Here is the third installment of Chapter One. This is a little later than I’d planned, but I got busy at the end of the week. If you haven’t read the beginning of Chapter One, it started here .
The dark blue Expedition pulled out of Madeline Cooper’s driveway. He started the car, but waited until she turned the corner before following. The large SUV drove leisurely, looming high over the other cars on the road, making it easy for Riley to keep her in his sights.
Madeline Cooper pulled into the parking lot of Gopher Gus’ pizza. He drove past and circled around, parking across the street in time to see Madeline ushering her two children through the door. He rolled his eyes and smacked his head against the head rest.
“Shoot me now!”
The snap-fizz from the opening of yet another can of Coke was followed by a cool breeze through the open windows. He sighed. At least the breeze had kicked up so he wouldn’t have to run the car’s air conditioning as he had all afternoon.
Surveillance. The very worst part of his job. He could barely handle the boredom of a stake out, let alone the frustration. His approach almost always worked better than the idiocy of silently watching someone. In this position he couldn’t work the mark, he had no control over the situation or it’s direction. He didn’t like that feeling.
This whole assignment was one big curveball. He’d worked and maneuvered Don Anthony Peretti for years, but this hadn’t been the result he’d expected.
“Eric, I need you to do this job for me,” Peretti has said in a thick Italian accent mixed with a southern drawl, making for an unexpected voice from the older man.
Riley has chosen his words carefully. “I agree, Don. This should be taken care of, but surely you have someone-“
“No,” Peretti interrupted. “I want my best on this and you, Eri,c are the best I have.”
What could he say to that? For over two years, Riley worked this man, controlled every situation to get to this point. To gain Peretti’s trust. He was in, what else could he do?
He was trapped, for now. He’d finish this up and move on to his main purpose in Don Peretti’s family.
He resigned himself to suffering through the boredom and wait. A notepad laid on the passenger seat. His notes for Tanner were scrawled on the top page, but reamin unfinished. He snatched it up and tore the top page off. His check-in notes would have to wait. Time to come up with a way to take control of this situation and bring it to a close.
“Time to go guys,” Maddie said before the next play of air hockey could start.
The score was tied up offering a narrow window for a peaceful drive home. Maddie shouldn’t have even allowed the games to start, it was late for a school night. After they finished eating she thought of the packing she had to do for their three week trip to visit their dad and couldn’t bring herself to ending the evening.
“But, mom, the game’s not over,” Sarah whined.
“But, Sarah, I said it was time to go,” she whined back.
The kids threw their cups away and led the way to the door. Maddie held Sarah and Casey’s hands across the parking lot. About half the spaces were filled with cars, but the area was quiet.
Casey opened the back door and waited for Sarah to scooch across to her side before climbing in behind her. When he pulled the door shut, the black acura parked across the street came into view. A bolt of fear shot through her. It passed through her as quickly as a bolt of lightning into the ground. The fizzle of anger was all that remained.
She slid behind the wheel and stared briefly at the car. He hadn’t moved, looked bored and needed to get his ass kicked. Before starting the engine, Maddie leaned over and unlocked her glove box. She pulled out a Beretta and slid it in the console between the front seats.
Ready to head home, the SUV slid out of the parking lot. Testing his determina tion, she took the scenic route home. She stayed back and hid in the traffic. Had she not known he was there, she probably wouldn’t notice him, like on the trip to Gopher Gus. She’d had no idea he followed them, but couldn’t be sure that’s what had her so pissed off. Why would he follow her? She suppressed a growl not wanting to show her aggravation to the kids.
He would fall out of sight from time to time on the drive, but he was there.
She reached the house and backed into the garage. She wouldn’t see him again. He’d park down the road as he had earlier today.
“Can I shut the garage door?” Casey asked.
With a twist of her hand, she turned off the engine and handed him the remote. “Go ahead, buddy.” She waited until the door was all the way down before unlocking the doors and climbing out.
She was being cautious, perhaps even paranoid. Why was he following her?
The question set up camp in her mind, not releasing it while she hustled the kids upstairs to dress for bed. She read them a story in Sarah’s room then tucked them both in with hugs and kisses.
Back downstairs in the kitchen a Smirnoff Ice called her from the refrigerator. She took a long drink and shut her eyes against the rambling of answers careening through her mind. He spied on her, stalked her, prepared to rob her, kill her. She stood in the middle of here kitchen, silent, listening. The only lights were behind her over the sink, casting shadows that danced over the counter before her. The family room was in darkness.
9:20:29 AM 
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