Page 8 of Axel (Reed Hawthorne Security #6)

Savvy

The laugh track on the television snaps my attention away from the window that I’ve spent the last twenty minutes staring out of.

I’m staying in some motel off the highway, and I’ve kept the television tuned to sitcoms, trying to distract myself from staring out this window all day. It hasn’t worked.

The odds Bob will find me here are slim. I randomly picked the motel as I drove by. I paid cash and gave a fake name. Apparently, it goes against policy not to give a credit card, but I was able to convince the guy at the desk to make an exception for an extra hundred dollars.

Unfortunately, by selecting a place off the highway, it’s made me paranoid. I keep waiting to see Bob’s car pull in. Of course it hasn’t.

I stare at my phone. I turned it off after I finally replied to Maria’s text telling her I’m out of state.

Technically, I am, just not very far. I’d love to call and talk to her about all of this, but I’m afraid Bob might track me through my phone, which is probably ridiculous.

He’s not the CIA. But then again, he’s not who I thought he was, either.

If someone had asked me last week, I would have told him or her that Bob was a single man who was good with money and friendly.

I’ve never seen him with a date, but he seems to be friends with everyone.

But as I’ve mulled it over, I realize he isn’t close to anyone.

Perhaps being a realtor is a cover for whatever he’s really doing.

No, that’s ridiculous. He used to spend all his time working on his business. He didn’t have time for anything else.

I flop onto the bed. Bob is not looking for me.

He has no idea I was at his warehouse that day.

Once I overheard what I did, I left. He has no reason to believe I was there.

I made sure Maggie believed I went to see Maria instead.

My bases are covered. I’m sure Clinton was the target of that explosion.

Obviously, I don’t feel certain since I’m hiding.

I spend the rest of the evening searching on my laptop to see if there was any more information about the explosion.

When I find nothing, I move on to see if the tip I sent to the FBI has led to any arrests.

Sadly, the Wi-Fi at this hotel is not great, and the search is slow going as a result. But so far, I’ve found nothing.

For all I know, my tip could be in a large pile that never even gets looked at. I should have called a hotline instead. Does the FBI have a hotline? I could call the police anonymously. How would I do that, though? A pay phone. Are there any pay phones anywhere anymore ?

Finally, I give up and go to bed. But the next morning, I wake with all the same worries and concerns.

My stomach growls. I drive to the grocery store a few blocks away and buy myself a large submarine sandwich and a few bottles of water.

Fortunately, there is a fridge in my room, so I can make this into a couple of meals.

I also grab a deck of cards. I pay cash for everything.

My mom had always told me to have cash on hand for emergencies.

That’s a piece of advice I’m very grateful for right now.

I spend the rest of the day and night going back and forth between being bored and scared.

Finally, by the next morning, I can’t take it anymore.

I can’t sit here and wait for Bob to come for me or not.

I need to know what he’s doing. What he knows.

Besides, I’m expected back in the office tomorrow.

I pack up and drive halfway home before I pull over and call the office.

Maggie answers. “Savvy! How has your vacation been?”

Before I left, I sent Maggie a message that I was going to be gone for a few days.

“Great. I’m heading back your way now, and I’m hoping to meet with Bob. Will he be in this afternoon?”

“Today? No, he said he was going to check on his warehouse and then go home.”

He certainly has been spending more time at the warehouse lately. Guess the weapon business is picking up.

A crazy idea springs into my head. “Okay, thanks. I’ll try him tomorrow then.”

On my way back to the city, I stop in at a thrift shop. I need to find anything I can to help me blend in and not look recognizable to Bob. After checking out with several items, I drive to my office. Hopefully, Maggie is telling the truth and Bob’s not there.

Maggie’s eyes widen when I walk in. “Savvy? I’m surprised to see you. I told you Bob isn’t in right now.”

“Oh, that’s fine. I needed to grab a few things.”

I go to my office and unlock my bottom desk drawer. I always keep a bit of cash here, just in case. Another lesson from my mom. It isn’t much, but right now, I need all I can get. On my way out, I spot my jacket hanging on the hook and grab it.

As I walk through the main office, Maggie stops me. “Does this mean you are back to work then? Because we got a call from a prospective client.”

