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wanted to thank you for taking me out to the ball game today.”
     
    “Whoa, you gonna start singing?”
     
    “No, no, just, it feels good to be out again.”
     
    Spencer stepped back a little and faced Drake. “You almost got killed. It’s about time you started living.”
     
    “I know, I know, but it’s over. What I have to live with now is the threat of Ferenci. He left me that note and no one has been able to find him. He could be anywhere, lurking around with a gun, anxious to put a few holes in me.”
     
    “We have guys looking for him as we speak. I’m here with you and I’m armed. You’re safe. Everything will be okay.”
     
    “I’m excited about this … so why do I feel spooked?” Drake asked as the line moved forward. “I know this is my first time in public again, but it’s over, right?”
     
    Spencer tapped him on the shoulder. “I’ve got your back.”
     
    They made it to the ticket window, bought their tickets and started for the doors.
     
    “We got great seats,” Spencer said. “We’re about eight rows up from the third baseline. This’ll be awesome.”
     
    They entered the stadium and walked through security, Spencer showing his detective ID. After collecting a couple beers and hotdogs, they made their way toward the seats.
     
    Drake’s uneasy feeling increased. There were too many people. It felt like some of them were staring at him. He’d seen uniformed officers walking among the patrons too.
     
    “Spencer, why are there so many uniformed cops here?”
     
    “That’s normal at a major event like this. They hire them for security.” He stopped talking to drink from his beer cup. “You’ll see them out on the field too. Very common. Nothing to worry about. There’s been no call for beefed-up security. This is completely normal.”
     
    Drake took a long swallow of his Canadian Ice beer and followed Spencer to their seats. They walked down the cement steps until they reached their row, edged in and sat down.
     
    The field seemed massive as was the roof, which sat open for the game. Drake was happy he’d brought his sunglasses. The sun beat down on them and would continue to for the next few hours.
     
    Maybe I should’ve brought sunblock.
     
    Spencer looked at his watch. “The game doesn’t start for another forty-five minutes yet. Once it does start, if those two seats four rows up aren’t taken, we’re moving closer to the action. Deal?”
     
    “Deal.”
     
    Drake knew he should be having a blast, but the ominous feeling wouldn’t abate. Something bothered him deeper than his reluctance to come out in public after what had happened to him just weeks ago.
     
    It was like someone was watching him. Would today be the day Ferenci tried to kill him as he had threatened two weeks ago? Would Spencer be able to stop it?
     
    Drake took another long gulp of his beer and decided to let it go. He’d never be able to enjoy the game if he constantly thought about Ferenci. That part of his life was over. The cops would pick up Ferenci and all would be well with the world again.
     
    Drake looked down and saw he’d almost finished his beer.
     
    “Spencer, I’m going to head back up and grab another one. It went down too quick.”
     
    “Get me one too,” Spencer said, handing Drake a twenty. “If I’m not here when you get back, I’ll be in those two seats up ahead.”
     
    “Got it,” Drake said and headed up the stairs.
     
    His shoulders shuddered with the distinct feeling of being watched.
     

Chapter 5

    Elmore got to the bottom of the stairs and stopped. He admired what he’d created. Two cages, both with vertical bars for a door, the walls made of cement blocks he’d piled to the roof. He couldn’t believe he had done so well. Over two years of having multiple women and not a single problem. No police nosing around. Not a single escapee.
     
    And there never will be. My house is a fortress.
     
    Jackie lay on the cot, wrapped in the thin blanket