as he seems to have done. Yes, I?ll just bet they enjoyed each other quite well. Never underestimate your mark. Two weeks they spent together, more than enough time for her to learn what he was really up to. Oh well, live and learn, or in this case, die. No, he won?t make the same mistake again, will he? I left in the morning to catch the same flight as she did. I talked to the stewardess on the small plane that took us to the big island and learned that yes, she remembered the young lady. What luck I thought. But learned little, no she didn?t know where she was going from there. So much for luck. After the short flight and as I was leaving the plane, the stewardess pointed at the terminal and told me she remembered which airline she was going to use. Ah, the luck again. This would cut lots of time off my search. I had told the stewardess that I was an insurance adjuster and that young lady had a large sum of money coming to her from her fiance that had been killed by an intruder at the hotel. She knew of the mans death she said, and that must have been why the she had seemed so nervous and fidgety on the flight. I thanked her and headed into the terminal. The insurance adjuster persona would work here also. And it did. I now knew her next destination. I got the next flight to Honolulu. Closing in on her felt good. Don?t get too cocky here. She isn?t as dumb as everyone thought. I keep a few business cards on me, insurance adjuster, lawyer, others. I showed the pictures and the insurance card to the stewardesses, but no luck at all this time. None of them remembered her being on any of their flights. The trail is getting cold already. We landed in Honolulu and I took the next flight to LAX. I didn?t know if that?s where she went, but LAX is the largest airport on the west coast, and that?s just where she went, if she is the smart girl I think she is. I showed the card and the pictures again. I got no?s, and one gee, she looks familiar, but I?m not at all sure, is she an actress? I told her no, she wasn?t, and why I was trying to find her. She may have been on one of my flights, but like I said, I?m not sure. I tried to sleep on the flight, but didn?t do to well at it. As soon as I cleared the terminal, I took a taxi to the nearest hotel, showered and hit the bed. It was early morning when I woke up. I called room service and had breakfast sent up. Hash browns, country sausage, eggs, and coffee, lots of coffee. Damn, this kind of breakfast can kill you they say, oh well, it?s damn good once in awhile. I had a lot of calls to make. You have to be careful, phone calls can kill you too. I have contacts here and got the wheels moving. I wouldn?t stay here after I made the calls and ate. I?ll start calling them back in the late afternoon from other phones, always moving. On the hunt, you don?t stay put very long. A good contact can turn into a bad contact in no time at all. Never fully trust anyone. I was done with the calls and breakfast, I showered again and dressed and was gone. I used a number of messengers to send copies of the girls picture to different drops in the city. They needed to know what she looked like and to show the pictures around. It would take time, and I didn?t really expect good news today. I had time to kill. Waiting, it?s the hardest thing to do in this business. Of course, I would think any waiting is hard to do, no matter what line of work you?re in. I started making the calls at four. Nothing yet, just as I thought. Keep looking I told them, and I would call again tomorrow at ten. I took a taxi to the gym where I had left my carry-on in the morning after leaving the hotel. I worked out for two hours, and used the sauna. After a cold shower, I dressed and with my carry-on left. I checked into another hotel. I went to a theatre nearby and saw the movie ?Road to Perdition?. Interesting movie. A good dinner was next, then back to the hotel and more sleep. It had been a long frustrating day. This is the time of night when you realize how lonely this kind of work is. To have someone there with you. To talk to. To hold. To, well, you know. To be your friend and lover, someone to share your life with. Oh well, maybe someday. Morning came, and I had a sensible breakfast sent up. No calls from here. I left, and taking taxis moved about the city. At ten A.M. I began making my calls. Nothing, nothing, maybe, nothing, and a give me another hour. In an hour I called. He said Sea-Tac, and hung up. I called and booked a flight to Seattle. Smart girl, another large airport. I went to the gym. Two hours later I was checking out of the hotel and had a taxi waiting. The flight to Seattle was uneventful. Another hotel. I went out to make calls and have the photos copied and delivered. Contacts here were slim, and I had not used them but one other time. It was late, so I made arraignments to call them at four in the afternoon the next day. More waiting, boring isn?t it? I had dinner and went to bed.
