Chapter 14 - The Watcher Across the Street
Chief Mercer quietly slipped his phone into his pocket without taking his eyes off the black sedan.
The engine continued to idle beneath the streetlight. Its windows were heavily tinted, making it impossible to see who sat inside. The license plate looked ordinary at first glance, but Mercer noticed something unusual.
There was no state registration sticker.
"Reeves," Mercer said softly through his radio. "Do not approach the vehicle directly. Circle the block and observe."
"Copy that."
Arthur remained seated on the bench.
"You noticed it before I did," Mercer admitted.
Arthur smiled faintly.
"It arrived twelve minutes before your phone rang."
"You timed it?"
"I time everything."
Mercer looked toward the sedan again.
"It hasn't moved."
"No," Arthur replied. "Because it isn't waiting for someone."
"It's watching someone."
Before Mercer could answer, the sedan's headlights briefly flashed once.
Then it slowly pulled away from the curb.
Reeves followed in an unmarked vehicle while another patrol unit joined the surveillance from two blocks away.
Arthur watched the taillights disappear into the night.
"They know they've been noticed."
"Do you recognize the vehicle?"
"No."
Arthur paused.
"But I recognize the method."
Mercer looked at him.
"Professional surveillance never stays longer than necessary. Someone wanted confirmation that I was still here."
The chief frowned.
"You've experienced this before."
Arthur did not answer immediately.
Instead, he looked toward the station entrance where detectives continued carrying evidence boxes inside.
"Years ago," Arthur finally said, "people followed my family for nearly six months before they acted."
Mercer understood the meaning hidden inside those words.
"They planned everything."
Arthur nodded once.
"They were patient."
Just then, Reeves' voice came over the radio.
"Chief... we've got a problem."
"What happened?"
"The sedan didn't try to escape."
Mercer's expression hardened.
"What do you mean?"
"It was abandoned."
Silence.
"We found it parked behind an old warehouse. Engine still warm."
"And the driver?"
"Gone."
Mercer closed his eyes for a brief moment.
The person watching Arthur had anticipated surveillance from the very beginning.
Meanwhile, two blocks away, hidden behind the warehouse, someone watched the officers searching the empty vehicle through a pair of binoculars.
A gloved hand quietly closed a burner phone.
May you like
One short message appeared on the screen.
Target confirmed.
