by William Cain
He’s confused, wondering what has happened. When he asks the director how this has all come about, he’s handed a paper. It’s a police report from the San Luis Obispo county sheriff. The director is patient while Greg reads its contents. There was an attack inside the home of two residents. One is badly injured, a male, while the other is stable, a female. With the help of a neighbor, the attacker was fought off and fled.
The next part causes Greg’s eyes to widen in astonishment. The weapon used by the attacker was an aluminum bat. Further, there’s no motive other than crazed indifference. Depravity like that of a serial killer. Yes, the homeowners were targeted, but there’s no reasoning as to why. They don’t have any enemies, leading a normal retired life in the hum-drums.
After finishing the report, Greg looks up, asking, “What does this have to do with Madison? Her name isn’t on the report.”
The director stands beside Greg, pointing to the report, “Did you read the neighbor’s statement?”
His eyes return to read further. The neighbor was alerted when the man was initially attacked. She was on her cell with him. When she ran to and entered their house, the attacker was readying a blow to crush the woman’s skull. The neighbor charged the attacker and that stopped the attack. Signed and duly sworn, Joanne DiStadio.
The full meaning grips Greg instantly. A bat. An Attacker. Joanne Madison DiStadio.
Madison’s new identity. He quickly scans the home invasion address. Using his cell, he finds the home a block from Madison and her grandmother. This is awful news as the Network may stop helping the two women. High profile cases are usually dropped, or not taken at all if it can be avoided. The Network does not want to be ‘news’.
“What’s the impact?” Greg asks, expecting the worst.
“The impact? We’re not sure yet. It’s been taken out of our hands. There were no deaths. That’s good. However, protocol restricts our – yours and mine – personal involvement in making any decisions.”
“Should I return to help them?”
After a few choice moments to reflect, the director answers him. “Yes.”
Greg needs to be honest here. “This is probably the same person that killed those two men in Florida and Texas. A copycat killer, trying to make the women miserable.”
“That is clear, Greg. This is why we are more concerned than usual. If this happens again, we’ll have to assume the women have a problem bigger than we can solve. Then we will have to walk away and leave them on their own. Hell, it may already be too late for that.” The director pauses, then adds, “Greg, when we discovered the identity of Madison’s ‘friend’, we weren’t happy about that. When it turned out to be Reggi Thomas, we were already in very deep and Madison was on her way to Richmond. We couldn’t stop what was put in motion. If we had known, we would not have helped. Now that the Network is in even deeper, yes, return to them to help and to protect them. If a decision to drop the operation comes down, you’ll be one of the first to know.”
“I understand,” Greg says, sourly. Inside though, he’s jumping for joy. He’ll return to Madison today. Their story will go on. His plans for her will become a reality. He looks at his hands. They’re shaking slightly with excitement, and he holds one in the other to hide it.
The director feels bad for Greg, “I know you were expecting to move on to the new case, but that will have to be put on hold until we determine what steps to take with Madison and her grandmother. Expect news about it very soon. If the Network pulls back, it will be very sudden. You have to tell them this when you see them.”
Greg looks at the director with sad, puppy dog eyes, really pouring it on. “We’ll do what we can. Well, I don’t have any other questions. Looks like I’ll be taking a little trip.”
The director shows him out. As Greg is walking away, the director closes the door. A smile as broad as ear-to-ear crosses Greg’s face. When Greg leaves the building, John finds it strange to see him happily walking toward his car. I guess it wasn’t bad news, after all, he thinks. Or, is there something else? John is naturally suspicious. He’s been around long enough to have that right. He’s been burned, and he already doesn’t like this Greg fellow, or whatever his name is.
John continues to shadow Greg, following the man home. He emerges some time later with a travel bag. Things are in motion now and John is expecting to take that trip to wherever the girls are. It’s time. He will continue his work to protect the two women. It’s his mission. He’ll sacrifice his life to complete it.
When they arrive at the airport, John stands behind Greg, in line at the counter, ready to buy his ticket. John has decent hearing and is the type of person known as an observer. He hears Greg’s name and his destination, even his seat number. That will prove useful, the name. When he purchases his ticket, he selects a seat behind Greg’s, but on the other side so he can watch him, study him. It’s far enough away so as not to be seen. Greg doesn’t know what he looks like, but there’s no sense in taking risks.
Shortly, they have boarded and are in the air.
Hundreds of miles away, a ping is heard on Roger’s phone. He and his buddies are following John Paulson. He’s going somewhere, it appears.
Addie will have her answers very soon.
13
I think crime pays. The hours are good, you meet a lot of interesting people, and you travel a lot. Woody Allen
When their plane touches the tarmac, Greg tenses and prepares to disembark. John found the flight interesting enough. From having watched his subject without interruption and being so close, John learned a lot. Greg has a few weird habits. He must not like to read, John thinks. Greg sat motionless for the entire trip, staring at his hands resting on the tray. He didn’t speak to his seatmate or watch any videos. John gets the impression that Greg is a different animal when he thinks he’s alone. Greg has another face he shows to people when he has to blend in. He becomes another person. But the real Greg is right here.
