[#054] Disappearance
He spent two weeks memorizing her routine. Six in the morning to three in the afternoon, every day. She lives and breathes work. Just like he'd been told. Some things never change. And he spent two weeks watching her shop while she was gone. He knows their routines, too. Today is her first day back and he is more than ready.
He waits patiently as she chats with the teenager barista girls and Catherine the assistant manager. She wishes them a good night and then her cellphone comes out. It always comes out as she leaves. She's become one of those women who call home to say she's leaving. He figures it has something to do with the bump at her middle. He's noticed how her hands are always there. The perfect tool for leverage. It'll make his job so much easier. And enjoyable.
"Destroy her," she'd said. "With pleasure," he'd answered.
Three beats and then he follows her out the door. It's easy to catch up with her. He wraps his arm around her, away from the street, hidden by his peacoat. The gun pressed into her right side easily sways her. It gives her no choice. She goes where he wants her to go, how he wants her to.
Twenty after three, she doesn't show up at home. She never shows up.
He waits patiently as she chats with the teenager barista girls and Catherine the assistant manager. She wishes them a good night and then her cellphone comes out. It always comes out as she leaves. She's become one of those women who call home to say she's leaving. He figures it has something to do with the bump at her middle. He's noticed how her hands are always there. The perfect tool for leverage. It'll make his job so much easier. And enjoyable.
"Destroy her," she'd said. "With pleasure," he'd answered.
Three beats and then he follows her out the door. It's easy to catch up with her. He wraps his arm around her, away from the street, hidden by his peacoat. The gun pressed into her right side easily sways her. It gives her no choice. She goes where he wants her to go, how he wants her to.
Twenty after three, she doesn't show up at home. She never shows up.