Chapter 8. Distraction

Happy Halloween early, just in case I can’t post next weekend!

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WEDNESDAY, 9:20 P.M.

“Dammit! Why can’t I ever win?”

“Well, I have been doing this for a while, you know. It would be a little insulting if you could beat me in only a month or two.”

“Still, I feel like I’m not making any progress.”

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“You are–I can tell you’re getting better.”

We stopped for a break and as I took a sip of water, a few drops of condensation fell onto the front of my shirt. When I saw Sean’s eyes fix on the wet spots on my shirt, I suddenly realized that I had a weapon in my arsenal that I could use to increase my chances of winning one of our sparring matches.

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“Man, I’m burning up.” I pulled my shirt over my head and glanced at Sean out of the corner of my eye as I turned around. His attention was definitely concentrated on my chest.

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We started sparring again, and after only a few moments it was clear that Sean was distracted. I knew this tactic wouldn’t work on anyone else, but it was nice to land a few good punches and kicks for a change. There was the smallest chink in his defenses, and I took full advantage.

Sean began to look at me suspiciously after I’d executed a particularly tricky kick to the side of his face, and he called a break. I was busy making plans to dress in skimpier attire the next training night when he shrugged out of his shirt and faced me, grinning.

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“Two can play at that game, darlin’.”

I felt laughter bubbling up, and it came out in a quick burst. We were both laughing when Nick walked through the gate into the backyard.

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“Oh, hey Nick.” Sean was still grinning.

“Sean, Ed.” Nick’s eyes traveled over me lightning quick, then he was focused on Sean. “Sorry to interrupt, but I was on my way home and I knew it was a training night.”

“No problem man. What’s up?”

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“I wanted to discuss some strategy for the big stakeouts we have coming up. I have a little more information now, and I’ve been thinking a lot about it–I thought I’d get your opinions.”

“Sounds good. Let’s go inside.” Sean led the way, after picking up his shirt and putting it back on. I did the same and we settled in the living area.

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“So will we be starting the stakeout this weekend?” I asked. Nick had said that we would be starting the stakeout later this week.

“Actually, that’s one of the things I’ve been wrestling with. As much as I’d like to get started as soon as possible, we just don’t have the manpower to conduct really thorough surveillance and to work on the case for SVISD at the same time.”

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“We’re already committed to the case for SVISD–but I think Ed and I are close to finishing it up.”

“It might be better to take a little more time to do some serious reconnaissance and to establish a good plan to handle the surveillance anyway. I’d hoped to start this weekend, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.” Nick admitted.

I was actually relieved that we wouldn’t be starting Nick’s mission yet, because I’d received word from my real estate agent that we would be closing on the house on Friday. I told Nick as much, and he laughed at the thought of me trying to juggle a move, beginning some house renovations, plus two different stake-out assignments, all in addition to my full-time job at the library.

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“OK, I feel a lot better about moving it back now. It will give me more time to try to think of the best way to get a good line of sight on these gas stations.”

“Gas stations?” I asked.

“Oh, that’s right–I haven’t told either of you anything about the locations. We’ve narrowed it down to two gas stations on the highway to Bridgeport. They are about five miles apart. One is just before you get to Bay Ridge RV Park, and the other is the first gas station you reach after passing that park.”

“Are they in city limits?” Sean asked.

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“Just barely–which means that SVPD still has jurisdiction if anything needs to be done.”

“Are there any buildings around these places that can be commandeered?”

“Nope. I’ll have to do more looking at the land around them to see if there’s a wooded area or something to use as cover.”

I was not liking the sound of this assignment at all–conducting around-the-clock surveillance of two different gas stations in the open air would be pretty uncomfortable. I’d probably have to pee in the woods.

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“Why can’t we use video cameras at each site and monitor them from an RV at the park?”

Sean and Nick both looked surprised at the suggestion.

“I guess it’s not out of the question–we just don’t have an RV. I suppose we could look into renting one.” Nick was considering the finances.

“My parents have an RV.” I smiled. It was at the same storage facility that held Scott’s belongings.

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“That would be awesome.” Sean was already on board with the idea. “It would make shifts a lot easier–you and I could each take one of the camera feeds during the day, and Ed would come after work, which would allow us to take turns sleeping and showering. Surveillance in comfort.”

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“This could work.” Nick agreed. “Would you mind asking your parents if we could use it?”

“Not at all–anything that keeps me from having to use the bathroom in the woods.” I said. I knew my parents would let us use the RV, so the prospect of keeping watch on the two gas stations seemed less daunting than it had before.

“Well, since we’re slowing things down a bit on this particular case, and since you’ll be closing on your house on Friday, why don’t we celebrate? Erica wanted us to have dinner together, so how about Friday night, at my house?” Nick suggested.

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“That’s great.” I said, and I hoped my smile looked genuine. I had a feeling that any social event with Erica was likely to be more stressful than fun, but I appreciated the thought all the same. “What can we bring?”

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Authorial Interjection: So, I realized about midweek that I forgot to make a cover for the last chapter–I had taken the time to shoot the pictures and everything, but I just forgot to make it when I posted the chapter!  I went back and did that this weekend, and here’s what it looks like, for anyone who is interested: