Constant Fear by Palmer Daniel

Author:Palmer, Daniel [Palmer, Daniel]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780758293466
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2015-05-25T14:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 25

Jake did some reconnaissance work, checking police barricades and access roads, getting a sense of how the command and control operation was established. Then he drove home to get ready.

About halfway to his house, he picked up the tail. The car was a nondescript silver Ford Focus, but he got the feeling its two occupants were involved in some manner of law enforcement. Jake took a left down a dirt road that any local would know looped back to the main road, and the Focus followed. It was a sure bet they had at least one oscillating colored light that could be mounted on top of the vehicle.

For a moment, Jake bristled with fury at Ellie. How dare she put the cops on him! But quick as it came, Jake’s anger left him. Ellie was just doing her job. Jake had given her every reason not to trust him. She cared for him, and this was probably her way of showing it. He would have done the same, had their roles been reversed.

On the pitcher’s mound, Jake had excelled at keeping an even keel. His highs never got too high, and his lows never too low. He tried to present an image of steadiness that often unnerved opponents who would rather see him rattled. Regrettably, Jake had broadcast his intentions to Ellie in high definition. He would not make the same mistake again. Communication between them was over for now. Jake would be on his own.

The rest of the way home, Jake drove the speed limit. He glanced in the rearview mirror after turning down the access road to his trailer home. The Ford Focus was still there.

In his driveway, Jake pulled the car to a quick stop, cut the engine, and strolled over to the silver car, which was parked on the side of the public road. The driver lowered his window as Jake approached. He was younger, maybe thirty, with nut-brown hair cut short, a well-scrubbed and clean-shaven face. Five more years at this job and he’d look fifteen years older, but he’d probably have on the same suit, still wear the same sunglasses, even on cloudy days like this one. His partner, also wearing shades and a suit, could have passed for a brother.

“Can I help you guys?” Jake asked in a friendly voice.

“No,” the man said.

Jake backed away. “You always follow people?”

The man’s sullen expression conveyed much to Jake, but he said nothing. Guess he had nothing to say. It was obvious to Jake that this guy did not want to be tailing anybody to a trailer home. All of the action was happening by the school, not watching over some anxious dad who might try to do something ill-advised.

“Can you at least show me your badges?” Jake asked. “If you’re going to stake out my home, it seems only fair.”

The man in the driver’s seat held up a billfold with a silver badge, about three inches by three inches. Jake could make out the words “Mass State Police” spelled out across the top of the badge.

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