Shadow Stalker

by D W Cooperstein

  I watched the woman like a cat, pretending not to notice her every move. She eventually entered a muse boutique. These fashionable shops were interesting. They provided inspiration to local artists and poets. I kept watching the entrance to the shop from a safe distance. She stayed inside the boutique for several minutes, then came out, carrying a large shopping bag. She walked away, disappearing from view. I continued on my way, kicking myself for not approaching her earlier.

  Suddenly it started to rain. It was pouring as I ran along the street looking for shelter. My head was soaking wet. Soon I came up to a store with a huge awning, and the woman was there holding her bag filled with packages. She also held a large bouquet of tiger lilies. I looked at her, then she looked at me and smiled. She had high cheekbones and mesmerizing green eyes. Her fine facial features and flawless complexion captivated my attention. I must’ve looked terrible with my straight brown hair flattened down and water running off my nose and chin, but I managed to return a smile. She made a comment about the nasty weather and asked me my name. I told her it was Jim, or Jimmy, or even James Watson if she preferred. This wonderful woman told me her name was Caroline Prichard. I could tell that she wasn’t very happy being caught in the unexpected downpour. Fortunately, she reached the shelter of the awning before I did and wasn’t nearly as wet as me.

  I knew the area of the city we were standing in quite well, but my mind became flustered in her presence. I hardly knew what I was thinking or saying. We started chatting under the awning. Caroline’s angelic voice tantalized me with her soft-spoken words. Her radiant beauty was inspiring, and her engaging smile made me smile. The pulsating rhythm of the rain kept beating down on the taut awning.

  After several minutes, the heavy rain tapered to drizzle. I was about to leave, when I turned to her and asked where she lived. I was expecting the usual “none of your business” reply, but she told me her apartment was nearby. I couldn’t invite myself over, so I continued talking. I think she sensed that I was funny and maybe just a little smart. Finally, the rain stopped completely. Caroline asked if I wanted to dry off at her place, and I jumped at the chance.

  Within a few minutes of brisk walking, we arrived at her apartment. We had to climb several levels of stairs to get to her flat. I held the packages while she fumbled with her keys. She unlocked the door and we went inside. Caroline’s apartment was quite spacious. There were several rooms painted in off-white, neutral tones. She had a magnificent view of the city. I felt that once I entered this woman’s apartment my life would change forever, and that intuition proved prophetic.

  I put the wet packages down on the nearest table I could find, which was next to the front door of her apartment.

  “Please don’t put those packages on the table. Give them to me,” she said.

  I handed her the packages and flowers. She put the flowers in a large vase and placed it on the fancy round table by the door. I removed my jacket and handed it to her. She hung it up to dry and handed me a fluffy blue and orange towel to wipe down my wet head.

  “Well, Jim, this is where I live.”

  Caroline took another towel and wiped her face, tossing her hair in the air. I looked around her apartment. There were splashes of color everywhere. Caroline had a wonderfully ordered mind with eclectic taste. Her shelves were crammed with books on topics from every corner of the globe. Her art, wall hangings, and music were neatly arranged and organized.

  “I like your place. How long have you been living here?” I asked.

  “Well, not very long. I’ve moved around quite a bit. I need to feel safe in my home, you know, with all the crime these days. I like my apartment and want to stay here for a while.”

  In the main living area, there were three large bay windows letting in copious amounts of afternoon sunlight. These windows, fashionably undraped, complemented the modern styling of the room. The extraordinary panoramic view of the city stretched out for miles.

  “Have a seat,” she said.

  “Oh, I can’t; I’m still wet.”

  “Sit on this towel.”

  I took it and sat down in a chair facing the windows, still admiring the view. The blackened sky with its passing rain clouds brightened considerably. The rays of the setting sun danced across the golden sky. I felt completely at ease in this woman’s apartment, especially sitting in this big, comfy chair. I sat there amazed at the view in the distance.

