Fog
Chapter 1 - Mystery Man
San Francisco - August 2011
Tuesday - 07:30
The morning mist was just lifting. A slender built figure was standing under a birch tree, lighting a cigarette watching the house across from him. The house was just like any other in the street. The man moved into the trees' shadow as a woman appeared in the doorway, followed by a boy. He watched them get into their car and pull out of the driveway. The man followed them for two blocks; the boy was dropped off at playgroup. He stayed watching the boy until his mum came and collected him.
Thursday - 16:00
The three year old was playing out in the yard. The man was watching from his usual spot under the birch tree; smoke protruding from his mouth. He finished smoking, tossed the butt into the trashcan and started to approach the house. As he reaches half way across the road, the boys' mother came out. She tells him to put away his toys and come in for his tea.
The boy finished putting his toys away and ran up the steps to the porch. As he did so the woman noticed a figure pause in the middle of the road, and then carry on towards the house. The mother told her son to go and wash up. As he went into the house, her gaze fell back upon the man approaching her home. The man smiled at her politely and walked by. The woman watched the man walk to the end of the street before she went in, to see her son.
Friday - 07:30
The slender built man sat in his car waiting for the woman and her son to leave. As she pulled out of the drive he started his engine; waited a few minutes then followed her to playgroup. She did exactly the same as before the last four days he watched.
Friday - 14:30
As the last bell of the day sounded, the woman got out of her car and waited for that familiar face of her son. She started to worry as the last few children came out of the gates. Panic now started to settle in her stomach. She could see her son's teacher packing her SUV.
She shouted over. "Is he playing with the class hamster?"
"No, he left with his uncle." The colour had gone from her face, she felt dizzy. The teacher was now next to her holding her arm asking if she was ok. She managed to mumble, "His uncle is out of town, and won't be back for two more days."
"He had a note saying it was ok for him to collect your son. It had your signature on it."
"Oh! Maybe he came home early to surprise us." Feeling a bit better she got into her car and drove home.
