Page 75 of Hidden Nature

“Oh, so do I. I like we got a little bit of land to keep us nice and tucked away. But it’s fun to think what if.”

When they parked, she hauled up her purse. “I’m going to get out, take some pictures of the house for sale. The sign and all. Most don’t pay much mind to a woman, and it’ll look like I’m interested in the house for sale.”

As she started to open the door, he put a hand on her arm. “Hold on. Babe, you got the touch. You said we needed to come look-see this morning, and look-see that. The garage door’s opening.”

“It’s got to be him! Unless his wife’s really late leaving for work.”

The gleaming gray Mercedes sedan drove right by them.

“It’s him, all right. You got the touch.” Sam pulled into the driveway of the house for sale, reversed, then followed. “Let’s see where he goes.”

The Mercedes cruised leisurely through town, out of it, and onto Interstate 68, east.

Sam kept his distance, kept his eye peeled as the Mercedes racked up nearly twenty miles.

“He’s getting off! Put his turn signal on.”

“I see it, I see it.” As Sam exited behind the Mercedes, Clara noted down the exit.

Rigsby drove another mile, past a strip mall, fast-food places, then pulled into the lot of a motel.

He got out, carrying a small overnight bag.

“He’s checking in, Sam. Twenty miles from home, day off, and he’s checking into a motel?”

“Got something on the side! Bad boy!”

Rigsby came out, got back in the car, then drove around to the back of the motel.

“Give it a minute. We’ll know which room. He’ll park in front of his room. We’ll drive around, park a few slots down, and see when whoever he’s cheating with shows up.”

He’d parked in front of 122, so they pulled in at 126.

Within ten minutes, a blue Toyota slipped in beside the Mercedes.

The woman who got out didn’t carry an overnight, but a large purse. A blonde, she wore a short coat over a short dress, sunglasses, and high heels.

“She’s got to be twenty, maybe twenty-five years younger than that cheating man.”

Sam grinned. “The old dog. I’m going to get us those Sprites out of the cooler, and that bag of barbecue chips. This may take a while.”

It took an hour and twenty minutes before the blonde came out. She shook back her hair, then slipped on her sunglasses before she slid into the Toyota and drove away.

“We could take him now, babe. He’s alone, and I bet he’s real relaxed.”

“Not yet, no, not today, doll. We’re not ready for him. It’s not time for him. And we’ve been sitting here too long so somebody might remember the van.”

“When you’re right, you’re right.”

“We’ll follow him again, just to see. Then we’ll make ourselves a plan.”

He came out, looking sleepy and satisfied.

The follow home proved easy, as that’s just where he went.

“Drive on by, and back into town, doll. I’m going to take you to lunch, then we’ll do that shopping. I’ve got a plan coming on.”

“I know you do. One thing? The way you’ve been cooking for me, I’m taking you to lunch.”

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