This
week, my seven actions for
Operation Author: 365 Actions to
Becoming a Successful Author
I
will serialize chapters from Solomon's Secrets, 1 a day for 7 days.
I
recommend that you read the previous few posts to get up to speed with
the story so far.
Enjoy, and please leave comments. Thanks
QuEens
ROAD, BRISTOL
He’d
been watching her for a while now. Watched her talk from the back of the room
and left just before the end, minimising the chance their paths might cross or
she would see him in the crowd.
He couldn’t risk it, there was too much
at stake.
He’d been keeping track of her movements
for years now, even before he had worked with her. Passively observing from a
distance. Read all her publications, academic papers and even the poor attempt
at fiction she’d written. Tracked her career, collected pictures, recorded her
voice, seen her movements on security cameras. He already knew her long before
they met.
But it was during those torrid and
emotionally turbulent months when they had been thrown together, he started to
see her for who she was, to be able to influence her in ways he had only
imagined before.
They both owed each other their lives back
then. The times when he felt alive. When his life had a purpose.
He was itching for a cigarette. He hated
being in a smoky car, but a mist of rain clung in the air outside, pattering
and smearing against the windscreen. He’d have to wait before his next fix.
His breath periodically fogged the
inside of the windows until he blasted the heater in the Mercedes AMG in fits
and starts. The air conditioning was on the blink and the car would get
unbearably hot if he left the blowers on for too long. Besides, it kept his
fingers busy, having to press buttons and turn dials every so often. He gnawed
on his thumb nail, drummed his fingers on the steering wheel.
What was taking her so long?
The last few visitors trickled out of
the building. He was pulled up outside the Royal West of England Academy, one
in a short row of cars were all leaving now the event was over. Soon he would
be the only car there. Exposed. Obvious. He’d have to time this right so she
didn’t see his face.
A few more minutes and eventually she
descended the wide oval steps outside.
“Who’s that?” he said to himself. He
reached for his camera on the front seat, zoomed in on the couple. Snapped a
few images. Their body language was familiar but formal, colleagues who were
fond of each other.
He’d never seen this guy before. Had he
missed something? What was going on here?
He zoomed in on the guy. Tall, well
dressed, in a good suit. Dark blond hair, tanned complexion, as far as he could
tell in the fading daylight. Good looking. Fit.
He clenched his teeth. This was the
first time he’d seen her with another man. One her age anyway. One who could
get in his way. His jaw started to ache.
“Shit,” he hissed to himself.
Until that moment, he could imagine
himself with her. There was a burning sensation in his stomach. He knew her
routines, had always been there in the background somewhere. As good as being
with her. He could protect her from a distance. Exert a certain level of
control over who she associated with. An invisible guardian. An angel (a
demon).
“So what’s your story pretty boy?”
They were heading his way now. She’d
hooked her arm through his. Seeing it made him feel sick.
He wanted a cigarette now. To settle his
stomach and calm down.
She glanced up, checking for traffic and
turned to look directly at the Mercedes. He flicked the lights on quickly,
started the engine and slowly backed out. Innocent enough.
She looked the other way. Looked at her
companion. They were talking, laughing as they walked.
He should probably follow them, but he
didn’t have the belly for it.
Who was the guy? He needed to know.
He turned out of the parking bay,
filtered into the traffic and drove away.
*
Who's the man in the Mercedes and why is he watching Sasha?
(If you've read the first book, The Bronze Box, you might be able to guess...)
 |
| The Royal West of England Academy, opposite the Victoria Rooms, Bristol |
 |
| Mercedes AMG, Black Series (image from: http://www.carspicturesdb.com) |
Coming soon - Solomon's Secrets is in the final stages of preparation for publication. Help me to see it in print by pre-ordering now.
- e-Books £3
- Paperbacks £10 (inc P&P)
http://bit.ly/SolomonsSecrets_Fund
Thanks :)
No comments:
Post a Comment