A Slight Relapse..............

It's a funny thing but the older I get the more I dislike snow. Maybe because I live in New Jersey now. When I was living in the Bronx, I got around by bus or train so weather conditions didn't really bother me. Living in New Jersey, you really need a car to get around. That means that you have to clean it off - and, maybe, dig it out - every time it snows. And we've had three snow storms in the last week.

I really dislike snow.

Plus, the temperature has been below average. That means that the snow hasn't melted and, when the snow turned to rain, it turned to ice quickly.

Not a fan of that, either.

Today, however, the sun was out, and so was I. And I took the Flasher with me. I've been carrying it since Gordon visited me last week. It just makes me feel safer.

The side street that I was parked on hadn't been completely cleared, but I was fairly close to the corner, and the main road looked pretty good. Of course, I had to scrape the ice off.

I let the car warm up for about 10 minutes because it was so cold out. I checked my mirrors, then started to pull out when this plow truck jumped out of a nearby driveway and cut me off.

I've always found these guys to be a little too full of themselves. It's like they feel like I should be happy that they're clearing my street while piling up all the excess snow against the side of my car. And he didn't use his blinker when he turned right.

I pulled out and - using my blinker - turned right also. When we stopped at the light at Freeman Street, he was in the left lane and I was in the right. The sunlight on the snow created quite a glare. And I remembered that  the Flasher had an effect on car engines.

Point, press, Flash.

When the light changed, I drove away and he didn't.

That felt great.

I had a plan for today, and everything went well. I stopped at Shoprite and picked up some stuff for lunch and supper. I picked up the paper. I had breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts. I found a Toys for Tots drop-off at the Woodbridge Center Mall. You always feel good when things fall into place.

I headed home.

And then this idiot on a bike decided to cut across the street in front of me.

Thankfully, I was slowing down to make the right turn. I followed him around the corner. He stayed in the street, and I came up along side of him. Old habits die hard, and I'd been checking my mirrors. No one else was around.

Point, press, Flash.

He and the bike fell over and I continued my drive home.

Later on that day, I got the delivery of a Christmas present I had ordered. All in all, a good day except for ...

.. a slight relapse.

Withdrawal.................

This last month has been tough.

Ever since Doyle told me that there was a heightened awareness among local police forces about the possibility of a killer on the loose I've stopped staging Events. Don't get me wrong, I still go out every day - or at least every day that the weather permits - but I don't carry the Flasher anymore.

And it hasn't been easy.

At first, I tried not to notice people, but - to be honest - there are too many of them. And I'd gotten used to the hunt. The desire was like an itch - an itch under my skin - an itch that I couldn't reach. I wanted to scratch it badly.

 But I knew that I couldn't.

That's when I realized what an addiction was.

 I thought I knew  -I smoked for about 40 years, before I wound up at the hospital and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. It was easy to quit smoking then because I was in the hospital for two weeks and they don't let you smoke.

Anyway ...

It's been tough.

But, I struggled through it. And after several weeks, I've realized that the best thing you can do with your life is to live it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 I was out today and ... well .. the itch wasn't as bad. Or it wasn't bad enough to bother me.

I drove around, did some Christmas shopping, and went home. I got a good parking spot, took my stuff out of the trunk, and walked home.

I didn't notice that one of my living room windows was open.

I walked into my apartment, and heard the window being closed.

I didn't lock the door, but walked straight into the living room.

Gordon stood there grinning.

"Hello, Denny! How good to see you !"

It looked like he was twitching, but I didn't allude to that. I just put down my packages and turned to face him.

"Hey .. uh .. Gordon .. so .. How're things going?"

"Excellent, my friend! Quite excellent! " He started to pace around the living room - which isn't that big.

"I wanted to ask you, Denny .... I wanted to ask you ... umm .. why you stopped .. you know .. doing what we do." He paused and shook his head. "But then I got to thinking. Maybe .... just maybe .... you didn't want to do this anymore and I couldn't figure out why so ..." He grinned at me, " .. I decided to stop by and ask you why."

He went to sit down on the couch but couldn't. Instead he turned towards the window, twitching and scratching his right ear.

I decided to change the topic.

"What's going on, Gordon? ...You seem  .. I don't know ....kinda itchy."

He stood facing the window for a long time - still twitching - then turned towards me.

He became calm, but I could see the fingers of his right hand drumming against his leg. He seemed to have decided to change the conversation, too. He grinned at me.

"Denny .... my good friend, Denny --- you have the package I sent you, right?"
"Um .. Yes ... of course.".
"Good. If what I have planned works out .." his face took on a more sober quality ....".. this is the end game."

"What do you mean by that, Gordon?"

He walked towards the door, then turned around.

"There are things in play, Denny. I'm sorry that you're involved, but ...."

He opened the door ...

....  I hope you figure it out."

He closed the door.

I sat down in my chair and tried to understand what was going on. I was dealing with two people with two different agendas ..

Doyle warned me what I might be in store for ...

Gordon warned me what I might be in store for ...

..and I'm left dealing with both of them and what it means to have to deal with ..

... withdrawal.

Dialing It Back...............

Doyle called Monday evening, wanting to meet Tuesday morning. I told him I couldn't. I had a series of test scheduled at Robert Wood on Tuesday and wouldn't be available. Especially since the 10:30 test was a Dobutamine Stress Test which usually wipes me out.

We agreed to meet at 11:30 this morning at Merrill Park, in the first parking area on the right.

As it turned out, the Stress Test took 2 hours, but went well.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was up and out early. It was cold, but the sun was out and I was feeling good.

I've been on a dry streak lately. It happens sometimes. Some days there are no opportunities. Some days there are, but other factors enter in. These can be definable - like being too close to a potentially populated area or a person/car suddenly appears in the distance. These can also be undefinable - just a sense that there's something that could go wrong.

And there are my rules. I leave people on phones or people walking dogs alone.

And, to be honest, I've noticed an increased police presence in the various towns that I drive through.

Anyway, I headed up Rahway and turned onto Freeman. Up ahead was the dip in the road under the train tracks. That's where I saw this woman.

This is the same spot that I'd had my first Event, on foot, years ago. I lowered the passenger side window while looking around. We were on our own.

Point, press, Flash.

I continued on towards St. George Avenue, stopping at Shoprite to see what was on sale. I picked up some stuff, went home to drop them off, and headed to Dunkin' Donuts for breakfast.

