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Authors: J.C. Fields
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Amid the screams, he quickly walked to the east side of The Plaza. It took him almost seven minutes to reach the spot where he had parked a rental car earlier in the morning. As he opened the car door, the sirens of first responders could be heard off in the distance. Not wishing to get caught up in a police blockade, he calmly got in the car, started it and eased away from the shoulder. He headed north.
The route he followed took him to I-70 East, where he merged onto the interstate highway and started the three-and-a-half hour drive to St. Louis. There was little worry about being stopped by police for a traffic violation, but he kept his speed to the posted limit, just in case. Cooper figured they had more important things to do. He was right.
Six hours later he was sitting in the last row next to the window on a Southwest Airline flight bound for Love Field in Dallas. His hair was now its natural color and his tinted contacts were discarded. As the plane began to taxi toward the runway, he allowed himself a slight smile. Leaning his head back in the seat, he closed his eyes and relaxed for the first time that day.
An hour and half later, as the plane taxied to the terminal at Love Field, he turned on his phone and texted a one word message to a memorized number. After sending the word Dallas, he deleted the number from the phone and shut it off.
After exiting the plane with his carry-on in tow, he noticed the airport was moderately busy. This suited him fine. Waiting for the taxi took several minutes, but no one paid unusual attention to him. He instructed the driver to take him to the Adam’s Mark Hotel in downtown Dallas. After paying the driver, he exited the cab, waited for it to get out of sight, then hiked three blocks to the Westin City Center. There, he entered the hotel and went to the restroom. Waiting ten minutes, he exited the hotel, found a cab waiting and proceeded to DFW airport.
He boarded the 9 p.m. flight to Atlanta and arrived just after midnight Eastern Time. After working his way to his car in long term parking, he left the airport, found I-85 south and started driving. Pleased with his progress, he finally stopped at a Holiday Inn Express in La Grange, Georgia. Once in his room, he turned his cell phone on and found he had a text message waiting.
The message was simple, “Acknowledged check in 2.” This meant his previous message had been received and for him to check his email in two days. Satisfied with the events of the day, he took a quick shower, laid down and slept until noon.
Chapter 12
Kansas City, MO
Monday morning
After the furious activities of the weekend and the lateness of the prior evening, Kruger opened his eyes and stared at the digital clock by his bed, 9:59 a.m. “Haven’t done that in a long time,” he mumbled to himself.
Stephanie was curled up at his side with her back to him, her steady and rhythmic breathing a calming force to his sudden alertness. Had he heard something, or was it a dream? Probably a dream. His sleeping patterns had been so irregular of late, he was amazed he had actually slept till mid-morning.
He gently pushed the sheets aside, got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. He pulled on his boxers and went to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. The sun was already past the balcony overhang as he opened the patio door and stood by the rail looking down on the Plaza traffic. The day was going to be warm. A good day to be with Stephanie and start figuring out their new life together as husband and wife, or wife and husband, whichever, he didn’t care, just as long as they were together.
When the coffee was done, he went back to the bedroom to check on Stephanie. She was stirring, so he sat down on the bed to watch her. Last night, after the passion of making love, they lay together making plans. He had not realized until their conversation how relieved he was to be retiring at the end of June. The constant traveling, long periods away
The route he followed took him to I-70 East, where he merged onto the interstate highway and started the three-and-a-half hour drive to St. Louis. There was little worry about being stopped by police for a traffic violation, but he kept his speed to the posted limit, just in case. Cooper figured they had more important things to do. He was right.
Six hours later he was sitting in the last row next to the window on a Southwest Airline flight bound for Love Field in Dallas. His hair was now its natural color and his tinted contacts were discarded. As the plane began to taxi toward the runway, he allowed himself a slight smile. Leaning his head back in the seat, he closed his eyes and relaxed for the first time that day.
An hour and half later, as the plane taxied to the terminal at Love Field, he turned on his phone and texted a one word message to a memorized number. After sending the word Dallas, he deleted the number from the phone and shut it off.
After exiting the plane with his carry-on in tow, he noticed the airport was moderately busy. This suited him fine. Waiting for the taxi took several minutes, but no one paid unusual attention to him. He instructed the driver to take him to the Adam’s Mark Hotel in downtown Dallas. After paying the driver, he exited the cab, waited for it to get out of sight, then hiked three blocks to the Westin City Center. There, he entered the hotel and went to the restroom. Waiting ten minutes, he exited the hotel, found a cab waiting and proceeded to DFW airport.
He boarded the 9 p.m. flight to Atlanta and arrived just after midnight Eastern Time. After working his way to his car in long term parking, he left the airport, found I-85 south and started driving. Pleased with his progress, he finally stopped at a Holiday Inn Express in La Grange, Georgia. Once in his room, he turned his cell phone on and found he had a text message waiting.
The message was simple, “Acknowledged check in 2.” This meant his previous message had been received and for him to check his email in two days. Satisfied with the events of the day, he took a quick shower, laid down and slept until noon.
Chapter 12
Kansas City, MO
Monday morning
After the furious activities of the weekend and the lateness of the prior evening, Kruger opened his eyes and stared at the digital clock by his bed, 9:59 a.m. “Haven’t done that in a long time,” he mumbled to himself.
Stephanie was curled up at his side with her back to him, her steady and rhythmic breathing a calming force to his sudden alertness. Had he heard something, or was it a dream? Probably a dream. His sleeping patterns had been so irregular of late, he was amazed he had actually slept till mid-morning.
He gently pushed the sheets aside, got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. He pulled on his boxers and went to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. The sun was already past the balcony overhang as he opened the patio door and stood by the rail looking down on the Plaza traffic. The day was going to be warm. A good day to be with Stephanie and start figuring out their new life together as husband and wife, or wife and husband, whichever, he didn’t care, just as long as they were together.
When the coffee was done, he went back to the bedroom to check on Stephanie. She was stirring, so he sat down on the bed to watch her. Last night, after the passion of making love, they lay together making plans. He had not realized until their conversation how relieved he was to be retiring at the end of June. The constant traveling, long periods away
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