Eyes Of Danger

by M. Garnet

  Good old Connie. She was not even aware of the difference between the agencies of the Government. But I could tell she was beginning to calm down and feel better, though I was beginning to feel worse.

  She actually smiled. “You know, I bet that is what it is all about. Your boss does stuff for people overseas. Boy, I feel so much better. I am so sorry that I seemed to be blaming you.”

  She really went into her drink and started looking around, probably for someone she could flirt with, as that always made her feel better.

  We finished and I went back to work.

  I thought about Connie’s encounter for the next couple of days. Then, on Friday, two men in dark suits came into the office asking for Steve. He came out to meet with them. After a quiet conversation, they went back to his office and closed the door. At closing time, they were still there. We all left and the last guy to leave went ahead to lock the front door. We all looked at each other, but no one knew what was going on. We had no reason to hang around. I think I was the only one with a small idea of what might be happening with these men, but I could only hope I was wrong. I really didn’t want to move on away from my job.

  When I came in the next morning, Steve came by tapping me on the shoulder. He indicated he wanted me in his office, taking my heart down as my stomach tried to move up what little I had eaten for breakfast.

  “Close the door, Connie, and have a seat.”

  I sat down waiting swallowing down my alarm signal.

  “The men who were here were CIA. They were asking about you. What have you gotten yourself into? What have you done?” The gentle man who had been my boss and friend looked tired with worried lines on his face.

  “Steve, I haven’t done anything. I don’t know what they want. They talked to a friend of mine a couple of days ago. They asked her the strangest questions. They didn’t ask about what I did or suspicious stuff, they asked her about things like what my favorite color was and if I stepped on cracks. What did they ask you? What did they say?” I held my breath awaiting his answers.

  Steve rubbed his head. He looked up and then frowned. “They said that it was part of an ongoing investigation. They wanted to know if they could take your hard drive in order to have their staff examine it. I let them. I put a new computer on your desk. Is there anything on your computer that is going to get you in trouble?”

  I looked at him and then I had to smile. “I did look to see what the top ten stolen cars were. Maybe they think I am part of a stolen car ring. I think I can prove that I have been home too much to steal any cars. That is about the only thing I can think of that might look funny. No porn, no emails to white supremacists, no checking on when the President is going to be in town.” I held out my hands and shrugged. It felt good to reassure Steve, but I didn’t feel any relief to myself. What were these men looking for? What did they think I had stumbled onto or accidentally gotten involved with? Was it something that tied into Tim?

  “Did they ask about anyone or anything in particular?” I watched Steve carefully, using that special talent that recognizes lies.

  “No, and that was the funny part.” Steve shook his head. “They asked how you got along with everyone, how I liked you, how I rated you as a worker. They wanted to know if you took many days off. I saw no reason to be secretive with the CIA so I pulled your personnel file and let them look at it. They didn’t take it. They wanted to know if we had any new customers, especially ones that you had brought in. I explained that you were not in sales. They wanted to know if you dated and I told them I didn’t get involved with my employees’ personal life.”

  He looked over his desk at me and I was aware of two things…he was uncomfortable, and he was telling the truth.

  “Sorry, Michelle, I really don’t know if you date guys or gals. Not my business.”

  I had to smile at that comment. “Don’t worry, Steve. Actually, Connie thinks they are investigating your company. She thinks it is because you do work overseas. You remember my friend Connie? Well, they talked to her about me, but they asked a lot about the company also.” I watched him closely to see how this information went down.

  Steve looked at me for a moment. “Do you think so? Damn, they might have tricked me. Still, we haven’t done anything wrong. You know, I think I better call my attorney. Look, go on back to your desk. You’ll have to do some work bringing the new computer on line, so I don’t expect any projects from you today. I am going to see if my lawyer can see me today.”

  As I left the office, he was already on the phone. I felt sorry for him, but I was glad to get the spotlight off me for a while. I really wasn’t worried about my computer, but I was wondering what they were looking for. Was it something about me or were they hoping that I would lead them to Tim? Or did Tim work for them? I knew nothing, and that left me really scared. You are more frightened about the unknown.

