Something Interesting...................

Doyle called last night. He hasn't done that in a very long time. He wanted to meet, and we agreed to hook up at Merrill Park in Iselin at 11:00 this morning. Not knowing what this would be about, I didn't sleep well.

I was out very early this morning. It was supposed to get very warm, and it had the potential to do so, but it was foggy with a slight breeze when I left my house. I drove around aimlessly through the back streets in Woodbridge and Sewarren. I came across this guy first.

I had no idea what he was doing, but I'd already signaled a right turn so I just continued on my way.

A few more blocks. A few more turns. I came up behind this woman.

She was obviously out for her morning walk. Good for her, I thought, and drove by. I'd passed two potential Events, and - I have to admit - I was getting the itch. I kept driving and wound up in Avenel. That's where I saw this guy.

I wasn't sure what he was doing, but there was no one else around and he was pretty hidden by his car door.

Point, press, Flash.

I drove on up the block and made the first right. A few other turns and I found that I was heading towards Edison. I made a sudden left and came up behind this guy.

He kind of caught me by surprise and I wasn't really ready. I passed him by.

It was going on 10:00, so I drove through the Menlo Park Mall and headed back towards Merrill Park. I saw this guy, up ahead, coming in my direction.

The sun had come out, the day had gotten warmer, and I smiled and kept driving. I made a few more random turns, but always with my destination in mind. I wound up on Oak Tree, and made the left onto Chain-of-Hills heading towards New Dover. That's where I came up behind this guy.

He was just standing there, around one of the turns, and there was no one else around.

Point, press, Flash.

This time, I looked in my rear-view and saw him topple over the low railing.

I made the left onto New Dover then, three blocks later, made another left into Merrill Park.

They changed the layout here, slightly, about a year ago but I knew where Doyle would be. I pulled into the parking lot closest to the gazebo and found him leaning against his car. He straightened up when I got out and approached him. We shook hands.

"Denny! How're you doin'?"
"Good, Doyle, and you?"

Like two old friends catching up.

"Great day, huh?" He said. Not really a question, just an observation.
"Turning out good, finally." I said. We both looked around at the other people walking the track, playing ball, whatever.

"So, Doyle, what's up? You haven't called for a meeting in a long time. I'm guessing something's going on."

He took something out of his jacket pocket.
"Have you ever seen this guy, Denny?" He handed me a photograph. It was a couple of years old, but it was Gordon.
I took some time staring at it. "No .... I don't think so. He doesn't look familiar. Who is he?" I looked up at Doyle, and handed him back the photo. I hoped I looked and sounded convincing.

He took it and waited a beat before replying, as if deciding what to say.
"The tech guys tell me that Gordon's tracker signal has popped up,on and off, several times over the last few weeks." He ignored my question.
"Really? So .. you can get  ... you have a way to track him." I asked.
He shook his head. "No. They've been too quick."
"Then why tell me?"
"Because ...... because in every case, they've popped up within 10 feet of where you are. According to your tracker, of course."

I paused to think this through. Was Gordon that close without contacting me? Was he baiting DHS? Was Doyle baiting me?

"Do you think I'm in any trouble, Doyle? Is he dangerous?"
"No. No .. we don't think he'd hurt you. Actually, we think he's telling us that he knows we keep track of you."
"Is that why you showed me the picture?Was that Gordon?"
"Yeah, Denny. That's why. It's a coupla years old, but I wanted you to see what he looked like. If you haven't seen him, fine. He probably doesn't want you to. But I figured that, if you knew what he looked like, and you saw him, you could contact us. Give us a better shot at him. You know?"
"Yeah. I get it. If I actually see him, you'd like me to try to keep him in my sight while texting you to come and get him, right?"

Doyle shook his head and grinned.
"I know it sounds stupid, but .. yeah, that's what we want. Sometimes, this is how we catch a break. So ... whadaya say?"
I shrugged. "What can I say? Sure, but I'm gonna need to hold onto that picture."
"No problem, Den." He gave it back to me. "Here. Let's hope this gets us closer to ending this."

He stuck out his hand, and we shook again.

"Good to see you, Den. Thanks for your help."
"No problem, Doyle. Anything I can do to help."

He drove away. I put the photo in my pocket.

This was a new situation. Something definitely interesting.

Flexibility.........................

I had a plan for today. I was going to drive down into Monmouth County, get breakfast somewhere, then hit the libraries in Hazlet and Middletown. Maybe even stop at the Goodwill Store on the way home.

That didn't happen.

The morning was overcast, and it looked like it might rain. I decided to stay local instead.

You have to be flexible.

I decided to stop at Shoprite first to check out the sales. Then I'd go to Dunkin' Donuts for breakfast. But, they were working at repaving the entry drive into the Shoprite strip mall, so I had to take a wide right to get in. When I came out, I was close to the Taco Bell, so I went there for breakfast. (I have to admit that I was disappointed. I was the only customer and the food was good but not as hot as it should be and they were out of the iced tea that I'd wanted so I settled for Mountain Dew.)

Still, I was being flexible.

The day had brightened up and gotten warmer. I opened the windows and headed up to Rahway and their library. Again, road work created a detour for me. (I'm not complaining about the roadwork. We had such a severe winter that the roads really need to be repaired.) I knew where I was heading and just followed along. That's when I came up on this guy.

He seemed to be headed down his driveway as I came up. There was no one else around.

Point, press, Flash.

I drove on to the library, but didn't find anything I was interested in. I backtracked to St. George's Avenue and then turned right on Inman. I was enjoying the weather and figured on taking a nice, quiet drive towards Metuchen. I followed along until I got to Grove Street where I made the left. I intended to stop at the North Edison library. I got stopped at the light on New Dover right beside St. Helen's. I looked over and noticed this older man.

 

There was no one else around, but he was pretty far away. Besides, he looked pretty peaceful back there.
I changed my mind, and made the right turn towards Metuchen.

Again, flexible.

I stopped at the library and actually came out with two new books. I thought I'd take Main Street up to Woodbridge Avenue and then make my way through Raritan Center. I stopped at the light on Route 27 and a car stopped behind me. I could hear him before I saw him. His radio, or whatever, was that loud.

I don't like that.

Now, Main Street in Metuchen is a busy couple of blocks. It's one lane and you have to be aware of pedestrians crossing wherever they want. It's a slow drive and the guy behind me - who's already disturbed my peaceful mood with his loud music - was right on my back.

I changed my mind and, when I got to the light at Amboy, took the "left turn only" lane. The guy behind me pulled up beside me.

His music was blaring, and the sun was shining brightly. I got the left turn arrow first and as I turned ...

Point, press, Flash.

I had aimed at the car so I noticed that, as I continued my turn, the music had suddenly stopped. In my driver's side mirror I could see the car still sitting there.

Not what I've usually done, but I was being flexible again.

I drove through the Clara Barton section until I got to Woodbridge Avenue where I was, again, in the "left turn only" lane. I noticed that the Hess station on the far corner had regular at $3.35. That's a good price, but I had to make the left. I wound up driving around through some unfamiliar streets in Fords, trying to get back to the Hess station. That's when I saw this guy heading my way.

We were alone out here.

Point, press, Flash.

I got back to the Hess station, put in $20, and drove to Wegman's with the intention of picking up some vegetable cream cheese and a bagel for lunch. They had the bagels but not the cream cheese I wanted.

Oh well, I was sure that I had something I could come up with at home.

After all, this was a day for flexibility.