The Greener Field

Accepting the Obvious

When Sarah awoke on Saturday morning at her parents' house, she had a tremendous headache and swore to never drink alcohol and any of its variant forms again. She was so angry at Carrie for getting her like that, yet had to temper her feelings, knowing what her friend's good intentions were. And thinking of intentions, she still had trouble getting her head around what that whole discussion with Hoffmann was about at the end of the evening. Being attracted to both herself and Carrie simultaneously just seemed like a dumb thing to tell two females, even if it was true. And apparently in Gunther Hoffmann's case, it was. 

So how could he expect them to react? As she lay in bed the whole situation was still mystifying her. Yet, vestiges of Gunther's honest admission of his affections for her were replaying in her foggy mind. Sarah's reemerging carnal reactions to the whole affair were beginning to come through to her in a very palpable way. All this as she remembered how charming Gunther could be, and definitely was the night before--his compliments, paying for their meal and driving them both safely home. Laying in bed and stretching  her arms and legs, she also could not forget how handsome he looked. Or how she felt when he put his arms around her and sealed his affections with a manly hug. 

Remaining there under the covers, foggy-minded, and focusing on a guy, Sarah knew could only lead to dangerous fantasies. Keeping to her present manifesto, she forced herself to reiterate that males and their attractiveness were simply topics she did not want to entertain for a good long time, if ever. Just as she fought off those irrepressible notions of Hoffmann and prepared to face an isolated Saturday, her smartphone rang. It was Carrie.

"Yes?"

"Hey sunshine. It's your drinking partner!"

"Carrie . . . what did you do to us last night?"

"Well, I just wanted to call and see how you were feeling."

"You know, I really can't tell. My head is somewhere on the floor I think."

She could hear the sound of laughter.

"And what was all that about Hoffmann's affections for . . . both of us?  Did he really say that, or was I hallucinating?"

"I wish it were only a dream, little sister. It pretty much complicates things, doesn't it?"

"God. I don't know. I guess it could but . . . what happened after he took you home, anyway? Anything you're willing to admit?"

"Unfortunately, nothing. Just walked me to my hotel. What's he trying to do to us, Sarah?  I even invited him in and . . . well, you know the mood I was in."

"And? . . . God, I don't even want to think about that. I'm just trying to forget that whole surreal conversation, Carrie. I was hoping it was just something maybe I imagined after too many margaritas. Too many shots of tequila and  . . . My God, my head!"

"No. You heard him right. He had told me as much, before. I just didn't want to burden you with it. Not now at least, while all this crazy shit is going on."

"So why can't he just do his job and eliminate this . . . beast that I keep thinking will show up one night in my mother's kitchen?"

"Well, that's what else I want to tell you about, but didn't want to mention last night."

"Oh, no. . ."

 Seems I finally got the department and its assets in San Diego to share some of their expertise with me."

"Really?  How so?"

"They've located him. He's here in San Diego . . . as we thought."

"Oh, my God! Where?"

"Not too far from where you work, unfortunately. Near the clinic. He's renting a room somewhere there."

"Great . . . And?

"And . . . we're waiting to move in on him. Make a formal arrest."

"Are you serious?"

"Very serious."

"So when will this happen?"

"Just as soon as he does something to cinch his jailtime."

"Like?"

"Like attempting to abduct a girl."

"A girl? What girl?"

The police have been monitoring his online chats. They're aware he's been grooming an underage teen with a lot of B.S. that he's her age. Someone she feels is in love with her."

"Oh, Jesus!"

"Yeah, it's just one of his little ploys. How he operates. Anyway, as soon as the girl is stupid enough to go out of her house to meet him somewhere, the police will make their move. He's dead meat as soon as he makes the rendezvous and the girl shows up at the location."

"But . . . how dangerous is that for the girl?"

"There is a risk factor, but it's being closely monitored by our resources. And the detectives already have him in their crosshairs. Watching him twenty-four seven. It's a pretty tight stakeout."

"I see. And what about the girl's parents? Have they been . . ."

"Yes, cooperating. They know it's the only way to effectively eliminate him. . . And get her head off this fake 'lover' of hers."

"God . . . that poor girl."

"It's just up to her innocence and stupidity, now. To leave the house . . . attempt to meet with 'Romeo' somewhere. It could happen as early as tonight, or within a few days my contacts have told me. They're  mentoring their conversations. Derek's heavily asking her to go for it."

"So . . . I guess that's why he hasn't been around to torture me in a while."

"Exactly, Sarah. You were just one of his and recently Danford's former targets. One of the other games they were running."

"Christ, Carrie . . ."

"But don't think he's not still interested in silencing you one way or another, little Sis."

"Thanks, Carrie."

"Hoffmann is aware of these developments now and is also monitoring the situation though me."

"So you've contacted him since last night?"

"No I shared what I knew with him on the drive back to my hotel. . . and the uneventful 'goodnight'. at my door."

"Oh."

"Would have liked to talk about other . . . more pleasant things, but . . . well you know."

"Yeah, Carrie. Thanks. So where do we go from here?"

"We wait for the girl to stupidly let her hormones eclipse her better judgement."

"Wow. We females really can be tremendously stupid, can't we?"

"Don't remind me, Sis.  Our curiosity . . . and the lure of romance can be our biggest enemies."

"I guess we both can relate to that."

"Sadly. So take something for that headache and get some breakfast. I'll be staying close to my phone for the next day or so. I'll call you if I hear anything."

"Carrie?  . . . What if Gunther calls?

"Listen to your stupidity, I guess. It's obviously what I've done."

"OK, sweetie . . . Talk to you soon."

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