I stopped at a couple of libraries and bought some sale books that looked interesting, including one that is autographed by the author. That's a pretty exciting find. I hope the book is good.

I stopped at my favorite thrift store and got three pairs of brand name sweat pants for $12. In this kind of weather, I wear them around the house and to bed.

after that stop, I headed towards the park. I got there around 11:15. Of course, Doyle was already there, sitting at one of the picnic tables facing the lot. I parked and walked over. He was drinking a coffee, and there was an extra for me. He stood, and we shook hands.

"It's been a while. How're ya doin', Denny?" He grinned, broadly.
"Good, Doyle." I couldn't help but grin back at him. "How's things with you?"

He sat down and gestured to the extra coffee as he picked up and drank from his. I did the same.

"Well, we're back to normal - if you can call anything we do normal - after the shut down, and the NSA problems have bypassed us lately, but now we  have the new Secret Service vice scandal starting to pop up. I guess it's always something. So .... " He drank from his coffee, "..How'd your tests go?"
I drank from my coffee, too. After all, it was cold out here.
"I should get the blood work results in a couple of days. I don't expect a problem with the chest x-ray. I admit that I was "pre-stressed" about the Stress Test. I even arranged for my son-in-law to pick me up because I remember my reaction after the last one. But, I gotta say, it went well. I sent a text to my son-in-law not to worry and I got home on my own."
"So, what's next?"
"Well, I meet with the doctor next week for my annual checkup. Everything should be good and he'll let me know if there are any other tests he wants for this year. I'm hoping that he forgets about the colonoscopy he mentioned last year."

We both laughed at that - me not as loud.

"So, Doyle, in case you haven't noticed, it's cold out here - even with the coffee. What's up?"
"Have you noticed that there are more cops around lately, especially around here?"
"Sure I have. I was even thinking about that earlier. Does that have anything to do with this meeting?"
"Yeah, Denny, it does." He drank some more coffee, then took a deep breath. "Someone has contacted local authorities about the possibility of a serial killer operating in the area. According to what we've heard, they've been pointed to certain 'coincidences' in deaths across several townships on the same day. You know what I'm talking about, right, Denny?"

I had to agree that I did. I could feel my heart amping up. This was worse then the stress test.

"So ... what happens now? Am I in any danger? Do you know who the informant is?"

He went to touch my hand, to reassure me, but pulled back. I understood. We're guys.
"You don't have anything to worry about right now, Denny, but it's probably best that you dial things back. You know, not so many in one day, space things out, that kinda thing. And .. No .. we don't know who the informant is, but I have my suspicions."
"Who? Who is it? Who do you think it is?"
"Gordon."

One word. One name. A whole lot of questions.

"Why would he do that?"

"He'd been incredibly active up until last week, staging Events across the entire state. Almost one a day, bouncing from one county to another. Then he abruptly stopped. Our shrinks think that he has some kinda agenda. They think he was trying to attract your attention by what he's doing because he thinks we're telling you of his daily activity. They think he's trying to egg you on into some sorta competition. But you've been kinda quiet lately, so he's changed his game plan. They think that he thinks that you've gotten bored and that the increased police pressure will energize you."

We both finished our coffees, and threw the cups into the nearby trash basket. I stopped noticing the cold about 10 minutes ago.

"What should I do now, Doyle?" I tried not to sound desperate.
"Dial things back. I know you haven't been too active but, when you get out there, you tend to do multiples. Don't get me wrong, we don't want you to stop. I think Gordon is trying to bait you, but I don't think he intends to hurt you. I think he's trying to get your attention. To counter that, I think you shouldn't do more then one Event on any given day."

He stood up.

"Denny, I'm not sure what Gordon is planning. I'm not sure I trust what the shrinks are telling me. I am sure that I can count on you to do the right thing.You have so far. And we still have your back."
He looked at his watch, checked his phone, then stuck out his hand.
"I gotta go now, Denny, but don't worry ... I've given clear instructions that you be monitored around the clock." He grinned again. "You got my word on that."

I shook his hand and he got into his car and drove away.

I sat there for a while, trying to digest the whole situation, but I couldn't get my head around it and it was getting colder. I got into my car and headed out also. Then I saw this guy.

There was no one else around but ...

I drove on by. Just doing what Doyle suggested ...

dialing it back.

Open For Business..............

I haven't been ... well... "active"... for about a month.

 Back then, Doyle contacted me and told me that DHS was putting all non-essential work - including our Project - on hold. They were pretty sure that the government was going to be shut down by the start of October and they needed to plan for that. He said that they were also sure that the "maniacs in charge of the asylum" wouldn't let us go into default so they expected things to go back to normal after October 17th.

I knew what that meant to me. There would be no one following me in the hopes that Gordon would make contact and they could grab him. (Of course, they don't know that he already has, and I haven't said anything about it. There's something else going on here, and I'm still trying to figure it out.)  I decided to put things on hold myself.

I got another text from Doyle yesterday, the 21st. Everything has been re-approved - largely because Jones wants Gordon badly. So, as Doyle put it, "We're open for business."

I headed out early this morning. It was the start of a perfect Autumn day, crisp and sunny. I drove up St. George Avenue intending to stop at the Shoprite. I was in the right lane heading for the turn off when a large truck made the turn from the left lane, cutting me off.

I got caught at the light, but found him in the parking lot easily enough.

He was still in the cab, and taking up too much space. I lowered my passenger side window and leaned over. It was early, sunny, and he was checking something on his smart phone.

Point, press, Flash.

I felt good. I went into the store but only brought the paper.

I stopped at Dunkin' Donuts for breakfast, then drove through Iselin and into Colonia. I eventually stopped at the library in Metuchen.

Coming out the back door, I noticed this guy rooting around in the back of his truck.

I was on foot, and walked across the street - carefully looking around. There was no one else there. I got as close as I dared, then ..

Point, press, Flash ..

and I turned back towards my car, got in, and drove away.

My heart was racing.

I ran a few more errands and headed for home. I was going to stop at the Subways in Woodbridge, so I wound up on Chain-of-Hills Road heading back towards St. George. This is a winding road and around one of the curves I came up behind this woman on roller blades.

You have to understand something. I consider this woman a menace. She roller blades up and down this road, switching sides whenever she feels like it, and sometimes she just coasts in the middle. She always wears headphones, and appears to be oblivious to anyone else.