  After work, I decided to stop for groceries. This would be a normal activity except, now, nothing was normal in my life as I became aware of everything and everyone around me. It didn’t take me long to know that I was being followed. It was a dark sedan with tinted windows. I took a couple of turns that had nothing to do with where I was going. The sedan made the same turns. Okay, these guys weren’t trying to be too discreet.

  I got to the store, but drove around and around the parking lot. Then, I found a spot close to the entrance. I went in to stand inside the doors so I could watch through the glass. The sedan sat in the parking lot, not pulled in, just waiting. I decided this was going to be the longest shopping trip I had ever done for groceries. I went up and down each aisle. I had five items in my cart. I went to the bathroom, staying for a half hour. I couldn’t stay any longer with the antiseptic smell and the pieces of paper towel on the floor.

  I went to the deli asking for two slices of six different items. The butcher thought I was nuts and he was really having trouble keeping a smile on his face. I felt sorry for him so I finally quit ordering.

  I pushed my almost-empty cart to the front to see the sedan still sitting, but it had moved closer to the doors. They were watching for me to come out. I went to the magazine and book section. Picking up one Gossip journal, I read several magazine articles until a stock boy looked at me strangely. I figured I had to buy the damn thing even though I would probably throw it away on leaving the store.

  I went to the pharmacy, sat in a seat, and waited. After almost forty-five minutes, one of the girls behind the counter came out to ask if she could help me. “Nope, I am waiting for my Aunt who said to meet her here. I guess she isn’t going to make it. I will call her and check to see what the problem is.” I pulled out my cell as I pushed my cart away.

  Okay, I had managed to be in the store for three hours. It was starting to get dark out as I went up one more aisle to pick up a scarf, then back to the pharmacy section for some cheap reading glasses. I couldn’t think of anything else I could buy in the store that would help serve as a disguise. In the checkout lane, I bought a green carry bag and put my small purchases in the canvas bag, then went out the IN door and stood to one side in the storage area for carts. I put on the scarf and the glasses, letting the glasses slide down on my nose.

  I slid through the maze of carts until I reached an exit area. I fell in close with a couple and walked with them in the opposite direction of my car. I went around the corner of the building, then turned to walk out into the parking lot, going down between cars away from the sedan. I was ducking around parking signs and light poles until I had almost made it back to my car.

  I felt the tingle on the back of my neck, but I knew I had a pretty good idea where the sedan was sitting. I stepped back around a large truck that took up two spots, using it to hide me. Suddenly, a steel band went around my waist, pulling me tightly up against a solid chest. I gasped, but didn’t let out a yell as the arm around me turned me.

  I looked up into black eyes. I stood pinned against him as he looked over my head in the direction
I came from. He moved backward and I had no choice but to move with him. We went around the truck before he loosened his grip on me, but still clutched my arm. He started pulling me away from the sedan and my car.

  “Where are we going?” I hissed, afraid to talk too loud.

  “Shhhh,” was all I got out of him—besides, I had no choice but to go along with him as he pulled me between cars. He stopped for a moment, looked around, then went over one more row. He tried the door of a Ford Pickup. It was unlocked. He pushed me up and under the wheel. He was in, then, next thing I knew, he was pulling wires. The motor started, he backed up, and we were leaving the parking lot.

  Great, I thought I had just become part of Grand Theft Auto. I forgot when I was looking up auto theft to find out what kind of jail sentence went with that infraction.

  “My car is here.”

  He looked over at me. Then, he looked back at the road. “That is some disguise.” He had a slight smile that lifted one side of his mouth.

  I remembered the scarf. I had lost the glasses when he had grabbed me. I pulled the scarf off, surprised to find I still had the green bag of groceries. Funny what reaction you have under duress.

  “You have your house keys on you?”

