Chapter 9- Discontinuation
With each mile thatticked off, Helen's mind began to clear.An hour and twenty minutes into the drive, her bladder reminded her of the second cup of delicious coffee she’d had, and a rest stop in Eau Claire became a priority.She nearly felt like a new person upon leaving the facilities and heading to her car.While she was disengaging the car alarm, the ringing of a phone drew her attention.
Helen checked her crossbody bag where the Technician and personal phones resided; neither were ringing.She opened the back door of the vehicle to find the sound, and it came from her office satchel.In the bag was the burner phone.Helen picked it up, swiping her finger across the screen to take the call.
“Go,” she said into the line.
“Hi, it's Donovan,” the male voice said.
“I'm aware; how can I help you?”
“You left without saying goodbye,” he said, sounding very sincere.
“I made you a decent breakfast with hand kneaded biscuits, coffee you can't even get in this country, and the pot of veggie soup you requested,” Helen said.“Was there more you required?”
He chuckled a bit into the line.“Fair enough.I mean, I thought you wanted me to show you how I tracked the money online.Are you coming back?”
“I am not,” she said.
“Did I do or say something to offend you or make you uncomfortable which made you feel the need to leave?”
“What, like this conversation?”Helen chided.“Nice of you to elevate yourself to such a level of importance in my thought process.Take care of yourself, Mr.Turnbull.Cranberry out.”
She ended the call and tossed the phone in the nearest trash receptacle.The feeling of icky sat with her for the next three hours, and the collywobbles would not leave her.Helen pulled into Bad Apple's place, praying he would be home and that the boys were in school.He came out the door to greet her, his face laced with concern.
He asked, “Training over so soon?”
“The weird feeling in my gut won't leave me,” Helen said.“I need you to scan my vehicle for trackers.As a matter of fact, my luggage, my computer, and anything else.Please?”
“Cranberry?Should we place a call to the Boss?”
“No, just my gut saying to check,” she said.“I didn't check my Subaru before, but that tracker was in my favor.This one may not be, if there is one.”
“Say less,” he said, darting into the house and returning a few minutes later.
In his hand, he held a device that looked like a scanner to find treasures on the beach in the sand.Helen popped the hood of the vehicle, opened all the doors plus the hatchback, and placed her luggage outside of the SUV.Methodically, Apple went over the car.Under the rear bumper, he found the tracker.He raised his foot to stomp it out, but she stopped him.
“I have a better idea,” she said, smiling.
Apple asked, watching the twinkling in her eyes, “Oh God, am I going to be scared for you?”
“No, just going to take a small detour to Chicago and drop this through the door of Kurtzwilde’s nightclub,” she said.
“Cranberry?No!”he said, laughing.“He's not one to mess with, so don't get started in a game with him.”
“He's not that tough,” she said.“Besides, Passion Fruit being nice to him softened the old bear.”
Apple frowned at her, “You say that like you know it from experience.”
“Had coffee with him a few weeks ago.Funny thing was, the man was looking for me, had coffee with me, and still didn't know it was me,” she said.
“I’m not even sure what to do with that information,” he said, looking at the SUV, “and the tracker on your vehicle, how did that get there?”
“A little viper trying to play coy,” she said.
He scratched at his temple, looking at the unassuming looking woman, who by all accounts looked as if she were on her way to the market for a bunch of apples to make a pie for supper.“It befuddles me that you knew something was wrong, but how Cranberry?”