I narrowed the gap, being conscious of my surroundings and keeping watch for anyone else.

I passed her on one of the curves.

Point, press, Flash.

I saw her roll into the trees in my rear view mirror.

I was feeling great.

Doyle was right we are back, and we are ...

open for business.

While You're Waiting, Part 2 .............

I posted my last entry around 2:00  yesterday afternoon. Since then, some things have changed.

About 2:30, I got a call from the Director of the Woodbridge Health Department. She apologized for keeping me waiting, but she hadn't got all of the answers until just now.  They just got the pneumonia vaccine in, but the price is now $80 and it doesn't look like my insurance will cover any part of it. I thanked her for the call and hung up.

 There wasn't any reason to go into the misinformation on the flyer I had or the fact that a simple "I'm sorry but I don't have any information for you." return call on Friday would have been nice. I could tell from her voice that it wouldn't register.
__________________________________________________________________________________

While I was online researching something else, I decided to check the bookseller's site which has my recent order. I'd gotten an email on Sunday that the book had been shipped, but I've been burnt on this already.

Surprise!

I now have a USPS shipping number on the package that can be tracked from it's origin point in Flagstaff, Arizona. It's coming regular mail so I don't expect it until next week, still ... it's good to know.
__________________________________________________________________________________-

I was up early today. It was a kind of chilly morning, but the sun was up and I was feeling good.

I had nothing in particular to do, so I decided to treat myself to a breakfast at Perkin's. But first, I had a few things to do.

I headed up to Avenel. I wanted to check out a Laundromat there. I've been using one near my local Shoprite, but I'm not happy with it. This other place is not as convenient but I needed a change and I wanted to see what they charge. I stopped in quickly, checked it out, and got back in my car. As I was backing up, I saw this guy working on his truck.

 
The people in the Laundromat weren't paying attention to what was going on outside. The sun was bright enough to hide what I was going to do.

Point, press, Flash.

I drove to Perkin's and enjoyed my breakfast.

Still enjoying the day, I headed up into Iselin along Chain-of-Hills Road. This is a winding road and, in one section, has trees that cover the roadway. That's when I cm up behind this guy.

Sunlight filtering through the trees and no one else around.

Point, press, Flash.

I had no particular place to go, so I turned up Wood Avenue to Iselin.

I had my windows down, slightly, now. It was still crisp out, and sunny - just the kind of day I love. I was feeling great. Turning up one street at random, I saw this guy up ahead, standing in the street.

I had no idea what he was doing or why he was standing there. All I knew was that we were the only one's out here at the time.

Point, press, Flash.

I decided that I would swing back to Shoprite and pick up some New England Clam Chowder for supper.

It was gonna be another couple of days before my book would be delivered and ....

... you have to do something while you're waiting.

While You're Waiting..........

One of the things you can count on in life is that you wind up - more often then not - waiting for things.

 Most of the time, it's no big deal. Like Saturday, for example. I had a lunch date with my daughter and I had to wait in Red Robin a little longer then usual. Not a big deal because they sat me in a booth facing the door and I ordered our drinks. Plus, I had time to really look through the menu.

Sometimes, however, it becomes a big deal, and I've been trying to work my way through two situations that are taking more time then they should. Let me explain ...
__________________________________________________________________________________

Recently, I came across an article that Ian Mckellen would be playing an older Sherlock Holmes in an adaptation of Mitch Cullin's book "A Slight Trick of The Mind". I am a big Holmes fan and I immediately logged onto a discount on-line bookseller that I use. I found a Trade Paperback of the book and ordered it. Later that day I got the email confirm of my request and they charged my account. The next day, I got another email that they couldn't fill the order after all and was issuing me a credit.

At least I didn't have to wait.

I logged into another discount bookseller that same day, found the book and ordered it. Again I got the email acknowledgement and they charged my account. Two days later I got an email that my order had been shipped. I thought, "Hey, alright. This is gonna work."

Now, I had to wait.

 Not for long. Four days later they emailed me again. They apologized, but they couldn't fill the order. They refunded the purchase price, and gave me a credit to use towards a future purchase.

Now I'm in over a week, and I still don't know if I'm gonna get the book.

I logged into a popular on-line site, found the book, and ordered it. Like before, they acknowledged my order and charged my account. Again, two days later (which was yesterday) , I got an email that said my book had shipped.

Now I wait again.
_______________________________________________________________________________

The second situation is health related. This is the time of year that I start looking into getting a Flu shot. Also, this year, I need to get the Pneumonia shot. I live in Woodbridge and the Health Department usually holds a couple of clinics where they offer these at a discount. Basically, they would  bill my insurance for the Flu shot, but I wasn't sure what the process was for the Pneumonia one. So I drove over last Tuesday and asked. After about 1/2 an hour, no one could come up with an answer and they weren't even sure that they had the vaccine so they gave me a phone number and asked if I would call back in 2 or 3 days.

I waited until day 3 (Friday) to call. The woman who answered the phone remembered me but said that the Director would be out of the office for a couple of hours. She took my name and number and told me I'd hear back later in the day.

I waited.

No one called.
______________________________________________________________________________

This morning, I woke up early still waiting on these two situations.

I had some errands to run and didn't get a chance to call the Health Department until about 9:30. The same woman answered. She figured out pretty quickly that I hadn't gotten a call back. She really didn't have any information but she took my name and number again.

Now I'm still waiting and I'm frustrated.

I drove up through Avenel and into Colonia. Along Chain-of-Hills Road, I came up behind this guy.

My windows were up due to the chill, but I had the time to lower them. This is a quiet stretch of road, and there was no one else around.

Point, press, Flash.

I drove on.

I was heading towards the Post Office on Middlesex Turnpike, and then intended to drive to Target. Just past the MetroPark Train Station there are a few small apartment developments. On a whim, I drove through.

Having made a left onto one of the back roads, I suddenly came up behind this guy.

I didn't have a lot of time, I just reacted.

Point, press, Flash.

I skipped Target, and headed up to the thrift shop in South Plainfield. It was one of their sale days and I was looking for some sweat shirts. I actually picked up four, and headed down Plainfield Avenue towards the library in Metuchen. I made a left on Smithfield, and saw this guy standing on the corner just up ahead.

I was ready. I made the right at that corner so he'd be on my passenger side.

Point, press, Flash.

It took me a few extra minutes to get back on track and I stopped at the library. I didn't find anything interesting there so I decided to head for home.