  She got up from the leather couch, located under the bay windows directly opposite from where I was sitting. She brought in some cookies she’d baked that morning. We chatted for over an hour. It was beginning to get dark outside. Caroline’s bewitching green eyes travelled the length of my muscular body as I got up and approached the door.

  As I was about to leave her apartment, I asked Caroline if I could see her again. She gave me her phone number. I thanked her for inviting me over and we shook hands. Walking downstairs, my mind raced. I fantasized about running back upstairs, breaking down her door and making passionate love with her; but truth be told, I needed more time to get to know this woman who’d eventually become my lover and soulmate.

  Caroline and I arrived at the coffee shop. We went inside and sat down in a comfortable and well-lit booth.

  “Well, the incarnation of angelic beauty appears before me. It’s wonderful to see you again. You know, Caroline, it’s been three years. My excursion to Asia after our breakup wasn’t easy. I suppose it wasn’t easy for you either.”

  “No, it wasn’t.”

  I asked her why she decided to get in touch with me after all this time. Meanwhile our coffee had arrived at our table and we split a pastry.

  “Jim, at the time of our breakup I felt hurt and very angry. I blamed you for everything, and I needed time away from you to think and sort out my feelings. In looking back, you were the best thing that ever happened to me. I know it sounds crazy now, but that’s what I felt. You made me so happy I thought I could never leave you. I don’t know what happened to our love back then, but all I know is I really did love you.”

  “And now?”

  “I guess I still love you.”

  I reached for her hand and squeezed it tightly.

  “Caroline, all my life I’ve never understood what people meant by the word love. When we first met, I was sexually attracted to you, and during our long relationship, you became the most important person in the world to me. Each day, I looked forward to being with you. I could never imagine a time when we wouldn’t be close. Yet our relationship was flawed in that it didn’t last. I’ve carried the pain of that breakup for a long time. I don’t know what happened to the love we once shared. I want a second chance.”

  Caroline took a sip of coffee and looked at me with loving eyes. “I’ve come back to you after all this time because my life hasn’t felt right or complete without you. Do you remember the first day we met? You looked so pathetic, all wetted down like a dog in the rain. I wanted to help you. I also found you attractive. I think that’s why I invited you inside my apartment. You seemed a little shy, and I liked that. After we talked, I wanted to make love. I wanted to pull off your clothes and bring you down on the couch with me.” Caroline looked at me with her green-eyed hypnotic stare. If I had known that, I wouldn’t have left her apartment that day. Such was life in the rearview mirror.

  “So, what about now?” I asked.

  She looked into my eyes and tenderly reached out to caress my face. “I love you, and I’ve missed you so much. I want you back in my life, the way it used to be.”

  Her words seemed honest, and I admired the way she spoke out her feelings. I reached over and gently kissed her. Her soulful eyes were filled with much expression and deep longing.

  “Caroline, I’ve missed you more than I can say. It seems that nothing has been the same since the day you left me. I want you back in my life, but I need a little more time to sort things out. Time has healed a big chunk of the pain that I’ve felt over our breakup, but I still have emotional things to
work out. Besides, I’m working on an important serial murder case in the city, and there’s substantial pressure on me. I guess I’m just asking for your patience. Let’s take things, well, you know.”

  Caroline nodded her head.

  I finished my coffee. “Listen,” I said, “I’ll call you tomorrow. I’ve got some things I need to do.”

  We both stood up and hugged. It was a strong and warm embrace. I knew that we could pick it up right where we left off, but now I had to finish those errands and go home and get some sleep.

  CHAPTER SIX

  I returned to work the next day, refreshed after my surprise meeting last night with Caroline. I reviewed a stack of paperwork, then met with Colonel Richards. I got his permission to move ahead with the plan concerning the explosive materials. The Bureau needed to identify potential buyers and sellers of these deadly plastic explosives. With our investigative agents at the helm, especially James Madison, who spent hours in the lab analyzing the remnants found at recent bomb sites, we were able to narrow down the specific explosives used. Agents at the Bureau began checking our sources around the city. It was an arduous and time-consuming task to track down buyers. It wasn’t like this material was available to anyone on the street. This was some serious shit.