Morning, a new day dawns. More waiting in store. Seattle is ever growing; the population now exceeds San Francisco. More than 750,000 people live there. I go out for breakfast and then a little sightseeing. It?s still a boring day by the time I go to the Space Needle. The Space Needle was completed in December of 1961. It officially opened on the first day of the Worlds Fair, April 21, 1962. I went up to the restaurant for a late lunch. It revolves you know. The information I read on it, states that one revolution every fifty-eight minutes is made, powered by a one horsepower motor, amazing. Well, so much for the sights, back to the business at hand, it was time to make the calls. Again I moved around the city. Again, negative, negative. The last call brought the words I wanted to hear. She was on a flight to Mexico City. She had spent some time in Seattle getting a make over, hair color and make-up to change her appearance. One thing she could not change was her striking beauty. Whether blond, redhead, or brunet, she was lovely. I didn?t care; she was going down non-the less. The best flight I could book was with one stop in Phoenix. I took it. The flight left at 5:45 in the morning, arrived in Phoenix at 8:20 A.M. I left Phoenix just after nine and arrived in Mexico City just over three hours later. I was two days behind her now. Closer, ever closer. The feeling was euphoric. I was on my own down here. There are some people I could use, but I didn?t trust them. I started with her arrival flight number. It was a slow process and I did not make much headway. I left and checked into another hotel. I thought I would get a fresh start in the morning. Then I remembered that her flight had come in late in the evening. I went to bed. I was up just before dark and had dinner. I then went back to the airport. More walking, asking the same questions, showing the business card and the pictures. Time went by. I explained that her hair color would be different, a photo shoot I told them. Hours later, a baggage handler looked at the photos and gave me a big grin, Si, he said, I saw her. He had helped her with a cab and gave the directions to a hotel to the driver. More luck. Yes, he got a big tip that night. Probably more than he would make in five or six months. She was staying at the Habita, located at Avenida presidente Masaryk 201. I gave the address to the driver. The hotel is in Polanco, west of the Zocalo and the airport. I checked in. Closer, I could almost smell her, and such a lovely smell too. See what your mind and senses can do to you? God, I love the hunt! It?s such a shame sometimes when it ends, but this one will be sweet indeed. I nosed around a bit, then left and went back to the first hotel, got my things and checked out. By the time I arrived back at the Habita, the restaurant was closed, but room service is available twenty-four hours a day. I ate, showered and went to bed. In the morning I went down to the spa, it has a small gym and I worked out for an hour or so, used the sauna, showered and went to the restaurant for breakfast. I saw her as soon as I walked in. No wonder he spent so much time with her, I thought. She was well use to men looking at her, so my glances at her would not arouse any undo suspicion. In fact if I tried not looking at her, it would be noticed, as every man and woman in the restaurant that morning was looking her over very good. The men with lust and the women with jealousy. Well, one young woman had as much lust in her eyes as the men. Her hair color and style was the same as Reba McEntire. Damn she was beautiful. I figured this was just a stop to make her plans for her next move. She would not be here long. She finished eating and left. The room turned gloomy as she went out the door. I went to my room to make plans to leave. I would end this just after dark. I called the airport and booked the 8:50 P.M. flight to LAX. I dressed for the day, packed up my carry-on and took a taxi to the airport. I put the bag in a locker, and went to the reservation desk. There, I paid for my ticket. I returned to the hotel. I commented to the desk clerk about the pretty young lady. His face lit up, Si, beautiful young lady. He wished that she would stay longer, but she had made plans to travel on in two days. I went up to my room to wait. I had made my plans as to how she would die. I wanted it quick, and I decided that I would do to her, what she had done to him, a knife would be needed. No problem there, one would come with the large steak I would have for dinner. I went out again and took another taxi to the airport. I made the trip one more time, this time asking how the traffic was in the evening around seven. He told me that I should have no problems getting to the airport on time. He said he could be available, so I asked him if he could be at the hotel at six thirty and wait for me, as I may be a little late. A twenty-dollar bill and the promise of three more at the airport made him a happy man. We drove back to the hotel, and he assured me he would be there at six thirty. More waiting, I took a nap. At four I went to the bar, it?s located on the roof. It had an elevated view of the city and a cool breeze. She was not there as I had expected her to be. My timing was cut very short. I still had to go down for an early dinner. Oh well, I will spot her soon. While I waited and nursed my drink I called the restaurant and ordered my steak to be ready at five. At ten till, I went down. My table was ready and my steak was brought in. yes, it had a very good steak knife with it. By six, I was finished and I still had not seen her. I went t the reception desk, the same man was there and I inquired as to whether the young lady was going to be down for dinner or if she had gone out. Senior, he said sadly, she has left, checked out. She said her plans had changed, she was gone senior. Now the chore was beginning to be a real chore. What spooked her, I wondered? I asked if he knew where she was going? No, senior, we just put her luggage in a taxi and she left. As I left the hotel my taxi arrived. On the way to the airport I showed him her picture, but no, he had not seen the young lady. At the airport I gave him the three twenties and the promise of one more if he would take the picture around to the other drivers. I explained about the hair color and he was quick to oblige. I talked to the baggage handlers and showed them the picture; again, none had seen her. More walking, the same questions, and getting the same answer from them all, she had not been seen. My driver caught up to me with the same answer, none of the taxi drivers he asked had seen her. She had done her disappearing act again. I spent the next three days checking car rentals, hotels, tours, everything I could think of, no luck. She was gone. I had cancelled my flight to LAX and now rebooked it. She will turn up, sooner or later, word will reach me. What a chore this turned out to be.
What next, I wonder.
Is he dead? I don?t know! His heart has stopped but he is still breathing. Well do something! I don?t know what to do! Hit his chest, they do that in the movies! I don?t want to hurt him! What if I break a rib or something? Hell, you damn fool, his heart stopped, hit him! How hard? Just hit him in the chest! Pretend you?re mad at him! Ok, but if I break something it?s your fault! Do it! Now! Harder! Again, hit him! I think I heard something crack! Hey! It?s beating, his heart is beating! Geeze, I hope he doesn?t get mad at me. Look, he is starting to bruise! That?s good I think. It means his heart is working; his blood is flowing again. He?s gonna be mad at me! Don?t worry about that now, he?ll understand! Look, his eyes are opening! He?s trying to say something. What? What did you say? What happened? Damn, it feels like I got hit with a sledgehammer. Who hit me? She did! You told me to! What did you hit me for? Damn! I think I have a broken rib! You collapsed on the floor and your heart stopped! She told me to hit you, hard! See, I told you he would be mad at me! He?s not mad at you! He is too! Girls, girls, would you stop! Tell me what happened! Like I said, you collapsed. We couldn?t feel your heart beating and she told me to hit you. She told me to hit you real hard. So I did. Twice. I called 911, they should be here soon. I can hear the siren now. Well, tell them to go away, I?m ok! No your not! You need to find out what went wrong. And, you may have a broken rib! Would you stop your crying! I can?t help it, you died! I didn?t die! Well your heart wasn?t beating! Here they come.
The paramedics came in. what happed, one said. His heart stopped and I think he has a broken rib, she hit him, hard! You told me too! Girls, girls! Please step back and let us check him out. We will need to take him to the hospital where they can do more tests.