Everything is still open. But, I am feeling calmer.

I guess you have to have something to do ..

.. while you're waiting.

A Different Perspective...............

Doyle called yesterday.

 He said he'd catch up to me somewhere along the line today so I should stay out until at least noon. This time, I thought I knew what this was about. Four years ago yesterday, we met for the first time down at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.

That's when he proposed my involvement in The Project. That's when this whole thing started.

I began my day by stopping at the Main Library on St. George Avenue. There was only 1 other car in the front lot. A silver SUV on the right-hand side. I parked on the left. As I got out, I saw an older man standing on the grass to the side of the SUV, smoking a cigarette. I assumed he was the owner.

I walked up the ramp to the front doors, but they were locked. That's when I remembered that they don't open until 10 in August. Annoyed, I walked back to my car. I was all set to back out of my space when I noticed the old guy through my rear window. He was still standing there.

He could have told me that the library wasn't open yet, but he let me walk all the way there and back. I took a quick look around - we were the only ones there. I backed up straight into the empty spot between him and his SUV. He ignored me.

Point, press, Flash.

I drove on. I had some other stops to make.

I stopped at Dunkin' Donuts for a blueberry muffin and a small iced tea, black. I had a book with me ("Night of the Hunter" by Davis Grubb) and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast.

I decided to start at the Target in Edison, and headed down along Chain-of-Hills Road. I love this road. It's a winding, quiet little stretch. Up ahead I noticed this woman.

I slowed down a bit, and did a quick check of my mirrors. All clear.

Point, press, Flash.

I spent about 15 minutes in Target. They had some small 3-drawer, plastic storage units on sale and I wanted to see what they really looked like. I ultimately didn't get one, but I did pick up some OTC meds that I needed.

From there, I drove over to the Barnes & Noble's in the Menlo Park Mall. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, but I do like to browse. I checked the time when I left the store. A little after 10. I had to stay out for another 2 hours.

I headed towards the thrift store in South Plainfield that I like. I drove down Parsonage Road to Route 27, turned left, then right on Grove, and left on Oak Tree. I passed a small strip mall along the way and, on a whim, drove through. In the back, I saw this guy.

No one was parked back here.

Point, press, Flash.

I drove on to the thrift store but didn't go in. Today was one of their sale days, and I don't like dealing with the type of crowd that draws. I turned back to Oak Tree, took the left on Wood then the right on Inman. I was heading to Iselin and a used book store there.

This one doesn't quite have the ambiance of the one on Main Street in Metuchen, but I've gotten some great buys here and they know me well enough not to have to keep an eye on me. They also have this "Buy 12 Get One Free" thing that they do and I only had one more hole to punch on my card. I picked up a copy of "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Phillip K. Dick for $4.50. My next book there will be free.

I walked back to my car, and found Doyle leaning against it.

"Hey, Denny!" He stuck out his hand. I shook it.
"Doyle. Good to see you. How're things?"
"Same old, same old." He smiled, "Just wanted to bring you up to date on a few things."
"Oh? Are there things happening? Does this involve Gordon?"

He nodded.
"Yeah. It seems he's active again. Three weeks ago, his Flasher signal was registered in New Providence, up in Union County. Two weeks ago, down in Cape May. Last week in Trenton. He's out there again, all right."

I was quiet for a moment, taking it in. I thought about telling Doyle about the box Gordon had sent me, the unopened one in my kitchen, but I didn't.
"So .. you still can't find his tracker, only the Flasher signal?"

This time, he was quiet for a while. He took a deep breath, then let it out slowly.
"Denny, that about sums it up. We're still scrambling, but this whole NSA leaks thing has everyone's panties in a twist and I've been spending way too much time reviewing personnel records." He stood up straight, stretched, then slapped me on the back.
"And I didn't want too much time to go by without wishing you a Happy Anniversary."

He actually grinned. Then he sobered up.

"Seriously, Denny, this Gordon situation seems to be heating up. I don't know what that means or where it's heading but I got a gut feeling about it. Whatever he's planning is gonna happen soon."
"You think he's planning something? It all seems pretty random to me. Like ... you know .. what I do."
"No. Well, maybe. I think what he's done so far has been random but I have a feeling that he has something in mind .. some kind of end goal. I just can't quite figure out what it might be."

His phone went off. He listened for a minute or two, then closed it and shrugged.
"I gotta go, Denny. Look .. I don't know what Gordon plans on doing, so be careful, OK?"

I told him I would.

"OK. Well. Good to see you again, Denny."
We shook hands and he headed towards his car. Then he turned around and looked back at me.

He saluted.

Then he got in his car and drove away.

I got in my car and sat there a while.
I like Doyle. He's a nice guy who believes in his job.
Should I have told him about my contact with Gordon? This bothered me but I finally decided not to.

I owed Gordon that much.

Doyle had a singular focus on the situation.

I had a different perspective.

Two Days in July.........

After weeks of backbreaking heat, burning sun, and brutal humidity we got a real break yesterday. Yes, the sun was out but somehow it felt less severe. The humidity was gone. The breeze was cooling. It was like an early Spring day and I was out early.

With nothing to do and no where in particular to be, I lowered all the windows on my car and just drove around. I decided to start in Sewarren since I hadn't been there in a while. They've come a long way since Sandy hit them, and the improvements showed. People were back in their houses and the streets were free of debris.

Along one of the side streets I came across this guy.

I pulled over to the side, pretending that I'd gotten a phone call and miming a conversation on my cell as I watched him go from house to house. I came to the conclusion that he was leaving fliers in the mailboxes. I left him to it, and drove on.

It was too nice a day and I was in too good a mood. Still, I started to feel the urge.

I drove into Avenel, and entered the PathMark shopping area. As I made the turn, this guy was in front of me.

This time, I had to drive on by. It was just too open. Damn!

I decided not to go into the store, but drove around the back. That's where I came upon this guy, loading some stuff in his trunk.

I had the itch now. It was like something crawling under my skin. I looked around quickly but we were alone. I swung my car to the right so that he'd be on my driver's side.

Point, press, Flash.

I left the lot and headed up St. George's Avenue into Rahway. There's a comic book store in a strip mall up there that I haven't been to in a while and I wanted to see if they were still there and, if so, what their hours were.

Having checked that out, I drove around the back so that I could come out at a light. That's when my phone went off. I pulled over to answer it.

