ELENA Chapter 4

As soon as the van's driver realized that Elena was indeed heading to her home, he passed her and sped up, getting off at Camp Creek Parkway. He drove directly to an address included in the papers spread out on the seat next to him. The van approached the duplex with a "for rent" sign in the yard and pulled into the carport. As he hurried toward the front door, he dug into his pocket for the keys he had been given. Once inside he pulled on a corner of the heavy drapes, waited and watched as Elena pulled into the driveway across the street.

As soon as she was behind her closed door he explored what would be his home for the next few days. The place was shabby but clean and neat. Several days food had been left in the refrigerator. A prayer rug lay on the floor of the small bedroom. In the second bedroom, spead out on a dresser, was a laptop and various monitors. He switched them all on and waited while they powered up.

Elena dropped her keys, jacket and handbag in various places as she headed to her bedroom. She undressed and pulled her flannel nightie over her head, pulled the covers back and then over her head as she slipped into bed. Across the street all of the above was clearly seen on several flickering monitors.

ELENA Chapter 3

Elena finally escaped the worst of the traffic and as soon as she could find an easy exit she pulled into a Racetrack for some gas and a drink to wash down her Tylenol. Her head was still pounding. She only had a five dollar bill so after buying a Diet Coke had just a few dollars left for gas. She noticed that with her puny purchase, the fuel gauge barely moved off "E" but would at least get her home and then back to the office tomorrow.

A blue van pulled into the bay next to her. The driver didn't get out right away. She noticed he was talking on his cell phone. The door opened and as he approached the pump she noticed how well put-together he was. He was wearing great-looking jeans, a LaCoste shirt - and was nicely tanned. She smiled at him as she got back into her car. He didn't return her smile. She wasn't used to not getting a response from a man. Elena wasn't at all conceited but she was experienced enough to know how she measured on the "male-reaction" scale. That thought was forgotten and replaced by the need to get back on the freeway and get home - and into bed with the covers pulled over her head.
"Ah - cool sheets and darkness" , she said out loud.

ELENA Chapter 2

The man in the delivery van was intent on following the woman in the BMW. He couldn't see her face other than an occasional glimpse in her rear view mirror as she maneuvered back and forth in the unrelenting traffic. He was good-looking with the exception of an angry new scar that ran from below his left ear to his jaw. He wasn't used to the streets and traffic patterns since he had just arrived in Atlanta a few days earlier. In the back of the van were several cardboard boxes. The largest of the boxes contained rolls of plastic sheeting.The other cartons held sinister looking items such as duct tape, an Army surplus folding shovel and in the bottom, handcuffs and knives. On the seat next to him were a sheaf of papers and a cell phone. For a moment he didn't recognize the sound of the ringing phone - it sounded more like a Beatles song - so he thought it was the radio. He managed to flip open the phone in time to hear a familiar voice. "Yes, I got her in front of me" . His voice sounded both annoyed and worried. He was getting paid big bucks and although he had done this sort of job many times before, there was something about this woman that worried him.