They kept me in the hospital for three days. After all the tests, the doctor could find nothing wrong. The rib was not broke, just cracked.
We can?t find anything wrong with your heart, he said. Other than the high blood pressure medicine you?re on, do you take anything else? No, not really. Your sixty-three, correct? That?s right. The girls are pretty upset; they think it?s all their fault. What exactly were you doing before this happened? Well, the twins and I, we were, well, in bed. Hmmm, and? Well I did take a Viagra earlier. Viagra huh? With both of them, in bed? Yes, well, they have always shared, and I didn?t want to play favorites. They are much younger than you, and I don?t believe your heart stopped, no sign of that happening. I think you just over did it a bit and passed out. I don?t want you using Viagra again; at least until I check you out in a month. As soon as the paper work is done, you can leave. I?ll have the nurse make an appointment for you in thirty days. Ok, thank you. Take it easy for awhile. Yes sir, I will.
I rolled over and opened one eye, and looked at the clock. A quarter to nine. Time to get up. Damn, what a dream that was. They say dreams give you insight to what may come. Well, if and when I turn sixty-three, and meet some foxy twins, I?ll stay off the Viagra. I got up and went to the shower. I was still tired from the botched job. It rankled. And not to have completed it was depressing. I dressed and went out for breakfast, then made the phone call. They understood and told me to keep on it. They didn?t have to tell me that. I was on it. I would stay on it till it was done. Never give up. I have a contact that I call the ?pit bull?. Set him on something and he doesn?t let go. I made the call. Gave him all the information I had on her, and where I lost her trail. He told me he would get on it. I had put a bundle of cash and her pictures in a locker on the way to have breakfast, and told him where he could find the key. It was the way we usually did things, him and I. I gave him the number of an answering service that I had set up. He told me as soon as he had anything, he would call. Waiting, again. Time to take a break, maybe go fishing or hell, maybe I?ll look for those twins. I left LA.
She smiled to herself as she drove off in the new car she had just purchased. She knew, just knew what the man was when he walked in at the restaurant. This would change her plans drastically. How did he find me so soon? She had left the hotel in a taxi but had not gone far. It was clumsy trying to carry her luggage and get it on the first city bus that came by. She rode the bus for twenty minutes, when she spotted the car dealership. She got off and went inside. Two hours later, and she was set to go. Go where, she thought. My plans that I made are no good to me now. She stopped and got a map. Puebla, I?ll go there, and then see what I can do. About two hours later she arrived. It?s larger than I thought. She drove around for a while finally settling on a hotel off the main avenues through town. There seemed to be four of them she thought. She picked up some informational brochures in the lobby and took them with her to her room. She began by looking at the map and then the brochures. All the while thinking, if they found me in Mexico City, how will I ever feel safe? She thought back over her flight from the murder she had committed. Hell, she thought, a blind man could have followed me. Changing my hair color in Seattle did nothing more than make me stand out more. She looked in the mirror. She went in and showered, scrubbing her face almost raw. Then took scissors to her hair. When her hair was dry and using just a bit of lipstick, she appraised herself. What a difference she thought, still very pretty, but no more than any other pretty girl. I certainly won?t stand out in a crowd now. And I won?t be able to stay in this hotel. I?ll leave very late at night and find another. She went to bed. Just after midnight, she left a generous tip and as quietly as she could, left by the back entrance. Once again she drove around and settled on a hotel on the east side of the town. No one gave her a second look as she checked in and asked about food. Yes, they had room service, and she ordered and went up. She got the map and brochures out and began again. The only city that was familiar to her was Veracruz. She had never been there, but had heard of it. About three hours away, she thought. She went through the brochures, well, that?s no help, they?re all on Puebla. There was a knock at the door. She jumped. Damn, she said. She went to the door, yes? Room service. She set the chain and cracked the door. She removed the chain and opened the door. The tray was carried inside and set on the table, she tipped the boy and he left. She was famished and it did not take her long to finish it off. Then went to bed. It was late in the morning when she awoke. She ordered from room service and took a shower, she liked being clean. Her food arrived, and at the knock on the door, didn?t jump as badly as the night before. Damn, she said. She ate and thought. Clothes she decided needed to be downgraded. Too expensive for a plain girl like me. After eating she unpacked her luggage. The discard pile grew larger and larger. Three outfits she would keep. No, no, just one. The plainest one of the lot. She put it on. A boy came for the tray, and she asked him if he would mind throwing the pile of discards out for her. He looked at her strangely, then grinned and shook his head yes. He would return soon he said. Ten minutes later he was back with large garbage bags and stuffed the clothes in and left. He had the biggest grin on his face that she had ever seen. Looks like a shopping trip for me, she mussed. She went to the lobby and picked up some business cards for the hotel, wrote her room number on them and asked for directions to some of the less expensive women?s wear shops. With cards and directions in hand she went out. She didn?t use the car; she took a taxi. After each purchase, she asked that they be delivered and gave them one of the cards. It was almost two when she headed back to the hotel. On the way, she stopped at a travel agency and asked for information on Veracruz.