It was an automated message from my pharmacy that a prescription I'd called in was ready. I cut it off and was going to drive off when I saw this guy.

He was on his way back to his truck, and I was in the perfect place. I inched a bit forward as he entered the back of his truck. I had plenty of time to look around.

Point, press, Flash.

I made the turn, caught the light, and carried on with my day.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Last night it was so cool that I had to get up for a blanket. After that, I slept like a baby. In fact, I was  so comfortable that I slept in this morning.

It was like a day in September today. The kind of weather that I like, although maybe it could've had a bit more sunshine. I only had the 2 front windows open in the car.

I needed to do some food shopping, so I headed for the local ShopRite. The landscaping/cleaning crew was there making a lot of noise and walking through the lot without regard for any of the shoppers. When I'd gotten what I went for, I sat in my car watching this one guy drag a garbage can full of trimmings across the lot - paying no attention to anyone trying to go in or out of the lot.

I watched him climb into the back of his truck then started my car. I drove down one row then up the next so that he'd be on my passenger side. There was no one in the immediate vicinity and I took a chance.

Point, press, Flash.

I drove home, dropped off what I'd bought, and drove out towards Fords. I was going to go to the thrift store in South Plainfield because Thursdays are discount days for cardholders (and I am one), but they wouldn't be open for another hour. I drove in and out of several of the cross streets until I came across this guy.

He was moving at a good clip, and there was no one else around. I passed him on my passenger side.

Point, press, Flash.

I didn't find anything I liked at the thrift store so I headed home.

Yesterday was like an early Spring day and today was like one from the Fall.

That seems a little strange but it's just two days in July.

Responses.........

I've mentioned before that I go to church on Sunday.

 Well, not so much these last couple of months. I've had some physical problems that have made me change when I take some meds, and - to be honest- there's been a couple of really hot days that I didn't want to go out at all.

But I went this morning. It's sort of an anniversary for me.

Five years ago today, I was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Disease.

I won't go into anything specific right now. What counts is that I'm still here.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What struck me during the Mass this morning was the Responsorial Psalm. This takes place between the Old Testament and New Testament readings prior to the Gospel. The Lector reads the Psalm and the congregants respond with a particular line from the text. The line this morning was..

"Turn to the Lord in your need, and you shall live."

Tie that in to what I was remembering from five years ago, and you can imagine what was going through my mind.

After Mass, I sat in my car trying to make sense of these feelings. I remember everything that happened during the whole experience. Every action, every reaction...

 every response.

I don't remember turning to God, particularly.

I don't remember feeling depressed.

I don't remember despairing.

I do remember doing what they wanted me to do. Blood tests. Doctor's visits. Changes to my meds. Whatever.

I do remember not being scared. Not being afraid.

I don't remember ever thinking that I was going to die.

Thinking  back on it all this morning, what I guess I remember most was a sort of calm. A kind of acceptance. Whatever was going to happen would happen.

Perhaps that, in a way, was turning to God - letting His will be done. I don't know.

 All I do know is that I'm still here.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had breakfast at Perkins.

I stopped at Shoprite for the paper and some other things and went home.

When I got there, I found a small box on the seat of the recliner in my living room. There was a note on top.


                  You'll know when to open this.

                               G.

Gordon.

 I haven't heard from him in months and then he leaves me a package. I wasn't sure what to do.

I stared at it for a long time.

Finally, I put it in a cabinet in my kitchen, under the place where my microwave is.

I didn't know what else to do with it.

I didn't know how I should react to it.

I didn't know how to respond.

An Interesting Day

It used to be that the really hot weather didn't come in until August. That isn't true anymore. Lately, we've been dealing with heat waves, where there's nothing but bright sun and blistering heat, mixed with depressingly overcast days with crushing humidity. The last few days have been a mixture of both.

Now I go out earlier then usual because I want to be home before the sun starts to bake things. I never leave my house with less then 4 bottles of water. I've dealt with dehydration before and I don't want to have to deal with being hospitalized again.

I drove up St. George Avenue to Shoprite. I wanted to get today's paper, my usual lottery tickets, and to see what was on sale. To get to that parking lot, you have to take a jug-handle (a distinctly New Jersey way of making a left turn) so I was in the right lane. As I got closer, the car to my left sped up, cut me off, and made the turn ahead of me.

Son of a Bitch.

I followed, and parked on his left side. He was on the phone.

I didn't think. I just acted.

Point, press, Flash.

I went into the store, bought what I went for and a blueberry muffin for breakfast, and got back into my car.

I was feeling good.

Interesting.

I had a prescription to pick up at Walmart, so I cut through a nearby housing development to get to Route 9. Along the way I passed Pelzman Park and saw this guy heading my way.

It's a quiet, out-of-the-way area and we were the only one's around.

Point, press, Flash.

I made the left onto Avenel, the left onto Route 9, and headed for Walmart.

I picked up my prescription, opened the muffin and a bottle of water and headed for Metuchen. The library would be opening soon.

There was nothing interesting at the library and I headed for the thrift shop in South Plainfield that I frequent.

Nothing interesting there either. I had finished the muffin and was on my second bottle of water. I was headed for home when I remembered something.

I live in Woodbridge Proper. They have some interesting parking regulations, but I'm exempt because I have a Resident Parking Permit. Well, the other day I noticed that my permit was due to expire soon, so I decided to stop by the Municipal Building on Main Street and get it renewed.

I drove down to Route 27 and, as I was coming up to my turn off, came up behind this jogger.

 I found it interesting that this guy was out jogging in this heat. No one else was. In fact, there was no one else around at all.

Point, press, Flash.

I made my turn and got to the Municipal Building in about 20 minutes.

There was no problem renewing my permit.

As I was leaving, 2 policemen came in. They were discussing the fact that they'd found a guy dead in his car in the Shoprite parking lot earlier. It was the heat, they decided.

I smiled to myself as I walked back to my car.

It had been an interesting day.

The Nature of Things.......

Doyle called yesterday.

Well, actually, he sent a text to the drop phone. He said that I should do whatever I would normally do today and that he would catch up with me somewhere along the way. He added that he had a narrow window, so if he didn't see me by noon we'd have to wait for some other time. This wasn't how we did things usually, but I had no way to argue with him about it.

I was up early. I left my house about 8, figuring that I had about 4 hours to fill. Somewhere along the line, Doyle would contact me.

