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As she walked to her car, every instinct screaming at her to run, a black sedan turned onto the street. Ignoring it, she stowed her suitcase in the trunk and slid into the driver’s seat. As the black sedan approached the house, she did a three-point turn and drove away, watching behind the black car for Jerry’s white Mercedes. When she reached the end of the block and turned the corner without spotting it, she took her first deep breath since she’d walked into her house.
At the first stoplight, she glanced behind her. Memorized all the cars she saw. Then took a deep breath and headed for Dempster. She’d take it west to I-294, then it would be a short trip to O’Hare. She’d leave her car in long-term parking and rent another one.
She’d spent the sleepless hours last night planning. Jerry would assume she’d go east. Her company had a relationship with a New York firm, and she had numerous friends there. Lots of business associates.
New York and the east coast were out.
South might work. She knew no one down there. Except for Southern Accent. She shuddered. Why give him the advantage of familiar territory?
So west it was. She’d aim for Seattle, where she’d grown up.
She hadn’t been back since Mary, her mother in every way except blood, had died. Hadn’t ever intended to go there again.
Her hands gripped the steering wheel. Now, she didn’t have a choice. At least she knew Seattle. She’d be able to hide there.
After leaving her car in O’Hare Airport’s long-term parking, she rented a car, got on I-94 and drove north until she struggled to keep her eyes open. And when she found herself nodding off, jolted awake by the buzzing of the lane drift alert, she knew it was time to stop. Minneapolis was close
She followed the signs to the airport, then the rental car return. The bored clerk printed out a receipt and handed it to her with a forced smile. He’d barely looked at her, thank God.
Alex took a shuttle bus to the terminals and waited for a hotel shuttle to appear. She stumbled onto the first one she saw, for Hyatt Place Hotel, jerking awake several times on the short ride.
After checking in and paying cash in advance for two nights, she staggered into her room and managed to slide the Do Not Disturb sign on the door before falling into bed. When she woke, hours later, the sun was high in the sky and her mouth was parched and nasty.
After gulping down two glasses of water and brushing her teeth, she ordered room service, then pulled out her laptop and scrolled internet listings of cars for sale.
* * *
After Alex Conway stopped the previous night, Gideon followed the tracker to a small hotel in Rogers Park. Meeting a lover? Possibly. Especially after Trotter’s remark about he and Conway no longer having sex.
He put an alert on his phone so he’d know if she moved, then parked down the street and spent an uncomfortable night in his car. The alert jolted him awake, and he shot up in the back seat. Grabbing his phone, he saw she was back on the El, heading toward Evanston. Going to work?
He followed her back to Evanston, where he watched her exit the El. She picked up her car from a city lot, where she’d probably parked for work yesterday. So not going into work. Or to court. Instead, she drove east. Toward her house?
Gideon trailed behind her, staying far enough away that she couldn’t see his car. When she reached her street, she parked a few houses down from hers. She waited on the street until Trotter pulled out of his garage and disappeared around the corner. Waited a little longer, then went inside.
Gideon slid down so his car looked empty. Would she shower, change her clothes and go into work? He needed to study her routine. Watch her patterns.
She exited the house a half-hour later, dragging a roller suitcase behind her. Gideon sucked in a breath. What the hell?
He followed her down Dempster to the I-94 toll road, which she took to O’Hare. He waited in the cell phone lot and watched on his phone as the little blue dot that was Alex Conway parked in long-term parking. Rode the shuttle to the terminals.
Came out of the terminal and exited the area. Went to the rental car lot.
He sat up straighter. What was she doing?
Didn’t matter. Gideon’s job was to keep eyes on her. And keep her in the crosshairs.
Twenty minutes later, she was on I-94 again. Heading north.
He followed her all the way to Minneapolis. To a Hyatt Place Hotel near the Minneapolis airport. Now he sat in the hotel parking lot the next morning, watching the entrance. Alex Conway was in one of those rooms. Had been there since he’d arrived last evening, less than an hour behind her. He’d slept in his car, knowing the alert would rouse him if she moved. So far, she’d stayed put.
Why had she left Evanston? Was this a planned trip? If so, why not drive her own car?
Had she somehow gotten wind of Trotter’s scheme? Had she bugged his office? His phone? And if she’d been listening to his conversations, she’d know Trotter was a crook. So why hadn’t she dumped him? She was an officer of the court. Consorting with known criminals put her career in jeopardy.
Maybe she was a crook, too. Helping Trotter with his dirty business. She wouldn’t be the first attorney to work the wrong side of the law. Was Trotter simply trying to eliminate his partner so he didn’t have to share his profits?
Didn’t matter. Gideon needed to stay close while he figured out his next move.