  After two weeks of intense detective work, no buyers matching the description of our suspect were found. I asked my boss to consider expanding the search to include the surrounding areas. Unfortunately, this simple request was taken under advisement. This lone street vendor was nowhere to be found. There were no additional links tying all of the crime scenes. The only consistency in these terrorist attacks was the fact that all of the bombings were executed using plastic explosives. I urged my boss to increase security around the city. We needed to remain vigilant.

  It had been two months since the last subway bombing. The Shadow Stalker was laying low. He might be aware that we were watching for him. But with a successful track record of bombings and eluding capture, his sheer arrogance may have created an invincibility of mind. This killer might now believe that he could get away with anything he attempted. After all, he’d outwitted our finest police and law enforcement agents for three consecutive years. Unless something drastic happened to change his mind, he wouldn’t lay low. He’d become even more brazen.

  In my study at Highgate, I thought long and hard about where the terrorist might strike next. Perhaps this time he’d use a powerful weapon of mass destruction on some other vulnerable target, like a concert venue. I was juggling the odds of citywide devastation when I hit upon a simple idea: If the Shadow Stalker could be convinced that we’d finally broken the case and were close to catching him, he might grace our presence with yet another train station bombing, this time to teach us all a lesson. As usual, he’d select an unsuspecting commuter to “plant” the bomb on. But this time, the police would be watching. They’d discover the deadly device before he had the chance to detonate it. The element of surprise would eventually capture him. In analyzing the flower bomb package of death, police detectives would learn about his handiwork and find fingerprints. Finally, we’d nail his coffin shut—case, or lid, closed.

  An interesting theory, but this criminal mastermind wasn’t stupid. Besides, no one knew who he was. Despite the best efforts from the police, the Bureau and hundreds of other dedicated law enforcement personnel, the Shadow Stalker was still out there, and he might not take the bait.

  That said, I felt his present state of mind might drive him to another bombing attempt, so I persuaded Colonel Richards to set a trap. Everyone in the Bureau felt that the Shadow Stalker’s next moves would probably signal his downfall. I mean, he had to slip up sooner or later, right? With the help and cooperation of the police and Captain Goloft, we carefully prepared our trap. Crime fighters from around the city participated. The police force redoubled their efforts at all of the rail stations. Surveillance cameras were now covering every vendor operating outside subway stations. All of the vendor carts, especially those selling flowers or potted plants, were under intense scrutiny. We had plainclothes security in the crowds, checking for any individual who might look suspicious. It was a daunting task trying to find someone in the crowd who might be carrying a bomb disguised as a bouquet of flowers. This flower bomb notion of mine was just a theory: none of it was confirmed. Several days passed and we still had nothing to show for all of our efforts. All we could do now was wait, and hope that the killer would make a mistake.

  I spent more time with Caroline. My broken relationship with her glued itself back together nicely. The rekindling of old and tender feelings inspired and reawakened our past love for each other. Our blossoming love steadily grew into the intensity and rich complexity it once had. For a while, she decided to move into my apartment. This turned out to be great for both of us. In the evenings, I could always depend on Caroline’s gentle ways and soothing touch. She provided the physical and emotional comfort I needed. The hunt for this madman was taking its toll, and I needed her encouraging words at the end of a long day. I shared my life with her, but I never told her anything about my work at the Bureau, especially the Shadow Stalker case.

  While reestablishing our current love affair, we reminisced how exciting our first date was, over five years ago. It had taken me two weeks to ask her out after visiting her apartment on that rainy afternoon. I took her to a not-so-fancy restaurant in midtown, near her apartment. We talked for a long time over dinner. She told me about her life growing up in Lausanne, Switzerland. She had then decided to travel, coming here to the big city to seek her fortune. At first, it was difficult finding a job and settling down, but eventually she found work.