  He just watched the road as he asked me the question. I realized he was driving in the direction of my home. I rummaged through my small compact purse that hung diagonally over my shoulder from one side to the other. I pulled out my extra keys. I didn’t use the house key much since I usually entered through the garage door with the automatic opener. Then, I pulled the small opener out to show it to him also. I never left the opener in the jeep as anyone could grab it with the soft top often down.

  He took a moment to look over at my compact purse in my lap, then up at my face. He had a crooked smile on his lips, but he returned his gaze to the road.

  “We are going to dump the truck up ahead here. Don’t touch anything and don’t leave anything.”

  I looked over at him and saw that he had on thin driving gloves. Okay, he was used to Grand Theft Auto. What had I touched? Not much, since I didn’t have the seat belt on. I had spent my time just going through my own stuff.

  “Who were the guys in the dark sedan?” I turned and watched him, hoping my lie talent would work.

  He was pulling into a gas and food station that was pretty busy with a lot of traffic at the pumps including at the little store. I often stopped here for gas or a Slurpee. He pulled around to the side, parked the truck, then stopped to look at me.

  “Don’t touch anything.”

  Then, he reached for me, pulling me towards him under the steering wheel. I had enough sense to drag my bag with me. He picked me up and set me on the pavement.

  “Give me your scarf.”

  I pulled it out of the bag. He climbed back in so that he began wiping down the side where I had sat. I tried to remember if I had touched anything. The seat belt maybe, even though I hadn’t put it on, but he already was pulling out a knife, cutting the belt. He wiped the clasp end next to the seat, then everything on the door, window dashboard, and so on. I watched in amazement. He cut the driver’s seatbelt stepping back out.

  He looked around, seeming comfortable that no one was paying any attention to us. Actually, we weren’t in view of any cars except those leaving. I had backed up against the side of the building to stay out of the way. He walked over to me, reached down so that he could drop the belts into my bag.

  “I’ll leave you here. You know where you are at, right? Throw these in someone’s garbage as they might have our skin cells on them.”

  I looked up. He had approached a little closer than I wanted. I felt that warning heat start to build. Okay, let’s get this settled and move on. “I know where I am at, but you didn’t answer my question about the guys in the parking lot. My guess is you know who they are and why they are watching me.” I slid sideways on the wall and saw saw in his eyes that he was watching my movement. I began to think he had some of my talents—that he could read me more than I was comfortable with.

  “We are going to separate here. You can walk home. Tomorrow, you can take a cab to pick up your jeep.”

  He started to turn away, but I couldn’t help myself. It was better to be angry than just scared. A grab on his arm drew his attention.

  “No, you don’t. I think you got me into this and you owe me. Who were they? Why are they following me and asking questions about me?”

  He stepped back, and at the same time, a guy came around the corner. The guy had garbage bags. It was probably his job to clean up around the gas station as he was heading across to a large fenced-in garbage dumpster.

  Tim moved back in against me, suddenly pushing me back into the wall with his body. He lowered his head and brought his head down and then we were kissing. It started out with just a touch of lips, then somewhere in there, it turned on with a little heat. I felt him push a little more and felt the movement of his tongue on my lips. I don’t know when I moved my arms up without thinking and wrapped around him.

  I was aware of a lot of things all at once—the heat of his body, the feel of his mouth, the surprise of my own body’s response. I let the tongue slide in with a welcome feeling, my own tongue responding. What was more surprising to me, I felt a response between my legs. This was a first. I wasn’t sure that I understood, but I knew that I was actually pressing forward against him. Then, he raised his head and stepped back, looking at me with those incredible dark eyes.

  He looked around, then back at me. “The men were probably CIA. Or hired by the CIA. That happens a lot. They are looking for me. They probably thought by following you, you would lead them to me.” Then, he smiled.

  “What. You find this funny?” Between the heat from the kiss and his smile, I was insulted.

  He shook his head, but still smiled. “Look, I am sorry, but you really pulled a great one at the store. A trained operative couldn’t have done better.”