When she got back to the hotel, she was told that many, many packages had arrived and they had been put in her room. She thanked the clerk and went to the restaurant. While eating she looked over the brochures she had been given on Veracruz. Out of the brochures, she picked Hotel Suites Mediterraneo Veracruz on the Blvd. Miguel Aleman. After her meal she went to the reservation desk and asked if they could make reservations for her, she handed them the brochure. They assured her that it would be taken care of and she went up to her room. The next hour she spent removing tags and packing her luggage. With time to kill she went out to explore her surroundings. She took a taxi to the historical district. She started at the Zocalo and walked about ten blocks north to Iglesia de San Jose. It was all very interesting, but did not have the time to do more than walk past all the buildings, houses, churches and museums. All of them very old, and some of them just a shell, or doorway of what use to be. Antique shops surrounded the Plaza, and she stopped for a fruit cordial at the tavern. It was late in the day when she returned to the hotel. She showered and changed into one of the new outfits she had bought, and went down for dinner. She was very tired when she returned to her room and she went right off to bed and sleep. In the morning she had breakfast while her luggage was brought down and put in her car. The drive to Veracruz was uneventful, the highway being a toll road and in good repair, she made good time and arrived three hours later. It took her awhile to find the hotel.
Well, I didn?t find the twins. But the young lady I met while fishing, more than made up for it. It was a long weekend spent on a beautiful lake in Shasta County in California. Then we spent two days together at her place in Sausalito. I?m in San Francisco now, making a call to the answering service. Nothing, no messages have come in me. I?ll try again tomorrow. I took a walk, all the while the chore I had been on running through my mind. I thought about the ivory chopsticks, his mistake, always learn from others mistakes. Pit bull will come through for me I?m sure. I was hungry. I may as well treat myself to a good Chinese dinner. I was in China Town, and those chopsticks reminded me there was a great Chinese restaurant nearby. After a leisurely dinner I decided to see a movie. I saw Bruce Willis in ?Last Man Standing?, that?s what I would call a real shoot em up. I went back to the hotel and went to bed, thinking of fishing trips this time.
A day, then another passed with no word from pit bull. I debated on going to Sausalito, but thought better of it. Waiting and loneliness, that?s part of the game I?m in. I spent most of my time in different gyms in the city; it?s good to keep in shape. A week goes by, then another. Three weeks, and then I had a message, a phone number and a time to call. I checked the number to see where it was, and then calculated the time difference. So far away, but it?s only an hour different. I would make the call at one A.M.
I made the call. Pit bulls first words were, your slipping up my man. Go on. I went to the hotel you both stayed at. Nothing much there to learn that I already didn?t know. I started calling for a taxi. I would show the driver the pictures and then tell him if he found a driver that had picked her up here, and brought him to me there would be a hundred dollar reward for him. I went to different areas and did the same thing over and over. It took time. Finally a driver was brought to me that had picked her up. He said they had not gone far, when she had him stop and she got out. The last he saw of her, she was headed for a bus stop. He took me there. I?m so tired of riding busses; I may never ride another one as long as I live. Anyway, I found a driver that remembered her because of the struggle she had with her luggage. He dropped me off at the same spot. Nothing there but a car dealership. Buying a car, I never thought of that. That?s what I meant, you?re slipping. Don?t rub it in. Anyway, I went in and talked to them. They told me what kind of car she bought, but had no idea where she might have gone from there. Another dead end. Almost my man, I got a map. Went back to my room and studied it. If I were a woman on the run, where would I go? Puebla seemed to jump out at me. You know how you get a hunch? The road is good and it puts some distance between here and there nut not so far that she would be afraid to try it. So, the next morning I drive to Puebla. Another haystack. So, I start the taxi routine again. But I?ve been thinking. If she spotted you so soon and took off, she probably began to wonder how you found her so soon. So, I covered the hair with paper and started showing it to the drivers, telling them to pay attention to the eyes and mouth. Most of them thought I was a crazy gringo, but they looked real close anyway. Money down here goes a long way in getting the information you want. It didn?t take as long here as it did in Mexico City. A driver remembered picking her up at a hotel and taking her to some shops to buy clothes. He drove me to the hotel and made himself a quick hundred. He said she had short red hair and no make up. But she was a very pretty girl. At the hotel, they remembered her. How could they not remember her? Then they told me of her giving away such wonderful clothes, then buying new ones that were not nearly as nice. I asked if they knew where she had gone. Jackpot, she had them make the reservations for her. Mistakes my man, they can kill you. Yes, I know. That?s why I?m on this one; a mistake was made. He gave me the name of the hotel in Veracruz. I told him before he hung up, that he would get a bonus for this one. I was on the next flight to Veracruz. I had to be careful; she knew what I looked like.
The phone rang. Hello? Is this the lady that gave me all the wonderful clothes? Yes, I am. Did you like them? My sisters and mother, they are in heaven with so much gladness, we thank you very much. You?re quite welcome, but you did not have to call me to thank you. Oh, but I call for more than that. Yes, what is it? A man was here asking about you. He knows where you are. Thank you so much for calling to tell me. The line went dead. She replaced the receiver. She went over to the bed and fell on it, weeping. When will it end, she sobbed? Then answered her own question with, when I?m dead, it will stop. She sat up and shook herself, enough of this, get moving. She hurriedly packed and went down to check out. With her things in the car she drove away. Where to now, she asked herself? She stopped and filled the car with gas. Then drove north out of town. She found a shady spot and parked the car. Getting the map out, she started looking for the next place to hide. Jalapa was the next town. I have to go somewhere. She started driving. It took just over an hour. She drove around a bit, and then picked the Hotel Salmones. As safe here as anywhere, she thought.
I made the nine A.M. flight out of SFO. It made for a long day getting in after eleven P.M. with the stop in Houston. I took a room at the nearest hotel and crashed. I wonder sometimes which is worse, the waiting or the travel. Actually, they are the same, you?re waiting to get where you?re going. It?s a one-hour difference in time with San Francisco, but it took me twelve hours to get there.
