Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven
We had a great time eating pizza as a family. Lincoln seemed to be such a happy boy and we didn’t want to scare him so we didn’t have any discussion about the security items or the gun while he was still awake. I could tell that Jill really wanted to talk about it by the way she kept biting her lip.

Lincoln finally fell asleep on the couch with the pizza box still beside him. He only managed to eat two small slices and I put the rest away to save for later. I picked him up and carried him to his room and put him to bed. I made him stop by the bathroom and pee before going to bed, because I knew the results of not doing that. 

I tucked him in and gave him a kiss goodnight. I didn’t put any motion detectors in his room but I still used a baby monitor in there with video. I could always tell when he got up for any reason and I could see if anyone went into that room. I had stopped using it for a while but after the episode the night before, I set it back up again. The camera was hidden in there and no one would notice it was there unless they already knew about it. 

When I returned to the couch in the living room, Jill was sitting there with her arms crossed in front of her. She looked like an angry wife whose husband had come home late from a night out with the boys. 

Jill asked, “Are we going to talk about it?”

I played dumb and replied, “Talk about what?”

Jill replied, “You know what. The locks, the alarm and that new toy you have in your purse.”

I responded, “I have a son to protect not to mention us.”

Jill said, “I can understand the locks and alarm, but you don’t know anything about a gun.”

I replied, “I do now. I spent three hours at the gun range with instructions from the owner. I can hit a head shot or full mass shot with ease.”

I took the gun out of my purse and loaded the clip into it in a matter of seconds as a demonstration for Jill. I showed her the gun safe that would keep Lincoln away from it and would fit by my bed. The safe would stay there and I would carry the pistol with me when I went anywhere. 

Jill didn’t say anything else but I could tell she was not happy about it. I wasn’t happy about it either but it was a necessary evil now. They knew where I lived and the only way they could have found that out was to follow me home. It changed me, it made me more conscious of who was behind me and how long they had been there. 

I didn’t expect another visit tonight. I hadn’t been anywhere near our suspect’s house today. I had other errands to run and didn’t go there. We still had our surveillance cameras in John’s house and they were still working. Evidently John’s friend didn’t know about the cameras. 

We kept an eye on the screen but nothing new happened. I didn’t know who John’s friend was because I never saw him at John’s house since we had been watching. We saw John going in and out of the room and taking things in and out with him wherever he went. I don’t know if he had been back to the store or not since I didn’t work today, I just wished I knew who had come into my house. 

Jill was still pouting on the edge of the couch and I was watching the monitor. I heard a doorbell chime and knew it wasn’t my doorbell, but I saw John get up and go to the door and let in a young man about twenty five. They sat and talked in John’s living room for some time. 

The young man said, “I went by her house and warned her about spying here. I think that should do the trick and when we get ready to move the girl the coast will be clear.”

I thought to myself, “That is the guy. He was the one in my apartment.”

John didn’t say much back but just nodded his head. Was this guy a friend, a relative or a business associate? It looked like this guy and John would be visiting for a while. I asked Jill if I could borrow her car. They hadn’t seen it parked in the neighborhood, only mine. She was reluctant but finally agreed. 

I drove over to John’s house and parked far enough away to not be noticed but close enough to see if the visitor left the house. After close to an hour, he came out. He wore the same black clothes he had on when he straddled me and put the knife to my throat. I had on my own dark clothes and when he drove away I followed close enough to see where he went but far enough back to not trigger any suspicion. 

When the guy parked in a driveway I parked about a block away. When he had gone into his house I eased up closer and took out my phone camera and zoomed in to view what was going on. There was a woman there he gave a welcoming kiss to and a couple of kids he hugged before they went to bed. I snapped a photo of him and his family in his house and then I made a note of the address and drove away. I would probably be returning but not till some time had passed. 

After I got back to the apartment I took a photo of myself aiming my pistol. I printed both photos out and used the address I wrote down, to mail a printed copy of the photos. I didn’t write anything because I felt the photos were self-explanatory. I didn’t know if there would be a response from him and only time would tell me the answer to that.

The next day was a work day and I took Lincoln to school. I kept a lookout behind me to make sure I wasn’t being followed. I was pretty paranoid by now and watched everything, whether it made any sense or not. I dropped Lincoln off and went into work. I kept my pistol in my purse and with me at all times. When I worked at the checkout counter I kept my purse underneath the counter. Employees aren’t allowed to have weapons at work but I didn’t care. If anything was ever said, they could fire me. 

My shift finished without any incident. I got back in my car and took the pistol out and laid it in the center console while I drove. It would be close and handy if I needed it. I kept a close watch behind me for cars following as had become a habit. I saw no signs of any car staying with me all the way and for the later few blocks no one was there at all. I knew however that they wouldn’t have to follow me now because they already knew where I lived. 

Jill and Lincoln greeted me when I entered through the front door. I didn’t bother telling Jill what I did with the photos I had or even that I had those photos. Jill had fed Lincoln and he was ready for bed. I went in and warmed up some leftovers from the dinner that Jill had made and fed Lincoln. 

Jill said, “John left his house for several hours but he finally got back a few minutes ago. Did you see him at the store tonight?”

I answered, “I haven’t seen him at the store for several days now so I don’t know where he goes when he leaves. Maybe he has a job.”

Jill said, “I have seen him gone every day for the same amount of time to work a shift. Maybe he is a mobster and does whatever they do during the day.”

I asked, “Has anyone else been there? The guy that broke into our apartment was a visitor there for a few minutes, I watched them and could hear them talking. He told John about warning me and that should be all that was needed.”

Jill said, “He doesn’t know you very well, does he?”

I replied, “He doesn’t if he thinks I am going to roll over and play dead. I will drop Lincoln off in the morning because I am going back to the gun range for more practice.”

Jill said, “You are taking this pretty seriously aren’t you?”

I answered, “A threat to my family is serious, that is the only way I can take it.”

Jill went to bed and I would soon follow after I set the alarms and put my gun in the safe by my bed. I was in bed shortly after Jill and ready for sleep. It had been a long day. I was looking forward to going to the gun range tomorrow. It would be good to make sure I am prepared. 

I had been asleep for a couple of hours before I heard the shriek of the alarm blasting through the apartment. I was shocked and I could feel the adrenaline surging through my body. I quickly took my gun out of the safe and slowly creeped into the kitchen and living area of the apartment. My heart was pounding and I was sweating profusely as I deliberately took each step forward. 

I had my gun pointed in front of me as I turned the corner prepared to face whatever challenges awaited me there. I flipped on the lights and came face to face with my little three foot miracle.

Lincoln spoke, “Mommy, I just needed a drink.”

I asked, “Why didn’t you just wake me up and ask me to get it for you?”

Lincoln replied, “I didn’t want to wake you and besides I can get it myself.”

Jill yelled from her doorway, “Is somebody going to turn that damn alarm off?”

I punched in the code and the blast from the alarm system finally stopped. I am glad to get it turned off because it was only a matter of time before the other residents of the apartment started complaining.

I said, “Let’s go back to bed.”