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It waswhen we were almost at the end of our road leading to the main highway back to the city that I saw a vehicle turning down our street. For some reason, I had a bad feeling about it, and I pressed the speaker button so I could speak to Stuart, the current driver from the security company.
“Hey, Stuart, can you turn around and follow that dark truck that just turned down the lane?”
“You mean the Ford?” Stuart asked.
“Yes, that’s the one.”
“Is there a problem?” he asked, pulling into an empty driveway and turning the limo around.
“I just have this feeling…”
“Roger that,” Stuart said and drove back down the road leading to our property. Sure enough, the black pickup had stopped next to a small, wooded area a few houses down from our beach house and the driver was walking down a path to the beach. Maybe he was just visiting so he could walk the beach, but why would he park his truck there and walk to the beach when there was a public parking lot a mile further down the coast?
“Can you call in the plates?”
“I can,” Stuart replied and spoke into his cell. I opened my door to get out of the limo and Stuart stopped me. “Sir, I’d advise you to remain in the vehicle. I’ll investigate, if needed.”
“I want to see where he’s going,” I said, ignoring his advice. I followed him down the path and saw that he was walking down the beach towards the beach house.
It might be completely innocent. Maybe he lived in the area and was just taking a walk, but why the dark hoodie covering his head and the dark sunglasses? It was a cloudy day…
“Sir, can I ask you to stay back? I called the plates in and it’s a stolen vehicle reported this morning from Queens. I’ve already called the guard at the beach house and they’re on lockdown.”
“Great,” I said and took out my cell.
Then, I thought better of it, and stood back, watching as Stuart chased down the man and confronted him. They got into a pushing and shoving match, and before I knew it, Stuart had the man on the ground, his face in the sand, his arms in cuffs behind his back.
It was useful to have a former cop as a driver…
I ran up to the two of them and watched as Stuart reached into the man’s pants pocket and pulled out a wallet.
“Says his name is Garrett L. Bowen of Queens.”
“Turn him over,” I said and watched as Stuart did, flipping the guy over onto his back so we could see the man’s face.
He had longish hair, a scruffy beard and moustache.
Garrett L. Bowen of Queens, apparently.
Who the hell was he and why was he out here with a stolen vehicle? And why did this keep happening?
It seemed too much of a coincidence that he was close to our beach house, but then again, he could have been just scouting out rich homes to break into and steal from. Our place might not have been the target.
I hoped that was it.
I was getting a bit too paranoid about Blaine still being out there. His trial couldn’t come fast enough, and I cursed the slowness of the justice system, even as I was glad that we had one of the best in the world.
The police showed up within ten minutes, and took over from Stuart, who had to give police a statement, and then I had to give one as well. I sat in the police cruiser and told them what happened from my perspective, and then asked the one cop to call me when they had any information.
I told him about the situation with Blaine and that if there was any connection between the two men, I would like to know.
“Is there a reason you think they may be connected?” the cop asked.
“No,” I said and shook my head. “But I know he’s out to get my wife and hurt her and her family members, so I wouldn’t put it past him to hire someone to hurt us.”
The cop almost smiled but held it back. “That’s possible, of course, but we have an ongoing problem with break-ins in the wealthier neighborhoods.”
“Of course, you’re right,” I said and shook my head. I realized I was being paranoid. This was probably a small-time hood from Queens who was out looking for computers, flat screens and other valuables to pawn for money for his drugs.
At least, I hoped that was the case…
I went back to the limo and called Alexa, letting her know what had happened.
“Do you want me to cancel the meeting and come stay with you?” I asked, hearing the sound of nerves in her voice.
“No, no,” she said quickly. “You go ahead. I’m safe here with the guard on duty. We’ll have a nice supper on the patio when you get back. How about grilled Greek chicken and vegetables?”
“Sounds great,” I said. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.”
I ended the call and told Stuart to continue into the city, glad that we’d stopped and checked on the suspicious man and vehicle. While Alexa would have been safe regardless, it was good to stop a potential robber before he had the chance to strike.
* * *