  I told her about my struggles growing up in the city. I told her that I had to work to help my mom support our family after my dad left us. She mentioned her interest in art, and I suggested we visit the Sedgemore Museum. Caroline thought that was a great idea, and we soon left the restaurant. This colossal museum held a vast collection of great art from around the world. We saw artifacts from the Ming Dynasty. It was here that I was introduced to Caroline’s brilliant mind. Her knowledge concerning most of the artifacts we saw was amazing. I asked her how she knew so much about these objects. She told me those artifacts were really interesting and worth studying. After our tour of the museum, we decided to take a long walk in the park. It was a beautiful, late fall evening. I could smell the natural fragrance of the fallen leaves crunching under my feet. Caroline and I paused to admire the silvery light of the full moon. We held each other, then I kissed her. It was electric to finally feel her full and luscious lips pressed softly against mine. I felt a wee bit giddy, holding this beautiful woman in my arms. We kissed some more, then left the park.

  I thought about inviting her back to my place, but I remembered that incredible view of the night sky from her apartment. I wanted to see it again and asked if I could.

  “Sure,” she said with an enthusiastic smile.

  Caroline lived on Archway Terrace in the Bulloughs District of midtown. This was a great location right in the center of the city, with accessibility to just about everything. We walked down Crenshaw Boulevard and soon were in front of her apartment building. She unlocked the security door, and we climbed several levels of stairs to her door and went inside. As I entered Caroline’s apartment, I was struck by the panoramic view of the city at night. What an amazing view! There were thousands of twinkling lights. I had nothing like this at Highgate. I sat down in her big, comfortable chair and watched all of the activity in the city. Caroline offered me wine and put on some background music. We casually sipped red wine and listened to the music. Soon I joined her on the soft, leather couch.

  We snuggled together and I kissed her. We started making out. Our kissing started to get really steamy as I reached inside her blouse. Now I could feel her hesitation. I didn’t think she wanted this to end up in the bedroom, so I backed off. We talked some more. It was getting late and I decided to leave. I kissed her goodnight and left the ap
artment. When I reached my apartment, I took a cold shower. In the days and weeks that followed, all I could think about was when Caroline and I would be together again.

  Our sporadic dating habits became more frequent. After several dates, we started having sex. The first time we made love she cried tears of joy. It was Saturday and I was spending the night in her apartment. The sweet-smelling candles in her bedroom were burning brightly. She wanted me to make love to her slowly and tenderly. This was the first time we were completely naked with each other, and I felt a little nervous.

  It was Caroline’s idea to use birth control. I told her that I didn’t think I needed it, but she insisted, so I slipped on a condom. Neither one of us wanted a baby. We were both too busy back then with our jobs to shoulder the added responsibility of being parents.

  Our initial moves in bed seemed awkward. Her loud moans kept filling the bedroom until I forcefully came inside of her. We made love several times a week at my place or hers. After a while, I knew what it meant to be a sex “junkie.” I enjoyed staying in Caroline’s apartment, spending my evenings watching the skyline of the city, sitting in that plush and comfortable chair. The bright lights of the city were hypnotic against the black backdrop of the night sky. Sitting quietly in that chair, I recalled the memories of the day. Many nights we hugged and kissed, cuddled up on her couch. Every night we snuggled in bed, regardless of which apartment we slept in. On Sunday, I’d make her a special breakfast of blueberry pancakes. I found some of the sweetest blueberries in the city. At the time of our torrid affair, I wanted to marry her. Both of us were crazy in love and walking on air.

  As I reminisced about our early dating experience, I found myself falling back in love with her. Could we really recapture the love of the past? I wanted to believe that nothing had changed between us. I was hoping that time had healed whatever wounds existed in the past, and we were still the same people we had always been. I was happy to be loved by this woman again, after so many years of desperate loneliness without her.