MacArthur's Freehold

Chapter 49

Chapter 49 -- FDLCCTBHFKJUIAQOEFEZEAIFD

Grant paid for his purchases at the Wal-Mart store and carried the bags out to his truck. Before leaving town he topped off the fuel tanks in his truck and went over to the cashier's window of the gas station and bought several packs of the little cigars he occasionally smoked. Bill was the only one of the committee who smoked, but a handful of the other residents did. The only cigarette smokers among them were several who bought bulk tobacco and made their own. The cost was less and put less money into the government due to the abusive taxes

He had thought for the past couple of days that he was being tailed, but as far as he could tell he had shaken them, if they were following him, before heading home. He had warned his fellows about it so they would be on the alert. As he left the gas station he kept his eye on the vehicle he suspected, having seen it lurking before.

A blue Dodge Charger was parked at the end of a row across the lane from the gas station, no other cars within several spaces. He was fairly sure he had seen it several times in the past two days, the first time in a while he had been in town so frequently. The car was a common type, and blue was a common color, but Grand had always been good at observing thing most people did not pay attention to. And this car had a particular combination of characteristics that caught his eye.

He left the station, heading for the parking lot exit, and the car followed. It was time to test his theory. For the next hour or so he drove around town, making several stops, keeping an eye on the vehicle. After the third time he parked, went inside a business, and returned to his truck the car was there. The tail was being discreet, leaving cars between them when in traffic, but always ending up at the same place. He called Bill.

"What's up?" asked Bill when he answered.

"I need a wag" he said. Meaning shake a tail.

"What's your twenty?" asked Bill.

"Just a sec". Grant consulted the truck's nav system. "OK, ready?"

"Go ahead."

Grant read the coordinates.

"I'm in the parking lot of the Greenway shopping center. I'll go inside one of stores. He's waiting out at the edge of the parking lot. Once I get to the front of the building he can't see me - I'll go down one of the alleys and meet you out back."

"Gotcha. See you in about fifteen."

Grant spent about half of the time sitting in the truck, pretending to be occupied with his phone. When he saw Bill's car, one that was rarely driven to town, enter the parking lot he got out and walked towards the stores. Once invisible to the tail he walked into one of the alleys. Coming out the back he was just in time to get into the car as Bill stopped. Going around to the parking lot they could see the tail car, and it did not move as they passed.

"I guess he'll figure out at some point I'm not coming back." said Grant. "We can come back and pick up my truck later."

"So what are you thinking?" Bill asked as they drove away.

"I'm guessing we're under surveillance" said Grant. "But I had the impression he was trying to find out where home was for me. Which would mean that I, or the vehicle, is under suspicion but they don't know where I'm based. I guess none of the others have noticed anything."

"Not as far as I know" said Bill. "The vehicles are registered to our addresses outside. I wonder if we were compromised when we picked up Luther's associates."

"That might explain them being after the vehicle but not knowing where to find it." said Grant. "We do know there's a manhunt on for them and whoever else escaped from their community."