Chapter 3
3
I stare at the computer screen as Ghost digs deeper into Alicia’s online trail. I watch over his shoulder. I could probably get to the same place on my own, but he does it so fast it takes a weight off all our shoulders.
“There.” He points to a line of code. “Hey, you’re not the only one after her. See, someone else has been poking around in her account and… if I’m to believe the IP, they’re in Louisiana.”
“Right, but that doesn’t mean anything. I’m sure that if anyone found a trace of our visit, they’d probably think we’re in Alaska or something.”
“The Philippines, actually,” Ghost says.
I lean toward the screen. I’m not sure what I’m looking for in this pixel jungle. I just know that if they got here too, they’re not amateurs. They know their stuff. They’ve covered their tracks—just not well enough to fool Ghost.
“Chances are it’s another bounty hunter,” Ghost observes, voicing my own suspicions.
“Probably.” I lean back in my chair, considering our next move. “They could be good, but we’re better.”
Ghost grins, the challenge sparkling in his eyes. “Damn right we are.”
I turn my attention back to the screen. Alicia’s not bad either, I’ll give her that. She’s covered her tracks well for a civilian. But everyone makes mistakes, and I’m going to find hers.
As Ghost continues his online investigation, my mind drifts to the woman in the mugshot. There’s something about her that intrigues me. It’s more than the usual thrill of the hunt. She’s smart, resourceful. An interesting client.
But I’m not in this game to lose.
“Got it,” Ghost announces. “She’s holed up in a rental property in Point Lookout.”
I read the address he highlights on his screen. “Not a bad choice. Quiet, out of the way. Easy to blend in with the tourists.”
Ghost nods and wheels his chair away from his desk while I stand and stretch.
“I’ll head there first thing in the morning.”
“Yeah, get to her before our mystery competitor does,” he calls out as I leave the data room.
I know Point Lookout like the back of my hand. I grew up here and watched the small town turn into… something else. I’m not sure what we are. Way back when I was a kid, we were a middle-class community with a few mansions. At the time, we only had one high-rise, which was the hotel. Now we have an entire row of ten-story buildings right on the beach. It’s not Fort Lauderdale’s Galt Mile, but we’re getting there. Anyway, we’re a tourist town in high season and just a regular medium-size town the rest of the year.
I pull up to the rental complex and park my SUV in a shaded spot. Having to move around in a box is the only part about this job I don’t like but I’ve made my peace with it. No buts about it; to catch runaways, we need four wheels.
It’s almost 8. The sun’s peeking over the horizon, casting a golden glow over the sleepy buildings. I spot an older guy sweeping the walkway to the building and recognize the uniform of the maintenance company that handles our office cleaning. As I get closer, I have the gut feeling this is going to be a good day. I know the guy.
“Frank!” I call out, waving him over.
He squints at me for a moment before recognition dawns on his face. “Well, if it isn’t the big bad wolf in person. What brings you to this neck of the woods, Ace?”
I flash him my most charming smile. “Just here to surprise my girlfriend. She’s staying in one of your rentals.”
Frank raises an eyebrow. “Is that so? You got a girlfriend now?”
The man is a true romance addict. He’s been married for decades and raves about marital bliss. So, just in case I need him later, I lay it on thick.
“Yep, I got bitten by the fucking bug too, just like you said I would.”
The man flashes a victorious smile. Of course, he knew all along that I was gonna fall hard one day.
“I even have a picture of her on my phone. Wanna see?” I ask, popping a picture of Alicia I stole from her Instagram feed.
He studies the picture for a moment, then nods. “Unit203. I’ve seen her. She goes running on the beach at the crack of dawn and then stays put for the rest of the day. Is she a health nut? She hasn’t been here long but she gets everything delivered fresh every single day.”
I clap him on the shoulder and shrug. “Yep, she’s serious about nutrition and shit like that.”
We say goodbye, and as I head toward the building, I spot a grocery delivery truck pulling up. On a hunch, I intercept the driver as he’s unloading a bag.
“Hey there,” I call out, pulling out a crisp twenty from my pocket. “Those for unit203?”
The driver frowns like he’s going to send me packing and then notices the cash. Twenty is all it takes for his scruples to fly away. He nods, eyeing the money. I press the bill into his hand and offer an explanation:
“I’m her boyfriend. Wanted to surprise her with breakfast in bed. Mind if I take those off your hands?”
“Sure, man. Knock yourself out.”
I grab the bags and head into the building. Adrenaline starts to kick in. I’m so close. Just a few more steps and I’ll have her. On the second floor, I find her door and pause a minute, listening for any signs of movement inside. Nothing. Okay, so Frank said she runs early every morning. She could still be out, or she could be in the shower, or she could be back in bed…
Since I’ve decided this is my lucky day, I decide to take a chance. I set the bag down and pull out my lock-picking kit. It takes me less than thirty seconds to get the door open. I learned to do that way before I joined the police academy, but when anyone asks, I lie and say it’s one of the perks of being an ex-cop.
I slip inside, leaving the door ajar and the bag behind me. The one-bedroom is small but tidy. Right away, I spot a backpack on the table and, next to it, a laptop charging. I’m about to take a look at the screen when I hear a shout in the adjacent room.
“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Stupid, stupid bed!”
Oops. I smile and sympathize. Yep, I’m really good at kicking innocent furniture, especially in the morning before I have my coffee… and every single time the furniture wins.
But right now is not the time to suggest she ice whatever part of her body she’s hit. That’s not what I came here for.
I just have time to run out and close the front door behind me before she enters the living room.