I set the navigation system for my destination and peeled out of the rental lot. The drive to Sara’s college took another two and a half hours. When I arrived, with the time change, it was 2:45 a.m.
It was too early to do anything else, so I parked in the Visitors’ lot, put the top up, reclined my seat as much as possible, and went to sleep.
Being able to sleep under adverse circumstances is a potent weapon. It can allow you to persist while your opposition falls victim to fatigue. I intended to employ all weapons at my disposal to neutralize Sara’s stalker.
The night went quickly. When I awoke at 7:00, I had to massage a kink out of my sore neck. I was starting to feel my age. That sucked.
My face was grizzly and my clothes probably looked like I’d just slept in them. I couldn’t see Gansükh moving on Sara in broad daylight. So I decided to freshen up before breakfast.
Locking the car behind me, I lugged my duffle down to the men’s locker room at the Athletic Complex and made myself at home. I took a long, hot shower, shaved a dark growth of whiskers and brushed my teeth. I raised and lowered my eyebrows in the mirror. Checked out my clear brown eyes, straight nose, and strong jaw, and made sure my thick hair was properly organized. I tried winning smile for confidence. Well… good enough.
I was ready to go meet Sara.
The Student Center stood in the middle of the smallish campus. It was an uphill hike of about five minutes from the athletic facility. After ditching the duffle in the Jag, I made my way toward the Center and entered via the main door. A short walk up a wide flight of stairs and I was at the cafeteria level. By the time I had arrived outside the caf, it was 7:50 a.m.
I like being a few minutes early. Having extra time at your disposal can help you deal with unanticipated circumstances.
I took a seat in a soft chair outside the caf and watched and waited. A short time later, I checked my watch. It was 8:00 a.m. and nothing unusual had happened. As I looked up, I saw Sara and two friends coming through the aluminum and glass front doors. Right on time. Great kid.
Sara is an elegantly athletic five foot nine, with straight blond hair, like her mother’s, but a bit lighter.
When she saw me, I subtly waved her ahead into the cafeteria with her group of friends. She caught my motion and continued as if I weren’t there. I waited behind to see if anyone was following. There were lots of college students, but no gun smuggling Mongolians.
Fifteen minutes later, having identified no one of interest, I strolled into the caf, scanning the tables for anyone matching Sara’s description of the stalker. I saw no likely candidates.
Sara sat at a small table with three other co-eds. I approached them with a smile.
"Sara. There you are. I was afraid I’d missed you."
Sara stood up.
"Hi, Daddy." She gave me a hug and introduced me to her friends. I was cordial… charming, even… but in a fatherly way.
"Your mother sent a CARE package and I’d like to get it to your room before your classes start. May I steal you from your friends?"
"Sure. See you guys later!"
Sara collected her backpack and cafeteria tray and led me out. On the way, she placed her tray and dishes on a conveyor.
As we cleared the caf door, she tried to turn to me to speak. But I gently guided her near arm forward, keeping her moving until we were outside the building.
Once clear of the Student Center we stopped. I turned to her and asked, "Is there a good place for us to talk privately?"
"How about the Library?"
"Too quiet. And your room might be bugged."
Sara’s eyes grew large and the corners of her mouth dropped. I wished I could take that one back.
"Probably not. Just being extra careful," I said, trying to look relaxed.
She thought a moment.
"How about a gym? There are usually basketball games, or dance classes, or both, going on in one gym or the other. The echoes make it almost impossible for anyone to eavesdrop."
"Sounds good. Let’s just stroll down there. On our way, I want you to keep your eyes peeled for this guy you think might be following you."
We made our way across campus, along a winding pathway shaded by august oaks and elms, down the hill to the athletic complex. Once there, it was easy to find a noisy gymnasium in which we could privately visit.
The gym was much larger than the portion that was being used for the dance class. We staked out two folding chairs in a corner where no one cared, or even appeared to notice. Under the cover of big band swing tunes, we talked.
"Daddy. I know you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t think there might be some danger. I also know that if I am in danger, there’s no one better in the world to watch out for me. I’ve been a little nervous since talking to Mom last night. I feel safer now that you’re here."
Sara appeared genuinely reassured by my presence.
"That’s good," I said, "because I promise that I will see to your absolute safety. You know that, don’t you?"
"Of course I do, Daddy." Sara smiled. "You’re the best."
"Okay. First off, I want to get a look at this man you think is following you."
Sara frowned.
"I don’t know how to do that." Her voice revealed a hint of frustration. "I just see him around every once in a while."
"If he’s watching you, he knows your routine, your class schedule, when you eat, where and when you study… that sort of thing," I explained. "Then he stakes out places where he can discreetly observe your movements. I’ll follow you at a distance and watch for his hiding spots."
I could tell the whole idea of someone stalking her, following her every move, felt uncomfortable and invasive to Sara. Who could blame her?
"But I don’t see him very often," she protested. "It doesn’t seem like very good odds to find him quickly that way."
Sara didn’t understand how surveillance works. I was glad she hadn’t needed to learn.
"The times you see him are his mistakes. When he’s doing his job correctly, you won’t notice him at all. Trust me. If there’s someone following you, I will find him this way… probably."
She raised an eyebrow at the ‘probably,’ but knew I was most likely right. I did have experience in these sorts of things.
"Okay," she agreed, a hint of relief in her voice. "I just do my usual thing and you watch out for me."
"Yes. And now, you should make sure to walk alone, at least sometimes. Seeing you apparently vulnerable, might make him overconfident. He doesn’t want to harm you. He’s only interested in using you to get to me. If he tries anything, I will… ah… intervene. Got it?"
"Yessir." She saluted.
We’d have to work on her salute some day.
Even though it was a Saturday, academic classes were in session. Sara’s first class that morning was Modern European History at 11:00 a.m. It was nine o’clock right now. She planned to take a short nap in her room before class. As I mentioned, she likes to sleep in. Not a morning person.
We walked from the athletic complex straight back to her dorm, remaining separated from one another as we approached the building. She let herself inside with a key card. I walked up to the entryway about thirty seconds later, where a smiley co-ed on her way out of the dorm kindly held the otherwise-locked outside door open for me.
Great security!
I jogged up the stairs to the third floor, two steps at a time. Sara was waiting for me in the corridor. I remained on watch at the far end of the hall while Sara opened her dorm room door. She left it ajar, stepped in, then leaned back out and gave me a thumbs up.
Seeing that she was all set, I went back outside the dorm and found a suitable location from which to keep an eye on both dorm entrances/exits. I chose to recline on a grassy slope, pretending to read a student publication I had glommed onto in the dorm entryway.