Early in the morning I took a cab to her hotel. I knew what kind of car she had and the license number. I checked the lot, it wasn?t there. I knew I should have sent pit bull on down here to make sure she was still around. Underestimating her again I see. I think it?s close to the time for me to find my own hole to get into, let the youngsters take over. Yes, I think this will be my last hunt, no more when I?m done with this chore. I have the taxi drive around until I find a likely place for breakfast. I need to kill a little time before I go back to her hotel. As I pay for my food I ask if there is a place close by that I can buy flowers for my lady? She gave me my change and told me of a place just down the street, I thanked her and left. I found the flower shop and bought a nice bouquet and took a taxi back to her hotel. I had him wait, this would not take long. I went to the reception desk and asked if they could give the flowers to the pretty young redhead. Oh, I?m so sorry senior, she has checked out. She has? Well when did she do that? Just yesterday senior. Did she say where she was going? No senior. I thanked the lady and left. I returned to my hotel. Damn, I thought as I dug out my maps. I thought about her as I looked at the map of Veracruz, nothing to speak of to the south and I don?t believe she would go back to Puebla. North then. I called the desk and asked them to get me a rental car. By noon I was headed north. I drove into Jalapa just after one. It took me almost three hours of driving around the town before I spotted the car. I had seen two of them before, but not the right plate numbers. I had her. Well, almost. I parked down the street. I sent the better part of an hour there, and then drove away. I had been thinking, and nothing came of it. She knows what I look like; she?d spot me in a second if I went in. That means I need to get her to come to me. That?s what I had been thinking, but the question is how? Lets see, call the hotel and ask them to have the cute little redhead call me. Don?t think that?s a good idea. She is smart, but not smart enough, leaving her car where it can be spotted. More luck than smarts has kept her one step ahead of me. So why are you having such a problem now? You?ve done jobs that where more dangerous, and with more firepower against you. And here you are, stymied by a little thing like she is. All you have to do is find her room, slip in there at three in the morning, a slice her throat. No, too messy. Put your hand on her mouth and put the blade in her heart. Just like she did. Ok, now how do you get her room number without causing concern? I needed to watch the entrance to the hotel. I circled around the block and parked the car. There was a cafe across the street from the hotel and I went in through the back. I took the table in the front by the window. I brought a large legal pad and pencils in with me. I figured I could sit there for some time as if I was writing or something, rather than just sitting there watching the hotel across the street. I didn?t do much writing, lots of doodling and drawing caricatures of the old man that ran the place and his grandson and others that came in. The old man asked if he could buy the ones I had done of him and his grandson. I smiled and said no, as I gave them to him. Such a fuss he made. How a yellow piece of paper with scribbles on it can make someone so happy is beyond me. He tacked them up on the wall, proud as hell. I watched the hotel. The old man was pouring more coffee when she came out. I whistled. Now there is a pretty lady, I said. He looked at her, Si, he said with a grin. I wonder who she is? Heck, she probably has a husband with her, I said. And went back to drawing. I did a pretty good one of her. I saw the old man say something to the boy and he straightened his clothes and went out the door. I watched him cross the street and go into the hotel. My other grandson works there, the old man said. Presently, he came back. She is alone senior, no husband. Her name is Sharon Gaines. My brother says she is very nice and tips well. I would like to meet her, but I?m going to be busy later and tonight. Maybe I will have time to go and see her tomorrow. Maybe I will send flowers over. Should I just put her room number on them along with her name? Just her name senior, my brother knows she is in room 201. I took a card out and very carefully wrote only her name on it. Is there a flower shop in the area? I can get you some beautiful flowers, the boy said. I handed him some pesos and he went out the door like a shot. My granddaughter has a flower shop in the next block, the old man said with a grin. How many grandchildren do you have, I asked? He grinned at me and said, fourteen. The boy came back soon with the bouquet. I wrote on the card, ?I hope your stay in our city will be a pleasant one?, put it in the envelope and stuck it in the flowers. The boy delivered them to the hotel. When I left, I placed a generous tip on the table. I found another hotel nearby and took a room. I decided to get some much-needed sleep.
When Sharon returned to her room after her walk, she saw the bouquet. Now who sent those, she wondered. She opened the card and read it. Well, that was thoughtful, she said. No name on it. She called the desk. Do you know who sent the flowers? No seniora, a boy delivered them. Was there no name? No, there is no name, just a wish for me to have a pleasant stay here. Ah, well maybe you have a secret admirer. Thank you, she said, and hung up the phone.
He?s here. Damn, will he never stop? I?ll have to pack and get out of here, she thought. No, that will never do, he?ll just follow or be waiting. I?ll stay and fight, I can?t continue this running. She looked around for some kind of weapon. There is nothing in here that will do. Then she remembered something and went out in the hall. She went to the door next to her room and opened it. Inside she found what she was looking for, and took it back to her room. The more she thought about the situation, she came to the conclusion that as long as she stayed in the hotel with people around, he could not get to me during the day. Tonight she thought; he would try for me tonight. She went to the bed and pulled the covers back, lying down, she pulled the sheet up, and began to practice. After awhile, she had figured out the best position she would use. She practiced till she had it all down with quick fluid motions. Yes, she thought, he won?t dare use a gun in here, so he will try to choke me or stab me with a knife. A knife, she thought. He will use a knife, like I did. She looked at her watch; the time had gone by quickly while she had been practicing. She showered and dressed for dinner. She had a wonderful meal. It may be my last, she murmured to herself. She went back to her room and decided that now would be a good time to try and get a little sleep. He won?t come for me till quite late. She set the alarm for mid-night. Then she got ready for bed and lay down. But sleep would not come. The thoughts of, what if, kept whirling in her head. And every once in awhile she would suddenly make the quick moves she had practiced. Finally she dosed off. The sound of the alarm startled her. She looked around, it was dark in her room and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust. She felt that she would have some advantage, being she knew the room so well, and she would be ready for him. Now, the waiting began.