John’s opinion is not high of Greg’s genuine self. But to John, it doesn’t matter. He’s here to find the women. That, to John, is the only real value on Greg’s little life. And to do that – to find them – he will follow, and he will hide, and he will spy. He doesn’t like Greg around the women, but it can’t be helped. He didn’t pick the man to be Madison’s handler, or whatever they call it. If John were his old self, he’d find a way to remove Greg from the picture. He’d use any means to affect the needed result. Threats or bodily harm are convincing weapons he’s free to use. If he were the old John, of course.
If it meant death, then it meant death. John wouldn’t regret what he’d do one bit. That’s the old John.
Now that they have arrived in San Luis Obispo, the chase will continue, and John knows he has to be at his best. It’s very easy to lose someone in an airport, especially as they leave it, and how they leave it. That’s the tricky part. Is Greg going to take car service or will he rent a car? Will he take a taxi? Does this small town even have taxi’s? Will he be spotted if he’s too close? Will he lose Greg if he’s not too close? John would still find the girls if he lost Greg, but he doesn’t want to struggle. He’d have to rule out neighborhoods and then spend the time to watch supermarkets and gas stations. Things like that. But he’d find them. Using Greg is quicker. These days, time is very important.
Really, to a younger man, this cat and mouse game can be very trying. To someone who is eighty years old, it’s almost an impossible strain on the body and mind. John knows he’s slowed down a lot, even in the past calendar year. It’s noticeable and probably has something to do with the thing that’s eating away at him. John closes his eyes, resting a bit while the plane is still in motion, heading toward the gate. His seat belt is unbuckled, and the travel bag rests on his lap, his two hands on that, patiently waiting.
Things will happen quickly at times. Being alert is paramount, with reactions to changes in plans as swift as need be. When it’s his turn, John stands and files out of the plane, trying
to keep Greg in sight. He relieved himself before landing in Los Angeles for the short connecting flight, he gratefully reflects. His bladder ain’t what it used to be, that is for sure.
After they arrive at baggage claim, Greg passes by the carousel where passenger bags just now begun to fall into, and heads toward a rental desk. This will make John’s life easier. A couple is standing in front of him, but John overhears Greg saying something about a midsized upgrade. When it’s his turn, he makes the same request and quickly heads for the exit. Greg darted out after he received his papers, and John is praying he doesn’t lose him. He steps up to the slowly revolving doors of the exit that Greg took, but sees a door to the right and decides to take it. He throws open the door carelessly and begins to step through the entryway when he sees Greg returning with his paperwork. John curses himself. If he had been one second later, he would have hit Greg with the door. The two men would meet, with the typical apologies and assurances of no harm, no foul. John doesn’t want that.
He stops and turns around, watching Greg use the revolving doorway. John makes the decision to give Greg some slack. This means risking more, as he will now have to make educated guesses as to what Greg will do next. John thinks he just has a question about something, and he’ll appear at the rental garage. So, he heads there first and selects his car after giving the attendant the paperwork. Then he opens the door, sits inside, and waits. With each passing minute, the chance of Greg walking into the garage becomes more and more slim. At least five other people arrive and then drive away.
As each new person walks into the garage, John is disappointed that it’s not his mouse. John slowly comes to terms with the realization he will have to work to find the girls. He begins to curse Greg, imagining he’ll beat the guy to near death when this is over, when Greg suddenly appears with one of the agents from the rental counter. After a few words with the garage attendant, Greg is shown to a lane where more expensive models are waiting. Evidently, Greg wants a nice ride to impress someone. John hates him even more when he realizes Greg wants to make an impression on Madison.
It’s back to business, and John follows his target out of the garage, driving along US 1 lazily. The man’s not in a hurry, driving along as if he knows where he’s going. John soon finds out that he does know where he’s going after Greg pulls off the road, arriving at a little XXX video and sex toy store. John rolls his eyes. The man’s seedy desires are becoming more clear with each passing day. John is not only unhappy with this new development, he’s angry the man will be near the two women. If he were the old John, Greg would be dead the day after the women’s whereabouts have been revealed. The new John will just beat him to near death. Now, it’s also decided the beating will last a long, long time.
After the pit stop at the porn store, John follows Greg to his hotel. Across the street is a lower end motel, and John decides to set up camp there. When both men have checked into their rooms, John opens the curtains slightly, finding a perfect view of the man’s room. Satisfied he can watch a television program and keep an eye on Greg’s door at the same time, he makes a call to order food, then begins to do just that, never averting his watchful eyes.
The next morning arrives and Greg is found to have stayed in his room all that day and night. Heaven knows what he was doing in there, especially after his stop at the triple-X store. John thought he’d bolt for the women right away, but he didn’t. He thinks it is very odd, but it doesn’t matter. He’ll tail Greg and find them. Of this he is confident.
Last night, John found he could make a visit to the lobby and get some refreshments without losing sight of Greg’s room. When he did, he was surprised. The nighttime elements of the area he’s staying in revealed themselves. When he was walking back with ice and a couple of sodas, a man and a woman happened upon him. As he walked past them, the woman called out, “Hi. How you doing? What are you doing tonight?” She was clearly working. The man was her pimp.
