Running with Secrets

Untitled Part 17

Heath woke up before his alarm clock. He usually did. The bedroom window faced east and he liked the natural light, so he had light colored blinds in his windows. No curtains. Just blinds. It was more masculine. His morning routine included making his mental list of things to do before he got out of bed. Today included the usual getting ready for and going to work. Filing up his gas tank, checking in with his mom and dad, and very lastly, checking in on the ladies. He'd have to work alone today since Sally had the week off to visit with her "old college roommate" who was visiting for the week. She'd have to work alone for the next couple of weeks ,when he took this same roommate to college in the mountains of Utah, nearby his grandmother. Captain Vanderson told him to take a month, to help her get settled, but he'd still be working, as long as he was away. Then he'd get to take his own time off. He ticked all of those things onto his list, as he'd have to make preparations before his road trip. If they took turns driving, and only for eight hours a day, they'd get there in two and a half days.

He got ready for work and toasted a bagel and grabbed the cup of coffee in his coffee maker. "One day", he thought out loud, "one day, I'll get myself a nice, inexpensive latte machine." Then he laughed at himself as he locked his door behind him on the way out.

*****

Even with the limited evidence they had, Captain Vanderson wished he could move forward already. For his sanity. But for accuracy and the safety of all involved, he had to have at least a month. He knew there wouldn't be much time after that and Detective Paul had to have a month to get things arranged on his side. His liaison needed time too. He never knew the identity of the man he met the other day. He'd always send a box by courier, with a clue of whom to look for. It always had a piece of costume in it and a time and place. It didn't happen very often,and only in outstanding cases. He'd figured the man was in more than one place and in more than one capacity around the city and was very busy. Usually with high-profile cases such as The Electrician.

It always puzzled him. Did he know the man outside of work? Would he even recognize him? He wanted to ask, but his instructions were always the same. No personal questions. Always wait for departure instructions. Never follow. One thing was for certain, he was much better at hiding in plain sight than Michael Paul.

Michael Paul. He was another puzzle. In all the years he'd known Detective Paul, he'd never slipped up. Something had to have troubled him so greatly that he snapped enough to try to kill an innocent. Captain Vanderson really did have people out trying to find his niece. Even his sister, Patti, had canvased her own neighborhood with missing person posters. The mystery man, who somehow knew too much, also made it quite clear that revealing anything would result in catastrophic events.

Things that would have never have happened if Matther Benson would have broken up with his girl when The Electrician made his declaration. Captain Vanderson agreed, he'd gotten too wrapped up in things outside of his control, and now had to be corrected, somehow.

*****

"If I get too wrapped up in it, there will be certain ramifications, Sir." he told his boss on the phone. "I know, but Vanderson has so many things under control right now. I think it's best if you let me trail Paul and Vanderson think he's in charge." He didn't want to give too much away. "Yes, I know he'll get in the way, but that's what annoying neighbors do."..."Sure"..."I'll set it up...I only hope I'm doing a good job. I've been in one place too long and I need a vacation, Sir." There was a chuckle on the other end of the phone. "I'll be careful. Thank you, Sir." The man on the other end of the phone call ended the call and the speaker looked at his wall calendar. "We're running out of time. How can we get more time?"

*****

"Sally?"

"Yeah?" She replied. "What is it, Kristin?"

"I was wondering if I can use the pool downstairs?" I haven't been swimming in a long time and I need to get into the water." Kristin looked out the window into the courtyard. The apartments across the way were all the same as Sally's. cement walkways, wrought iron railings, wooden doors. Some of the doors were different colors from the others. It was the first time Kristin really looked at her surroundings. She was trying out the situational awareness her uncle told her about so many times when she was younger. It didn't help her two weeks ago, but she hoped to make a difference in the rest of her life. Hopefully she could get out of this situation and go back home soon and leave the stress behind. Swimming helped. Looking at the pool, it was no where near her lap pool size, but big enough she thought she might get a good work out.

"I'll have to call your uncle, but I'm guessing he'll let you. I'll see what kind of suit I have that you can borrow." Sally made an uncomfortable face, because this was something she hadn't anticipated, and sharing a swimming suit made her shiver. After all, as much as she liked Kristin, she still didn't really know her, though she thought they could become good friends.

"Thanks, Sally." She looked over her shoulder from the window. "I promise I don't have any weird infections...that I know of. I think being in the water will help my anxiety."

"I'm on it. I think I can order you a suit from Amazon, since I've ordered a few from there and my shopping history won't be put into question." She pulled her phone out of her back pocket. "I'll call your uncle right now and go see what's in the drawer."

Kristin thanked her again as she analyzed the pool and it's deck. It was large enough for the forty apartments, but small enough the grounds keeper wouldn't have to stress himself out to maintain it.

It didn't take long for Sally to come back into the living room, suits in hand, with an approving smile on her face. "Thank you, Sir. I'll let her know." She removed the phone from her ear and ended the call. "It sounds like your uncle likes the idea of you getting back into the pool." She frowned a little before she continued. "He said we'll have to cut your hair first though, because I don't have a swim cap."

Kristin's stature physically changed. From hopeful back to despair.

"Of course you don't have to swim, Kristin. It's for your safety."

Kristin weighed the two options she had before her very carefully. "Could we take public transport to the next town over and then somewhere else so I can get a cut and color in a bargain shop?"

"You know, that's not a bad idea. Wait for a few minutes and I'll plan the rout. You try these on in the meantime and later today, we'll order you a suit."

Kristin genuinely smiled for the first time in days and she felt almost liberated. She was going to get a pixie cut and a new swim suit.