I got up at eight. I showered and dressed for dinner. I also needed the knife I would use. Again, a nice steak seemed appropriate. The heavy bladed steak knife that came with his dinner would do well he thought, as he wrapped it in a napkin and placed it inside his jacket. He left a very heavy tip, and nothing was said as he walked out. He took a long walk before going back to his hotel and the waiting he detested so much. Now, he thought. It?s time, and he dressed in the black clothes. It was just after one, when he silently left the hotel. It was dark and no one out and about. Skirting around the buildings he made his way to the back entrance of her hotel and silently went up the stairs. He listened at her door for a moment, then tried the knob, locked of course, as he had expected. He took the case from his pocket and selected a tool. The lock made a soft click as it turned. He turned the knob slowly and cracked the door. He took anther tool and using it raised the chain from its notch, all done very slowly and carefully. He eased the door open and slipped inside. Crouching down, he waited for his eyes to adjust. As he waited, he regulated his breathing, slow and deep. He moved towards the bed. She stirred a bit and he froze. He moved forward again.
She lay there in the dark as the time slipped by. She was straining to hear the slightest sound, and when it finally came, seemed quite loud. The click of the lock. He?s here, she thought. She turned her head slightly towards the door and listened. Just a whisper of the chain being moved. The door opened and the shadow of the man moved inside. The shadow moved again and she shifted slightly to the position she had practiced for so long. The shadow stopped. It moved towards her again. As his hand moved towards her face, she lunged.
He was now at the bedside and hesitated a moment, then with the knife in his right hand, reached out with his left towards her mouth. The pain he felt was fearsome, and he dropped the knife, and with both hands clutched the thing protruding from just under his breastbone. What, he said as he fell across the bed? What, he said again? It?s a piece of broom handle, Sharon whispered in his ear. With his last breath he said, never underestimate a woman.
Earlier in the day, Sharon heard a slight commotion outside her door. Investigating, she found the boy on the hall floor with a broken broom. He got up and looked at it, then placed it in the hall closet. He had fallen and the handle had cracked. It was a tapered break. She asked if he was ok, and he assured her he was. When she later was trying to think of a weapon to defend herself with, she remembered the broom. It didn?t take much to finish breaking it, and the short tapered piece worked quite well. She called the desk and reported the break in. The police came and a report was made. No charges were filled and she went away. Where? Who knows?
Suddenly she knew where to go next. It came to her in a sudden flash. She was young and pretty, and there was plenty of time for enjoying herself later...yes, later...
Oh oh, she said a few miles out of town. There was a wrecked truck in the ditch, and three men about her age standing and looking at it. She stopped. Are you ok, she asked?
The three young men grinned, and one said, si, we are ok, thank you.
Somehow she didn't like the grins on their faces. They were polite enough, but the smiling faces were insolent, she thought. Oh well... as they were close enough to town and she was headed the other way, she started to drive on as one of them stepped up and wrenched the door open. He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her from the car. The other two stepped in and picked her up. She began screaming and kicking as they carried her to the rear. The other man got the keys and opened the trunk. He pulled the luggage out and then helped the two stuff her in, and then they slammed the trunk lid. She screamed and screamed, but it did no more than make her throat raw. She lay curled up and whimpered. The car was moving now, going quite fast. Bouncing around roughly in the trunk seemed to bring her back to her senses. My life was on the line two times, and I made it through, she thought. I can do it again. She started searching around for anything she thought would help her. She found the jack and the tire iron. She clung desperately to the tire iron. She had planned on going back to Puebla, but the road we are on now did not feel right, it was much to rough to be the paved road she had come in on from Veracruz. Using the tire iron, she tried to pry the trunk lid open, but could not get enough leverage. She gave up, but held it tightly. The plan, such as it was, had flashed in her mind, the boy in Puebla had warned her, just maybe his family could help me settle in somewhere until things cooled off for me, she had thought. Then the next thought came, how would I ever know? They can always send more men after me. And next time? Dust was finding its way inside the trunk, it was getting harder and harder to breath and she was choking terribly. She was hot and sweaty and dirty. God I hate sweat, she said. And then choked more. She removed her blouse and held it across her nose and mouth. It helped, but not much. Water she thought, what I would give for water right now. The car was climbing now and going very slow. The dust stopped coming in. the car was going slower still and she could tell from the turns that it must be a switchback road. First left, then right, and it seemed so steep. The car began to level and she put her blouse back on. The tire iron. She had to hide the tire iron, but how? She rummaged around and found a roll of tape. She pulled the pant leg of her slacks up and began to tape it to her leg. No, she thought, that will never do. The tire iron was about sixteen inches long with another three or four inches bent at an angle and a flat prying tip at the other end. First thing they will want to do is strip me and rape me, she thought. Reaching back, she slid it down her back under her bra strap. Using a length of the tape, she wrapped it around the bra strap and shaft of the tire iron. It was a difficult maneuver and she knew they would most likely find it right away. She had no choice but to try. The car stopped. The doors opened and slammed shut. Then she heard the key in the lock. It opened. One of them stuck his arm out. I go peacefully and hope they don?t find the tire iron, or, she didn?t finish the thought. She reached up and took a hold of his arm, and pulled herself up and stepped out. With one on either side of her, she followed along behind the third. It was a shack, just barely. More like a hovel, she thought. It was a little better inside, but not by much. One big room, and what looked like a smaller one. They pushed her in; it was smaller, with one cot and a bunk bed. They looked at her, and then closed the door. As quickly as she could she removed the tire iron and looked around for a place to hide it. She chose to put it against the wall under the cot. She had no sooner straightened up than the door opened and one of them came in. the other two looked in and grinned. It?s going to start, she thought. She started to back away when he reached out and grabbed the front of her blouse and bra; he pulled her roughly towards him. She had another choice to make, fight it and get hurt and have it happen anyway or submit and possibly get away with my life. She leaned in against him. He removed her clothes, and then his own. The time passed, first one, then the next, and then the third. They all had their turn. They took her outside and showed her the water barrel and washtub. It was cold, but she filled the tub and scrubbed and scrubbed. They enjoyed watching her soap up and scrub. She still didn?t feel clean. They took her back inside and let her dress. The food that night consisted of beans and rice. The rice was cold and suspect, but she ate it, wolfishly. And water, she drank lots of water. One of them took her to relieve herself, and then they all settled down for the night. They gave her two blankets and motioned at the floor. Great, she thought, not even letting me use the cot. She folded one blanket on the floor, curled up on it and pulled the other over her. She didn?t sleep. About every thirty minutes or so she would make noise and move around. At first they alerted to her movements, but as time passed they started paying less attention to her. She kept it up most of the night. She thumped the floor again and waited. They didn?t move. Slowly she moved to where she could reach the tire iron. The man in the cot was the first. When she hit his head, it sounded much as the thump on the floor. The man in the bottom bunk shifted a bit, but that was all. He was next. The third in the top bunk was the hardest to reach, and she had to hit him twice. She found the car keys and as the dawn arrived, she was in the car. She had never driven down a mountain road such as this one, and it was perilous. By the time she was at the bottom, she had to stop because of the shaking she was doing. She got out and walked around the car, around and around, sobbing all the while. Five men I have killed, what have I become, she moaned?
