Page 4 of Night Moves

I check my ever-packed bag, making sure I haven’t forgotten anything. The few dishes can be replaced. Everything I can never lose is in my backpack that I wear all the time.

A hard lesson I learned a long time ago. Always be prepared to run.

CHAPTER3

Diesel

Diego glances at his vibrating phone. “It’s I-Tee.” He puts the call on speaker.

“Diesel, go to the area where your sister lived. Your caller is close. There’s a park down the street to the left. She’s there. She already disabled the phone but maybe you can get a visual.”

I surge to my feet. I see a woman in the center of the park lifting a child that from a distance is the same size as Eizlee.

“Wait,” Diego stops me. “Let’s not confront her. We’ll follow and see what we can learn. She probably knows a whole lot more than we expect.”

She pauses and looks around.

“She senses us,” he continues, “Split up and see if one of us can follow her. This is a woman who’s been on the run and in hiding before.”

A few minutes later, Diego’s voice comes through the com. “She just cut through the laundromat. I’ll bet she’s coming out the back side. We’ll trade off following her.”

I get in place in time to see her cut across the road and head between two homes. I glimpse Diego move forward to follow down the next street over. I stay in place until I get his next command. “Go. I’ll follow.”

We continue leap frogging past each other.

Sure enough, she’s gradually making her way down the street using the buildings as cover, until she cuts between two sections of what could have been an old motel. The sign in front reads Hollow Apartments.

I watch her take the stairs to the second level Eizlee Jane cuddled high with her arms around her neck. She follows the walkway to the end and bears left, leaving my sight.

“Got her. Second floor, back side, far corner of building two.”

I can barely hear Diego’s breathing as I imagine him repositioning.

“She went inside the last corner unit that overlooks the alley between another two buildings like hers. I saw her check her window on the alley side. It’s big enough she could climb out and go down the rear stairs between the dumpsters. This woman’s been on the run before. We need to be careful or she’ll bolt.”

“My thoughts exactly. She knows what she’s doing with the phones, too.” I join Diego at the back. I’m at one corner watching the way in and her apartment. He’s in the opposite corner doing the same. We’ll see anyone coming to her apartment, or if she tries to leave.” We settle in and wait for her call.

* * *

At exactly midnight my phone vibrates. For the last thirty minutes we’ve seen a shadow cross back and forth in front of the apartment window. I wondered if she’s cuddling Eizlee to sleep.

A friend: You ready?

Diesel: Yes. Where are you?

A friend: Go to Sunrise East. There’s a lighted bus stop. I’ll meet you there. If you aren’t alone, I keep going.

Diego and I watch as she exits the apartment. Eizlee cuddled against her shoulder as if she’s asleep. The woman carries a bag in the other arm and wears a big ass hiking backpack. Burner phones. Long distance backpack. My gut twists.What is she running from?

I text Diego the location. He’s going to follow her. I need to take a different route to get to the meet spot. It’s not more than a fifteen-minute walk. Ironically, it’s close to where we parked my rental car. I sit on the bench under the light. Shoulders slumped, elbows on my knees, trying to look non-threatening. Every sound, every footstep has me on edge.

Diego’s voice comes over the com. “We got trouble. Not sure it’s coincidence or a problem but a couple thugs picked up her trail about two blocks ago. They don’t know I’m behind them yet.”

“Fuck. Could it be tied to my sister?” I whisper.

He grunts. “Stand to.”

I wait until she gets closer and turn toward her. Standing, hands loosely by my sides, shoulders relaxed. There’re three guys a half block behind her, another comes out of the coffee shop on the corner and greets them.

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