I drove up into Avenel and stopped at a Krauser's for the paper. As I was getting out of my car, a bird swooped down past my windshield. I walked around the front and saw it pecking at something. I tried to get a better look, but it grabbed what it had and flew away.

I knew what it was.

A cicada.

They've been buzzing, humming, and flying around throughout the area for weeks now. I've had one land on my leg while I was getting gas at a Hess station on St. George Avenue, and several that have hit my windshield while driving around Avenel . Think about it. 17 years underground and many of them get eaten by birds or get smashed into windshields.

I guess that's just the nature of things.

I stopped at a Dunkin' Donuts for breakfast. I had a toasted Everything bagel with vegetable cream cheese and a medium-size iced tea, black. I always carry a paperback book with me, so I sat at a corner table - reading and enjoying my meal. So far, nothing from Doyle.

I got back into my car and took the right turn towards Edison. Along the way, I saw this guy.

 He was making a lot of noise with that leaf-blower and that really annoys me. I lowered my windows.

Point, press, Flash.

I drove on, heading for Metuchen and the library there. I took the back roads. It didn't take long before I saw this guy.

He was on my side but the area was too open. I drove on, changing my mind about the library for now.

I headed towards South Plainfield along New Dover Road. There's a thrift store there that I like to browse through.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was now about 10:15, and I'd left the thrift store without buying anything. I figured that I still had about 2 hours before I could go home so now I drove to the library in Metuchen.

On the way, I saw this guy walking towards me. We were alone but, when I lowered the passenger side window, I could hear the cicadas humming in the trees.

I closed the window and drove on.

Way too much nature for me.

I decided to drive to the Menlo Park Mall.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Every once in a while, I like to go to Menlo Park and sit in one of their relaxation areas - a set of chairs and sofas strategically set up around the two floors they occupy. I like the one facing the exit towards Barnes & Nobles. I was early enough to get a spot there, and sat down with the paper and a bottle of water that I had brought from my house.

I was done with the paper and was half-way through the crossword puzzle when I heard..

"23 across is "stretch'".

 I knew that and - annoyed - I looked up at Doyle.

"I knew that."
"I figured." He moved around the back of the sofa and sat next to me. He held out his hand. I shook it.
"So... How're you doing, Denny?"
He was dressed in casual clothes. Well, casual for him. Deck shoes, black socks, pressed jeans, and a short-sleeved, button down shirt. I found myself grinning.
"I'm good, Doyle. What's new with you?"
"Same old, same old." He stretched his legs out in front of him, twisted his neck and shoulders back and forth, and settled back with a sigh. "Ahh, that felt good.....So.... I've been away, obviously, and I thought we could catch up, you know?"
"Yeah...OK...so where've you been?"

He shook his head, grinning.
"Boston, of course. At least at first." He paused for a while. Looked down at his shoes.

"There was a lot of bad stuff up there, Denny. Real bad. Gonna take a long time to work through." He shrugged, then - physically - shook it off. He turned to me and grinned again.
"So...... as I understand things down here, nothing much has been happening, right?"

I thought about it a bit, but couldn't argue with him.
"That's pretty much it. Same old, same old for me too."

We were quiet for a while. Each of us thinking about things.

I broke the ice. "OK. .....  So.. I'm at a loss here. What happens now? Are we still doing what we do? Are you still having me tracked? And what's happening with Gordon?"

Doyle sat there for a bit, thinking it through, before responding. That was his nature.

"Short term.. yes. We're still tracking your implant. Long term... I don't know. I thought things were settling down, but now we're dealing with this NSA leaker and I'm not sure what will happen."

"What has that have to do with us?"
He shook his head again. "It's all tied together, Denny. You push the right button.. you topple the right domino.. it all comes apart. That's how it is. Just the nature of the beast."

His phone chimed. He opened it, listened for a bit, nodded, closed it, and turned to me.

"Gotta go, Denny. Stuff happens. Good to see you, though."

He stood and stuck out his hand.

I shook it.

It seemed like the natural thing to do.

A Day in May...............

Doyle left a message yesterday.

Well, I think it was yesterday. I found a voicemail on the drop phone he gave me months ago. I hadn't heard it come in, so I needed to retrieve it.  Of course, not knowing that this was an option with this  phone, I fumbled around with it until I got to the place where I needed to enter a password. Now, I didn't set this up, but it had to have something that tied Doyle and I together. I typed in G O R D O N.

I found out that Doyle would be back in New Jersey sometime after the first of June.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About a week ago, I went to see my cardiologist for my semi-annual visit. It had been a hot day and, unfortunately, I wasn't feeling all that good. Turned out my blood pressure was low but, after several tries, they got a reading that they were okay with. That was only the first thing. They weren't happy with my LDL cholesterol level either. We agreed to some changes with my meds, and that I'd come back on the following Friday so they could check my blood pressure again.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was out early this morning.

The weather has been changing and there was a lot of fog. I had an appointment for a bone density test at 10, and I wanted to get a few things done first.

 I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but I have a friend who leaves me her daily paper (if she's read it) out front, so I headed to Avenel. On the way there, I came up behind this guy.

I lowered my window and looked around. We were the only ones out.

Point, press, Flash.

I drove up the next 2 blocks, turned right, stopped, picked up the paper, and drove on. I still had plenty of time so I decided to head towards ShopRite.

Up ahead was this guy.

I crept up slowly, lowering the passenger side window. I kept looking around. No one else...

Point, press, Flash.

I stopped at the store and bought some frozen dinners that were on sale (checking the labels for saturated fats and cholesterol percentages). I stopped at my place, put the dinners in the freezer, and headed for Metuchen where my test was scheduled.

It was straight down Main Street to Woodbridge Avenue. A right turn onto Amboy Avenue took me towards Metuchen. After I'd passed Route 1, I turned off into the side streets. I took a few turns, then noticed that this guy was heading in my direction. I didn't think twice

 

.

Point, press, Flash.

I kept going. After about 2 blocks, I turned back towards Amboy Avenue. Ten minutes later, I was in the parking lot of the testing facility.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Long story short. I've had the bone density test. I decided to call my cardiologist's office and give them my blood pressure numbers for the last 4 days. They called back about an hour later that the doctor was OK with the numbers and I wouldn't have to go down on Friday. That's good.

It's supposed to get hot over the next few days, maybe as high as 90.

I don't like it when it gets too hot. 90 is too hot for a day in May.
.

A Different Place and Time...........

