The in-law parents moved to Taos, New Mexicoafter “Sebastian was finally married off,” stating, “Our work hereis done.”
Ahhh, I see you’re getting a clearer pictureof what it will really mean when we all descend on my parents’ homeon Thanksgiving.
Don’t worry. I know a few goodattorneys.
Flower
Melrose, Massachusetts
Ethan
Deeper
After we leave the restaurant, we walk to theSUV where I ask Adam to drive so I don’t give in to the nearoverwhelming desire to follow Theresa to Connecticut. He nods, andthen drags his keys out of his front pocket. He doesn’t say a word,but he knows watching her leave tore me up. The ride back toMelrose is quiet, and I need the silence to get my head back in thegame.
As soon as Adam and I pull in the driveway,our next-door neighbor, Edwin, a retired comptroller, comes acrosshis yard and says with urgency, “A very muscular, rather tallHispanic man was at your front door a couple of hours ago. Heknocked a few times and did something on his phone before he got inhis car and drove away. I didn’t have time to write down thelicense plate number, but I’d recognize him and the car if I seehim again.”
Well, shit. They should give Edwin anassignment. Instead of watching them, keep an eye on the Russiansacross the street. “Thanks, man, but that’s our friend Ernesto. Wecrossed wires and missed each other.”
Edwin looks disappointed there isn’t someespionage involved. This is what happens when too many people watchJack RyanandBosch. “Okay then. Have a goodevening.” Edwin walks off with slumped shoulders and heads into hishouse.
The “something on his phone” is the reasonwhy we left Boston. Fernando, now known as Ernesto, has drive-byduty, and he knocked to communicate to Cam, now known as Simon, whois on duty in the house, that we were on our way back. I hate thesefuckin’ undercover names.
Intentionally, we’re keeping communicationlow tech whenever possible. Fernando’s text to Adam was in code,and we’re using our phones sparingly. We tell all the newbies,watchingThe Wireis like required reading forcoursework.
Once inside, we head upstairs where we’ve setup shop. The side window of the master bedroom gives us a clearshot of the Russians’ house. Behind dark curtains with cutoutswhere surveillance cameras are embedded, no one could guess whatwe’re doing or that we have a mini control center in this room.
Cam looks up from the monitors and gives us achin lift.
“Anything?” Adam asks.
“Quiet day,” Cam says. “The two who troll theclubs went out to get food, and came back about a half hour ago.Otherwise, nothing.”
“Damn, I wish we had ears inside,” Imutter.
“We need to catch one of those fuckersdropping a roofie in a girl’s drink, and get him to roll. Thenwe’ll get our wire.”
“We pick up any of them, the whole housedecamps and scatters,” Adam says. “They don’t care what happens totheir ‘colleagues.’ It’s all about making bank. And to do that,they need to dope and rope.”
“Cold muthafuckas.” Cam stands and stretches,then says, “I’m gonna eat, chill, and catch some Zs. I’ll be backon at midnight.”
“Right,” I say. “I’ll take next shift.”
Adam and Cam leave and I stick in the earbudconnected to the laptop, and fix my stare on the screen. It’s goingto be a long night.
***
I’ve always been a light sleeper. Even as akid, I heard the dogs snoring, when someone got up in the middle ofthe night to use the bathroom, and when the early birds drove pastour house on their way to work before sunrise. Flower on the brainwas bad enough. Theresa on the brain is pure torture. I close myeyes and I feel her lips on mine, her legs wound around my body,her soft hair in my hands. I smell her light floral scent, tasteher sweetness on my tongue, feel her juicy ass in the palm of myhands, and I can’t sleep.
Shit. I can hardly breathe.
Over the years, I’ve learned if I don’t getfive hours a night, I’m no good to anybody, especially myself. I’mpart of a team, and we need to stay sharp for each other. I’venever been daredevil. I take calculated risks, and minimize myexposure to dangerous situations by being smart, alert, andprepared.
I try again. I close my eyes and seeTheresa’s small hand entwined with mine, and somehow that groundsme. We have the chance to build something solid and lasting. I’mnot going to do anything to fuck that up. That means I have to staystrong and keep myself healthy. I take deep breaths and visualize ayard with trees and flower beds. A cool breeze is blowing andrustling the trees’ leaves. I start to drift. It’s peaceful here.This yard is a sanctuary that serves as a buffer from the harshrealities life shoves in our faces every day. My body relaxes, andI feel myself falling into a space between here and the pull ofsleep.
The moment I’m there, ready to go under, Ihear it. Someone’s outside the house, and they’re not beingparticularly quiet about it. Silently, I grab my gun, yank on myjeans, and pull my shirt off the back of the chair. I hear theintruder moving west, to the back of the house, and as I passAdam’s room, I pause and chamber my weapon, knowing that sound willwake him. As he slips out of bed, I touch my ear so he stops andlistens. His gaze locks with mine when he hears the intruder, andhe indicates he’ll follow me.
I make my way down the hall and crouch behindthe kitchen island waiting for the intruder to make his move. Adamjoins me behind the island, and both of our heads turn when we hearCam coming down the stairs. The moment he sees us, he crouches andfrog walks to our position.