Pit bull arrived in Puebla. He had never killed anyone for money. He didn?t have the expertise needed for that. And he was not expecting any for this. This was personal. They had met but one time, years before, and he liked the man. He always did his best for him. He never once let him down, and he paid me well. Never once did he haggle with unforeseen expenses. In fact, he always paid me more than what was necessary. It?s been a week since he was killed in Jalapa. It takes time for news to get around sometimes. I?ve been here two days now. The way I had it figured, someone at the hotel called her about my asking about her. So here I am. I have a room in the hotel across the street from the one she had used. I?m watching, waiting. It?s tiring work following that boy whenever he takes off on an errand, but he is my best guess, she gave him those clothes, maybe, just maybe he will lead me to her. If not, it will be a matter of the greatest luck to track her down. The only thing she had for me to look for or trace, was the car. It had been sold in Veracruz, so that?s gone. Damn, there he goes again. I know, I know I have to follow him every time, but hell, I need a break. I scurried down the stairs and out the side door. Damn it, he?s a block away already. I move down the sidewalk, as fast as I can. Don?t lose him now, I thought. The people around here must think I?m nuts, crazy gringo, I bet their saying. I really need a car for this, but hell, they drive like fools down here. And I certainly can?t keep a taxi standing by all the time. Looks like another false alarm, he?s headed back already. I walk part way back till I can see the entrance to the hotel from a cafe. And sit down. Damn, this could kill a guy. I know, I know I?m out of shape. By the time I leave here, I?ll need new and smaller clothes. And my breathing will be much stronger, hell, I feel stronger already. I order coffee and sit back. There is one thing about this country that I like, siesta time, two to four. No body does anything. The shops close and every body takes a nap, I love it. It must be two now, they?re closing up, well, back to my room. Oops, there he goes again. I get up and go after him. He isn?t in a real hurry this time, that?s good. This is new; he hasn?t gone this way before. I follow him for almost three blocks when he ducks into a building. It?s not a commercial building and it?s not a hotel. Looks like an apartment building. I peek around the door way and step inside. He?s gone up the stairs. I listen, maybe, it sounds like he walked about ten feet and stopped, and I can hear a knock on a door. I move up the stairs and see him step inside. At the door I can hear him talking, a woman answers in English. I leave, fast. I no sooner hit the last step and I hear him come out. I step out the door and around the corner. I can?t let him see me. He walks on by headed back to the hotel. So, this is where they have her stashed? Probably thinks she can hole up here till the heat is off. Well, I have news for her, if I don?t get it done; there are others who will. I go back to my hotel and check out. Time to move to another before that boy happens to spot me.
She got back in the car and drove on. She came to the highway she had been on and turned back towards Jalapa. She found the truck was still in the ditch. She also found her luggage where they had been tossed. Amazingly, they were still there. She put them in the trunk and turned around, she headed on to Veracruz. The first thing she did was get a room, then a bath, and then showered. She went to a restaurant to eat. She still felt dirty after returning and showered again. Time she thought, it would take time. She went to bed and slept till late afternoon. She called the desk and asked where a good place was to sell a car. They told her almost any car dealer would be willing to buy it if the price were right. In fact he said, my brother has a car lot, I will call him. Not long after, her phone rang, come down and show my brother the car, he is here now. She didn?t really care how much she got for it, she just wanted rid of it. But she haggled with him anyway, just to make it look good. They settled on a price and she signed the papers over to him. She had an early dinner and went back to bed. In the morning, she got up and showered. Better she thought. She packed her bags, throwing out the clothes she had worn the two days before. No giving these away, she thought as she stuffed them in the trash. She went down and had breakfast. She had them call a taxi as she checked out. With her luggage in the taxi, she had the driver take her to the bus station. She caught the next bus to Puebla. Arriving in Puebla she took a taxi to the hotel. The boy was overjoyed to see her. She explained to him what she needed; leaving out a lot of the details that he surly didn?t need to know. She passed it off as an extremely jealous ex-husband. It worked quite well; he would do anything he could for her. He told her his aunt had an apartment building that would do just fine, and he would keep her informed if any one came looking for her again. The taxi took them to the apartment building and she was introduced to the boy?s aunt. It was a small apartment, but would do very well indeed. He helped her carry the luggage in, then hurried back to the hotel. Seniora Lejarza took her shopping, some food items and necessities, were brought back to the apartment. She settled in.