I haven't heard from Doyle in a while. That's really not unusual, but I'm betting he and his crew have been impacted by what's happened up in Boston. I'm pretty sure there have been ramifications to it. When you drop a big stone like that into a lake it tends to create a lot of ripples. No word from Gordon either. I don't know what to make of that.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It rained the last 2 days. Local flooding kind of rain. Even by me it was so bad that you couldn't step off a curb without getting your feet wet. I was tempted to get into my car through the passenger side but then I'd have to climb over the arm rests. I just walked down the block until I found the narrowest band of water and jumped. I just cleared it. I drove around for a while but there really wasn't anyone out and about. I made a stop or two but was home way before noon both days.

Today, however,............

Today was beautiful.

The sun was up, and I was out bright and early. For the first time this year, I didn't take a jacket with me - just my Yankee cap, jeans, and a T-shirt with the logo "Restore the Shore". I stopped at Dunkin' Donuts for breakfast and took a large Iced Tea with me. I headed up into Iselin.

My windows were down and the breeze was warm. About 10 minutes into my drive, I saw this man up ahead.

It was only about 8:30 and a quick look around showed me that we were alone.

Point, press, Flash.

I drove along New Dover Road towards Colonia.

A few minutes later I noticed this guy trimming the edges along the sidewalk close to the curb.

There was no one else around - no cars along this stretch of road - but it didn't feel right so I drove on. No sense overdoing things, after all.

A little further along the road I passed by St. Helena's church. It was almost 9 and the parking lot was jammed. As I was thinking that it must be a funeral, the piper started playing  "The Minstrel Boy" - one of those sad songs that we Irish tend to rally around. Not a bad way to go out.

I turned off on Grove Street, heading towards a branch of the Edison Library. There were more trees along here and the breeze turned a bit cooler. Still quiet, though. Then I saw this early morning walker.

 I looked around as I got closer. No one else but us.

Point, press, Flash.

I stopped at the library but didn't find anything that interested me. I decided to head for their main branch on Plainfield Avenue. It's about 15 minutes away, just off Route 27.

I actually came out of there with a couple of books that sounded interesting. I took a back way towards Route 27, heading towards Metuchen. As I came up towards the main road, there was another walker out for exercise.

We were in the back of a small strip mall that hadn't opened yet. There was no one in this lot.

Point, press, Flash.

I turned right and headed towards the Metuchen library. Actually, I stopped at WalMart along the way. Mother's Day is this weekend, and I usually pick up a little something for a few people I will see that day.

I stopped at the library but didn't get anything. On my way back, I stopped at the light on Middlesex Turnpike. There was this guy sitting on one of the benches.

I was tempted - again. There was no one around. But this was right outside the Municipal Building where the Police Department is. I didn't see any reason to tempt fate.

I drove home.

Today had been so different from the last two days. Sunnier. Warmer.

It was almost like a different place and time.

Spring Break.......

Supposedly, Spring started a month ago. If so, I haven't seen it. When it's been warm, the days have mostly been cloudy and dismal. When it's been sunny, the wind has kept things chilly. That's how it was today.

I drove over to Sewarren just because I hadn't been there in a while. It was early and I was enjoying the sunlight and the quiet. Well, I was until I heard one of those damned leaf blowers. I pulled over to the curb, parked, and looked around. Then I saw this guy.

I got out of my car and moved to the right. I kept looking around, but there was no one else. I took a quick turn around the field, came back, and then.....

Point, press, Flash.

I walked back to my car, got in, and drove away. I headed towards the library in Metuchen.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am a Catholic, and I happen to live in the Archdiocese of Metuchen. The cathedral there just happens to be very close to the library. Since it was such a nice day, after having stopped in at the library, I decided to walk over to the cathedral and say a prayer - maybe light a candle - for a family member that recently passed. I know that she wouldn't approve, but I do it anyway, more so for me then for her. It's my way of letting her know that I'll miss her.

On my way back from the cathedral to my car, I noticed this guy sitting on a bench in the back.

 

 

It's quiet back here. I didn't see anyone else around. I took my time.

Point, press, Flash.

I walked on, getting back to my car, and driving on.

I drove up to South Plainfield. I like to look around the Thrift Shop up there, and Thursday you can use their discount card.

I was in there about 1/2 an hour. I didn't get anything for myself, but I got some stuff that my NJ family might be able to use .When I got back in my car, I decided to drive around the perimeter. That's where I came across this guy.

There was no one else back here.

Point, press, Flash.

I drove home.

It was a long, harsh Winter. So far, Spring hasn't been as good as I'd hoped. In fact, I don't like this Spring.

I could use a Spring break.

Good Friday..........

It's late, and it's only been sticking around for about 1/2 a day at a time, but Spring has finally shown up. It's getting warmer day by day and just seeing the sun makes me feel better. I left my heavy coat home this morning, and wore a lighter jacket.

There was less traffic around, probably due to it's being Good Friday - the start of a lot of Spring Break weeks around the area. I drove over to the Hess Station on Route 9 for gas. I've been using them since the big storm hit back in October. The price is competitive and they don't charge more for using a debit card. I pulled right up to a pump, was served, and was on my way in less then 5 minutes. Feeling good.

From there, I took the side road that feeds into Woodbridge Center Drive, heading back to Main Street. That's where I saw this guy heading towards me. He'd probably parked in the lot and was using the back road to reach the nearby office building.

I looked around. The road isn't used often and we were the only ones on it. I was ready as we passed each other.

Point, press, Flash.

I turned onto Main Street, made a left onto St. George - making the light for a change - and headed to Dunkin' Donuts in Avenel for breakfast. There wasn't as many customers as usual. I ordered a bagel with cream cheese and a decaf coffee. By the time I'd paid and gotten my coffee, my bagel was ready. I got a table by the window, and enjoyed my breakfast and the warm sunlight. Still feeling good.

The libraries that I usually frequent are closed today, so I decided to ride up to the thrift store in South Plainfield. I took Chain of Hills road towards Edison, and came up behind this person.

It was still early, and this stretch of road is usually quiet. I slowed a bit matching her speed and checked my mirrors. No one else around. I sped up a bit, and as I passed...

Point, press, Flash.

I Turned onto Green Street, took the road that passed the Metro Park train station, and headed towards Route 27. I just missed making the light there, but I did see this woman walking on the opposite side of the street. I sat there, looking around, as she walked passed the corner and continued on her way. When the light turned green, I made the left, coming up behind her.