  I looked at him totally frustrated. “Their plan might be working, right? Because here we are together, so, are you watching me, too?”

  He stepped back further, but still had his eyes on my face. “I feel responsible for you. I brought this down on you. Sorry.”

  “Sorry? Are you nuts?” I had my hands on my hips. I stepped towards him, ignoring my warning system. “Just go away. Go somewhere else. Let them follow you there. Lead them to another state, another country, another…” I stopped as he placed a finger on my lips.

  “I can’t leave, yet. Stop yelling. Stop drawing attention to us. Let’s play this off as a lover’s quarrel. Slap me and stalk off. Then, go to your home.”

  He removed his finger. I looked at him, then saw over his shoulder, a couple looking at us as they got into their car. I looked at him, drew back, and planted, with full force, a hand against his jaw. I picked up my bag, stomped around him and headed out to the road. I waited until I got to the road before I peeked back, but he was gone. Sure, a ghost.

  Chapter Six

  I cut over a couple of blocks. This meant I was soon on my own street, then in front of my house. I looked around to make sure I didn’t see any strange cars or even any unknown people. I went in though the side garage door, sitting down at my kitchen table. I turned the green bag upside down, dumping everything out.

  I stared at what I had bought. I couldn’t remember buying half of the items sitting on the table. When had I picked them up, and that poor guy at the deli? I had a dozen small white wrapped packages. I unwrapped one and looked at the two slices of cheese. I broke off a sliver and stuck it in my mouth. Okay. I was in a dream I would wake up from any minute. There was something else, though. Sex. It had always been a bit of a disappointment to me. Yet, in one kiss, I had felt more stirrings than I had ever felt in bed with the two men I had developed experiences with in my so-called love life.

  I needed a shower, but more than that, I needed to get away. I needed to get away from black sedans, fro
m CIA talking to my friends and from a guy who could send my heart beating too fast with a kiss.

  Let’s see…Steve said I should take some time off. I got up, stumbling around to find my laptop, brought it online to check my bank account, and noticed that I had eight thousand in the savings and eighteen hundred in the checking with the overdraft protection.

  I knew better than to buy an airplane ticket or anything else they could trace unless I wanted them to trace me. Hmmm, yes, so I went on line again. I bought an Amtrak ticket for the next day in my name from Cincinnati to Washington, D.C. I was going to be on that train, but not with that ticket. In this day and age, with all the tricks taught to the average guy by watching the cops and robbers TV shows, one girl should be able to outsmart the Guys in Black.

  I went to my bedroom to begin packing a backpack. I took a shower, then went through a desk drawer looking at a driver’s license I had of a friend in Indiana. We looked a little alike, but she was almost 70 pounds heavier than me, and with short hair. I felt I could make it work. I used my computer to print up some realistic looking cards in her name to take along. I dug out my little laminating machine so that I even put a couple of them in plastic. Finally, I went to bed. I set the alarm for two am.

  I woke up alert and anxious. I got dressed, using a lot of bobby pins to fold my hair up into a knot with only a few pieces around my face. I called a cab, giving the address of a neighbor. I was waiting on the curb in front of my sleeping neighbor’s house when it arrived. I told him to drive carefully through the parking lot where my jeep was as I was looking for my abusive husband. Unfortunately, there was a dark sedan parked over a couple of rows from the jeep. It was easy to spot them, as there weren’t many cars in the lot. So much for using my jeep. I kissed that idea goodbye.

  The cabby understood when I told him to go on, so I had him go by my bank. I took five hundred from the ATM. They wouldn’t see this until morning. I was not stupid. This would be all I could get away with. I told the cabby where to take me. I got out at the bus station, which was a shabby storefront, and paid the cabby. After he was out of sight, I started walking. When I got into a decent neighborhood, I found a Walmart. Going in, I bought two Throw Away Cell Phones, each with minimum minutes. God bless Walmart and the cheap buys on these items.