Chapter 10

"Good night, Nick!"

"Night, Jack!"

Jack exited the gym and, slipping his hands into the coat's pockets to keep them warm, he started walking towards home. Nearly a block away from the gym, he was assailed by the familiar feeling of being followed. Jeff, sticking to his reputation, kept an eye on him every day and shadowed him every night. Walking through the park, Jack saw again the dark man with the dog and, as arranged, put on his wool cap to reassure his team that everything was indeed fine. Reached his home, Jack turned around one last time and, as usual, he saw the half-hidden figure of Jeff. Entered the apartment, Jack put the dinner in the microwave, took a hot shower and then ate his dinner in front of his pc.

Juc: Hi, sweetheart.

SAT32: Hi, honey.

Juc: Today has been another tiring and quiet day. And Jeff followed me again to home. Though I have to say that, since we arranged the meeting with the other guys, our Jeff has become sloppy! Initially I couldn't for the life of me see him but now his movements are quite easy to follow.

SAT32: Why this change?

Juc: I don't know. Maybe, now that he has revealed himself he wants to be sure that I know that he's keeping an eye on me...

SAT32: Maybe... Is he still there?

Juc: I hope not, for his sake! Doesn't this guy have a private life?!

SAT32: Be serious, Jack. Is he there or not?

Juc: I don't know. Let me take a look.

Juc: Yes, he's still there.

SAT32: If you want, we can contact the police so that they send a car patrol to make him go away.

Juc: No, no. He'll go away in less than one hour, as always. He's a creature of habit. We can't risk to leave ourselves open now! Tomorrow is the great day!

SAT32: At last!

Juc: At last! Now stop talking about Jeff. Tell me about your day.

Switched off the pc almost an hour later, Jack discretely glanced through the window at the street below and, made sure that Jeff had left his usual sentry post, he went to bed.

Jack woke up with a start. He had hardly managed to make out a dark shape near his bed when a baseball bat hit him on the head knocking him out.