Route 27 usually has a lot of traffic, but the holy day worked to my advantage.

Point, press, Flash.

I continued on, turning right onto Grove Street, then left onto Oak Tree Road towards the thrift shop. I spent about 15 minutes in there and picked up a T-shirt of the Flying Karamazov Brothers for $1.00. Doing good, feeling happy.

I drove back through Metuchen and Edison, thinking to do some browsing in Barnes & Nobles in the Menlo Park Mall. About half-way there, I changed my mind. I was enjoying the warmth and the drive so I just stopped at Roosevelt Park and sat in the car for a while. It felt good.

The warm weather brought out parents and their little children so it was starting to get noisy. I didn't stay long. I headed for home, deciding to stop at Subways for a sandwich. As I turned onto Wood Avenue I saw this woman heading towards me.

I only had enough time for a cursory glance in the mirrors before she and I passed.

Point, press, Flash.

I stopped at ShopRite for some snacks and picked up some chocolate cake from their bakery that they had on sale. Two slice for two dollars. A good deal.

There were no other customers in Subways when I got there. I picked up a 12-inch Tuna on Italian with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, sweet peppers and mayo. Good service.

When I got home, a book I'd ordered from an online thrift store was in my mailbox. This was the second time that I'd used this company and their service was still good.

It was definitely a good Friday.

Two Sides............

Doyle called last night. I haven't heard from him since January, and we agreed to meet this morning. As I got ready to leave, I opened the windows in the bedroom slightly. I haven't heard from Gordon since December and it was worth a try.

When I got to the Burger King in the Woodbridge Center Mall, Doyle was already sitting at a table, two cups of coffee in front of him. He stood up. We shook hands.

"Denny, thanks for coming."
"Hey, Doyle, how's it going?"
"I'm good, but I'm not sure how it's going."

We sat. He pushed one of the coffee's towards me.

"So....why are you not sure how it's going?"
He drank from his cup. "Look...I'll be straight with you. It's this whole Sequester thing."
"Seriously?...How?"
"You have to understand...DHS has picked up a large chuck of the domestic funding from the Federal Government. Plus, we contract out a lot of other stuff that people don't really pay attention to."
"Like what?"
He just grinned, and shook his head.
"That's one of those TV questions where the answer is 'It's need to know, only', or 'If I told ya, I'd have to kill ya'. But that stuff doesn't really matter here. What I wanted to tell you was that this operation may wind up being cut back drastically."
I paused, to think about this.

"OK. I guess I can understand that. I guess that I knew it wouldn't really last, but what happens to everything? Have you had any trace of Gordon?...... Is Jones willing to give up his chase?"

Doyle looked up at the ceiling for a minute or two, drank some coffee, then focused on me.

"Den, I don't know what Mr. Jones intends to do. He's obsessed with Gordon, and I don't know why. It's kinda like Ahab and his whale. Either way....he's got the final say on whatever cuts we have to make."
"Well....that sorta sounds like we'll still be in business."
"Maybe. But even he has people watching him. If push comes to shove, he'll cut this rather then put himself in jeopardy."

I drank some coffee while I took this in. The coffee was terrible. I finally nodded.
"I understand, Doyle. Thanks for the heads up. But what about Gordon? Do you have anything new on him?"
"No. Nothing. There hasn't been any activity on his part for a couple of months, but like I told you last time, I don't think he's gone............I think he's planning something."
"Any idea what?" I'd finished my coffee, and I noticed that Doyle was just twirling his cup on the table.
Doyle grinned. "Not really. Even the shrinks aren't sure what he may or may not do. They only agree that he must be ...weaker...then when he started. They believe that he hasn't been able to get his meds, so he's probably in a bad way, but they can't come up with any proof."

He stood, and threw away his coffee cup.
"Anyway, Denny, I just wanted to let you know that there may be a change coming up. I'll try to keep something going, but I can't make any promises."

I stood up, too, and offered my hand. We shook.
"Whatever happens...thanks, Doyle. It's been real."
He smiled, and walked away. I threw my cup out, and ran some errands before heading home.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It wasn't until I was opening my mailbox out in front of the building that I realized that my bedroom windows were closed.

Gordon was sitting on my couch when I walked in.

"Denny! How good to see you!" He jumped up and hugged me. There was a new feeling of energy to him. He even looked better then the last time I'd seen him.

I stepped back. "Well, Gordon....you look..great."
"I know. Like I told you the last time we met, I have someone helping me now. He's been able to get me the anti-reject meds. I'm feeling good now."

I felt like there was something wrong, but I couldn't put my finger on it. I sat down in my chair and he seemed to collapse on the couch. He wasn't as healthy as he was pretending to be.

"So..I'm glad to see you. I was afraid that you might have........you know............"
"Died?" He laughed. "Hardly. But I have changed my plans."
"Oh?.... Really? .......How?"
He stood up again, a bit more slowly this time, and stared out the window.
"I was..haphazard..before. I was striking out without a real target, Denny. Do you understand that?"
I said I didn't. I could see him nod his head, but he didn't turn around.
"I was doing what you do, Denny, staging these random Events just to draw their attention. But then I got to thinking. Then I realized that what I was doing was what they expected me to do."

He turned around, and faced me. His eyes burned.

I cleared me throat. "So....um....what did you do then?"
He grinned - not like Doyle had - and it stretched the skin across his face in a very nasty way.
"I did nothing. That's right..nothing. I laid low. Frankly, I didn't have too many options, but then I met...........my friend......and things got easier. I began to focus."

He turned to the window again, and I tried to get a grip on what he was talking about.

"Look...I don't really understand what you're talking about, Gordon, but I think you should probably go back to your friend and...I don't know... think some more, or something."
I could see his head shake, again. I could imagine him grinning, too.

He turned around, faced me again, and the room seemed to get darker.
"I want you to understand something, Denny. I know what happened to me - what even happened to you. I know who is responsible."

He seemed to glow in the sudden darkness.
"Who, Gordon? Who's responsible?" I thought I didn't care but, somehow, he made it important to know.
His grin stretched across his face.
"Jones.....Jones is responsible....And I will make an example of him."

Before I could say or do anything, he ran towards the door., then turned...
"It was nice to see you again, Denny...I'll be in touch." He shut the door behind him.

First Doyle, then Gordon.

There are two sides to every coin.