The boy hurried into the hotel, papa papa, he said. What is it? The man, he is here. What man? The man that was here asking about the pretty lady! The one you took to your aunt? Yes papa. He picked up the phone and dialed a number. Hello, yes it?s me. He just came in. He told me the man is back here, he knows where she is. Yes, we must move her quickly. I?ll go the back way from a here and bring the car to the back. Yes, hurry. You stay here; your aunt and I will make sure she is safe. Thank you papa, she is a nice lady. He went through the back of the hotel and got in his car, it didn?t take long to reach the back entrance of the apartment building. He went inside and up the stairs. We must hurry he said as his sister opened the door. She is almost packed. Here, this one is ready; we will be right behind you with the other. He took the bag and went down the stairs, by the time he had the bag in the car, they were there with the other. They hustled her in the car and drove away. Where will we go she asked? Our nephew has a farm, we will take you there for now, said senior Lejarza. It?s only been one week, and they found me already, she thought. They will keep coming and coming. It wasn?t a long drive out to the farm, but the road was bumpy. The nephew raised chickens, but also had some goats and a couple of pigs. They got out of the car as the nephew came out of the house. The brother and sister explained to him of the problem and he smiled and opened his arms to her. She got a big welcoming hug. They went inside. It was very cool inside the house; the thick adobe walls insulated the house very well. It was quite large for a chicken farmer she thought. She was introduced to the nephew, Maximolion Lejarza. You speak English very well senior Lejarza, she said. Thank you, but please, call me Max. I lived in the US from the age of ten, after high school I studied at Colombia University in New York. I went on to do well in the commodities market. By the time I was thirty, I grew tired of the rat race, you might say I dropped out. And then moved back here for a quiet peaceful life. I bought this farm and I?ve been here five years now. Your welcome to stay here as long as you like Sharon. I never married and it does get lonely here. I do have a housekeeper/cook, but she speaks very little English. As Sharon and Max talked, brother and sister winked at each other. We must be getting back to town, Seniorita Lejarza said. Sharon thanked them and pressed money into their hands, they tried to refuse, but Sharon told them, for the boy. Thank you so much, Sharon said, as they drove away. Her luggage was carried in and Max showed her to a room.
Pit bull checked out of his hotel and caught a taxi. Then a thought came to him. Did the boy see him? He didn?t act as if he had. He had the driver take him by the apartment building, as they turned a corner he saw a car speeding away. Was that red hair I saw? He had the taxi follow. As the car turned another corner he saw she was in it. He told the driver to slow down a bit, but to keep the car insight. He followed them to the farm. As soon as he saw where they were going, he had the driver turn around and go back the way they had come. A little way down the road he had him pull over. We will wait here a bit, he told him. Damn smart boy, he thought. Hurried right along as if nothing wrong. Certainly had me fooled. Hunches, always play your hunches. Half a minute more and I would never have known where she had got off too. Damn that was close. He watched out the rear window and shortly he saw the car coming. It went by, she wasn?t in it. Back to town he told the driver. He told the driver he needed to rent or buy a car. My cousin has a car he will rent to you, I will take you there, he said. The car, such as it was, a beat up brown Volkswagen, ran good. This will do. He made a deal on the rental and paid. He put his bag in the car and went looking for a hotel. After checking in he went to eat. He also got a couple of burritos to go, and headed back out to the farm. He found a good spot and with his binoculars began watching. He saw her once just before it got too dark to see. He ate a burrito. He settled down and tried to nap in the car. Damn thing is too small for this, he thought. He dosed fitfully until just after mid-night. He ate the other burrito and got out. Staying well back, he circled the place twice. Then moved in closer for a better look at the house. He saw that it would be hard to get inside; he would have to make other plans. He got in the car and tied to relax. It was a long night. He would get out and walk around, then try once more. He wanted to see what happened early in the morning, but was beginning to have second thoughts. Oh well, he said as he settled once more in the seat. Dawn came and he was watching. They came out of the house and walked towards the building that had the chickens in it. Damn chicken farmer, he thought. Soon they came back out, looked like they had a basket of eggs. Well hell, what else would you expect? They went back in the house. Damn it, I need rest. He left, and headed back to his hotel. On the way he decided that catching her out in the open would be his best chance, getting away would be his biggest problem. Damn it, I?m no good at this. He was having trouble concentrating on the road; his eyes were gritty and tired. As he approached town the traffic grew heavier with the morning rush to work. He missed the stop sign, the bus slammed into the side of the little Volkswagen. He didn?t feel a thing, as the car was ground under the heavy bus.
Later in the day the boy was in the lobby when the newspapers arrived. He picked them up to deliver to the guest that had them delivered to their rooms. He stopped and looked. Papa papa, look! Oh, that?s a bad accident! The picture papa, the picture. The picture was from the deceased drivers license. The man papa, he is the man that was looking for the lady! He picked up the phone and dialed his sisters number. Hello, yes it?s me. No, no trouble. Do you have time to come over? I want you to take my car and drive the boy out to the farm. Yes, now if you can. Ok, goodbye. Your aunt is coming over now. She will take you out to the farm and you can be the one to show the lady the good news.
Who would have ever thought that I would end up being a chicken farmers wife in Mexico, Sharon thought to herself. It had been a year since the news came to her of the death of the man that was trailing her.