He muses when he thinks about it. It didn’t bother him. Rather, it made him comfortable knowing he’s around people that find life hard to get by in. Across the street, life is very different. Looking at the road that runs between John’s and Greg’s hotels, John reflects, This is the dividing line, with me on the wrong side of the tracks.
This shabby hotel. This seedy area.
It’s his element.
14
Between saying and doing many a pair of shoes is worn out. Italian Proverbs
Last evening was very satisfying for Addie. Roger had called to reveal John’s location to her. He told her John was in San Luis Obispo. Then, he told her John was stationary, meaning he wasn’t moving. He gave Addie John’s address and told her he would call when Paulson started to move, or if there was anything newsy to report. Otherwise, hold tight. They both ended the call knowing it wouldn’t be long before a break opened up, ending the search for Madison and Reggi.
So, that’s their final destination, she pondered. Madison had told her she would move one more time, and then lose all contact with her past. They’d never be found. This is how the Underground does it. A runner gets moved around to ensure no one is following or trying to find them. Then it’s one last move that does it and you just vanish. Forever. Well, this time it’s different – to Addie. She’s very close and she knows it. Once their exact location is found, her case will be over. Then she can move on.
She quickly scanned news reports in San Luis Obispo, finding an article buried deep in a local newspaper’s last page news column. It detailed the attack on a man and woman. A bat was used. The police were called. Finding the number of the local police department, she called and announced her name, her rank, and her intentions. Once they verified she was legitimate, the report was made available to her. She read it later with great interest, and then reread it a few more times. No addresses were made public, and just the address of the incident was in the report. She realized she’ll need to follow her original plan, for now.
The unnamed neighbor in the report is most assuredly Madison. Of this she was sure. The killer is back and terrorizing Reggi by killing her friends. Madison has probably had enough. She will fight back.
That was last night. Today is a better day, full of hope. She likes working with Agatha. They’ve discussed the case files several times with the task force, and today is no different. Their briefing will be held soon. Addie, like Agatha and the others, is waiting for the Webex meeting to begin. She’ll need this task force to fend off the Underground while she captures the two women. Having the manpower, resources, and jurisdictional privilege also means they should be able to catch the killer, too.
Killing time until the meeting starts, Addie loads the address Roger gave her into her Maps app and finds a hotel. It’s a single level motel. It looks a little rundown, but if that’s where Roger believes John is, she has to believe him. He’s never been wrong before. She doesn’t know why Greg’s contact with the women has been delayed, but she learned patience many years ago, and she can wait for the right moment. As long as she has her task force assembled and ready, that’s her focus. The task force ensures success in finding the women. One begets the other.
A ping on her tablet announces the meeting. It’s soon underway and Juvieux appears. In his own little video box is Sergeant Haines, scribbling away. He’s the least ranked member, and everyone voted him in as recorder of the minutes, amongst other things tedious and administrative. He’s glad to do it. He wants to be part of this nationwide operation.
“They’re all here, David,” Haines tells him.
“Good. Ok, people. Let’s get the latest. Addie, you first. You have the floor,” he says, leading her.
“Big news. Get ready to grab your socks,” Addie begins. “Madison’s handler in the Underground was followed to San Luis Obispo. This is where I believe the women have been moved to. It’s their final move.”
Juvieux breaks in. “How did you follow him? The Underground is known for its secrecy. You know, it’s not paranoia if
someone is actually following you.”
“I know a guy who knows a guy,” Addie teases. “Seriously, I have a private investigator I’ve engaged for tracking him. I’ve used him before.”
Agent David Juvieux shows his concern, “This won’t jeopardize our case, will it?”
“No. The investigator is being paid to track the handler. If he just follows him and it’s not detected, then the investigator has done their job well. They know to break off if they believe they have been discovered.”
Juvieux is satisfied. “Go on then.”
Addie told a little white lie, knowing Roger probably put a transponder or some other high-tech gizmo on John Paulson, somewhere. At least, that’s what she thinks. But she can only speculate and that’s not real culpability.
“I’ll have their address soon. Then we can move. One more thing. There has been an attack in this small town, also. This is new. The killer has resurfaced. I put the report on our news feed, so it’s there for everyone to read. The attacker used a bat and attempted to kill a man and a woman. They fought back and a neighbor came to their aid. That neighbor, I think, is Madison Bouknight.”
The detective from Tyler asks, “Then why don’t we just contact the SLO police for the couple’s particulars? They can tell us the neighbor’s address.”
“For selfish reasons, really. I want this task force to get the collar. And, we know more than they do. We’re not in danger of the two women being moved again. If anything, the Underground will probably drop them. It’s bad press. Besides, we have everything in motion. We’ll know where they are very soon. Once we contact the SLO stationhouse about becoming a member of this task force, as is our duty, we’ll have access to the information on the couple. If they lead us to the neighbor first, then so be it. I think we’ll know before. We’ll know where the fugitives are.”