“Sorry, not yet. Can you show them a listing?”

Maggie recently passed her exam and got her real estate license. Bob agreed to train her as long as she could still be his assistant. I’m not sure if it’s a good deal or not, but frankly, it isn’t my business.

Maggie bites her lip. “I guess I could.”

“I hope it goes well,” I say and then walk out the door before she can ask me anything else.

I rush to my car. It’s parked a couple of blocks away from the office.

I wanted to stay out of sight until I was certain Bob wasn’t in.

Plus, now I can change without Maggie seeing me.

I get into the back of my car and put on my thrift shop finds.

Somehow, changing in the back seat was a lot easier to do ten years ago, but I don’t have time to dwell on my loss of flexibility now .

Since Bob is familiar with my car, I park it out of sight from his warehouse and slowly walk toward the water. I scan for a place where I can watch the front of his building that won’t look odd. There is a shop across the road, but it appears locked up. Next to that is a dumpster. That will work.

No one is outside, so I make my way down the road as if I’m simply out for a walk.

I’m startled as I pass a window and see a reflection of myself.

I’m wearing a large dress that is not flattering, and I have on a wig of long, curly, blond hair.

It’s safe to say that I look nothing like my normal self.

Instead of walking on the road in front of Bob’s building, I turn away from the water about one hundred yards from Bob’s warehouse.

Fortunately, since these buildings aren’t on the water side of the docks, there is room behind them to walk.

I get to a narrow road between two buildings and turn down.

At the end of it is the dumpster I spotted.

I squat behind it and peer around it as a box truck pulls up across the street.

Finally, I’m having good luck. Then the smell of rotten food and urine hit.

I place my arm in front of my nose, trying to decrease the odor.

A man gets out of the truck. Bob steps outside and meets him by the driver’s door. Fortunately, sound carries here. And Bob talks loudly.

“You’re early,” Bob says.

“Yeah, I got in town earlier than expected, so I thought I’d see if the shipment was ready,” the man says.

“It’s not,” Bob says as he crosses his arms. “You will need to come back tomorrow. ”

Tomorrow? Maybe I can get some photos of Bob with the weapons then.

“Fine. But can I use your bathroom at least? I gotta go,” the man asks.

“No,” Bob says. “No one goes inside.”

The man shakes his head and walks to the back of his truck. Then he unzips his pants and pees right there.

Ugh. Disgusting.

He finishes, zips his pants back up, and returns to his truck.

Before he gets in, Bob stops in. “Tomorrow at ten. Got it?”

“Got it.” The guy gets into the truck, and Bob goes back inside.

“Asshole,” the guy says. His window is open, and I heard him, but I doubt Bob could. Then he pulls out and leaves.

All right, tomorrow at ten. I wonder if he meant in the morning or at night. Either way, I’ll be here. And if it’s ten at night, I might be here all day. I better figure out how to pack food.

I make my way back the way I came. Then I get to my car and realize I have nowhere to go. I can’t go home. Or at least I don’t trust home. There is no way I’m going to the office. My cabin is a bit far.

Hunter requested that I stay with his sister. His concern was sincere, and I smile, remembering it. After I left the hospital, I called Maria, and she agreed I should stay with her. But I was scared and found myself in New Jersey.

I send her a text to confirm, and she replies quickly that yes, I’m welcome. My shoulders relax with relief .

I start my car and glance in the rearview mirror. This outfit isn’t something I want to explain to her.

I recline my seat and get into the back seat to change. I’m much more aware of the people walking by the car, so I’m careful not to expose myself in any way. Then I shove everything into the bag from the thrift store.

What if Maria finds the bag? I stare at it. No, she won’t. There is no reason she’d be in my car.

As I drive to my friend’s house, my mind drifts to Hunter. I hope he isn’t there. I pull over and send Maria another text asking if her brother will be stopping by. While I know he’d offer to help me, I also know he’d prevent me from going back to that dumpster tomorrow morning.

She replies right away.

Maria: He’s on an assignment.

That should be good news, but for some reason, I’m disappointed. I don’t want to see him. Do I?

It doesn’t matter. I have enough to deal with right now, and I’m happy Hunter isn’t another item on that list.