The Cost
Chapter 23
Graham Spaulding sat back in his rented sun chair and relaxed. He'd enjoyed reading about himself in the newspapers, enjoyed chuckling over the fuzzy pictures presented to the public as the man the FBI was looking for. That man looked nothing like him now. Longer hair dyed chestnut, a moustache, and a neatly trimmed beard had taken care of that. His colourless eyes now gleamed a startling blue, thanks to the people at 'Eyes R Us' and their quality, low cost contact lenses. He sighed contentedly, letting the warmth of the late afternoon sun seep through him. Life was very good.
And would soon get better.
With the fake id he'd painstakingly accumulated, he'd managed to transfer funds into several new local accounts from his numbered account in the Caymans. He had money, a new identity...a new life, if you like. It was easy - if you were monied and smart, which he was, of course. In fact, he thought, there was only one thing standing between himself and complete happiness.
Jack Malone.
A wave of hatred made him clench his fists. Jack wouldn't last much longer. Soon, he'd have more little castoffs thrown his way. Soon, Jack's failure to find him and bring him to his self-righteous version of justice would draw attention to his incompetencies and failures. He would be losing credibility already. Soon, he'd be regarded as a liability and yes, would, after that, be cast out, just as he himself had been cast out from the life he had enjoyed.
Soon.
Restlessly, he decided perhaps it was time to leave his beach paradise. There were things he needed to do back in the city: finding more suitable living accommodations being one of them. The abandoned building had been fine for the first 6 kills, but he thought a new setting would be nice. Besides, he missed Jack. Gazing at a young teen he'd been eying all week, he wondered if perhaps Jack would like a post card...Picking up his chair to return it to the rental kiosk, he nodded to himself. He really ought to send his greetings.
Jack might like a little fun in the sun.
End Chapter 23
Graham Spaulding sat back in his rented sun chair and relaxed. He'd enjoyed reading about himself in the newspapers, enjoyed chuckling over the fuzzy pictures presented to the public as the man the FBI was looking for. That man looked nothing like him now. Longer hair dyed chestnut, a moustache, and a neatly trimmed beard had taken care of that. His colourless eyes now gleamed a startling blue, thanks to the people at 'Eyes R Us' and their quality, low cost contact lenses. He sighed contentedly, letting the warmth of the late afternoon sun seep through him. Life was very good.
And would soon get better.
With the fake id he'd painstakingly accumulated, he'd managed to transfer funds into several new local accounts from his numbered account in the Caymans. He had money, a new identity...a new life, if you like. It was easy - if you were monied and smart, which he was, of course. In fact, he thought, there was only one thing standing between himself and complete happiness.
Jack Malone.
A wave of hatred made him clench his fists. Jack wouldn't last much longer. Soon, he'd have more little castoffs thrown his way. Soon, Jack's failure to find him and bring him to his self-righteous version of justice would draw attention to his incompetencies and failures. He would be losing credibility already. Soon, he'd be regarded as a liability and yes, would, after that, be cast out, just as he himself had been cast out from the life he had enjoyed.
Soon.
Restlessly, he decided perhaps it was time to leave his beach paradise. There were things he needed to do back in the city: finding more suitable living accommodations being one of them. The abandoned building had been fine for the first 6 kills, but he thought a new setting would be nice. Besides, he missed Jack. Gazing at a young teen he'd been eying all week, he wondered if perhaps Jack would like a post card...Picking up his chair to return it to the rental kiosk, he nodded to himself. He really ought to send his greetings.
Jack might like a little fun in the sun.
End Chapter 23