by Frank Cereo
Chapter 14 – Florida Georgia Line
At nine-thirty the alarm goes off. It takes me a few minutes to get my bearings because I was sound asleep. It takes me a minute or so to turn the alarm off. I reach over and turn it off as I just lay in bed looking straight up at the ceiling. Slowly I get myself up and hobble to the bathroom. I relieve myself before I jump into a hot shower. A long night with only four hours of sleep. I let the hot water run over my head because it takes a little longer to wake up. I quickly pack my bags and separate what needs to be washed. I check out of my motel and find a laundromat. I throw all my dirty clothes into a washing machine. Looking out the window of the laundromat I see a diner across the street.
“Yes coffee,” I say as I let the clothes wash while I run across the street to get a takeout cup of coffee.
When I get into the diner I take a seat at the counter. I wait a minute or so for the waitress to arrive. While I am waiting I skim through the menu.
“Can I help you?” The waitress asks.
“Yes I would like a large cup of coffee and a bagel with egg, bacon and cheese to go.” I answer.
“No problem, would you like a cup of coffee while you wait.” She asks.
“Yes ma’am that would be nice.” I reply.
The waitress pours me a cup of coffee. I add sugar and cream as I wait for my order to go to come up. I look around the diner and many of the people inside look to be tourists. They are wearing shorts, t-shirts, and sandals. They are busy talking about where they are going and what they’re plans are for the day. I don’t look to conspicuous because I am wearing shorts, polo shirt and sneakers. I sit and wait about ten minutes when I see my sandwich appear in the serving window. The waitress comes over and wraps the sandwich up. She starts to pour me a large coffee in a takeout cup when the Florida State Police walk in. I remain seated as they walk up to the counter.
“Mable, get us two large coffees to go.” One trooper asks.
“Give me a minute to check this man out and I will get your coffees.” The waitress replies.
“If you could please hurry we have a murder scene out by the ocean.” The other trooper says.
“Anyone I know?” The waitress asks with concern.
“I hope not. I heard it’s some rich sex pervert that has a house on the beachfront.” The trooper replies.
“That will be seven dollars and ninety five cents.” The waitress tells me as she hands me the sandwich and coffee.
“Keep the change and thank you.” I say as I hand the waitress a ten dollar bill.
“You’re welcome and have a nice day.” The waitress replies.
I start to walk towards the door. I keep my face forward and my eyes facing downward. I reach the door and start to push it open.
“Sir you dropped this.” The waitress says as she comes running towards me.
“Thank you,” I respond as she hands me my car keys.
I turn around and walk out the door. I try and act as inconspicuous as possible. I don’t turn around to look back. When I reach the laundromat I walk inside and take a seat. I unwrap my sandwich and take a bite. Then the washer rings as the clothes are done washing. I set my sandwich and coffee down. I start to throw my clothes into the dryer. I look up and see one of the troopers walking across the street towards the laundromat. I move a little quicker to get my dark clothes into the dryer. As I close the door on the dryer the trooper walks in. I put my quarters in and push the button to start. I walk back towards my seat and the trooper sees me as we make eye contact. I sit down and continue to eat my sandwich and I can see him walking towards me. I remain calm cool and collected as he walks up to my seat.
“Can I ask you a question?” The trooper asks.
“Sure what is it officer?” I reply.
“Why are you wearing black sneakers?” He asks.
“Oh these old things. They are comfortable and I could wear them on the floor at my last job. Now that I am on vacation I want to wear them out.” I reply with a smile.
“Where are you staying?” The trooper asks suspiciously.
“I was staying at the Ramada but I’m heading up the coast today to Myrtle Beach.” I reply.
“Why are you washing clothes?” The trooper asks.
“I pack light and I want clean clothes when I get to Myrtle.” I reply as I take a bite out of my sandwich.
“Have a good day.” The trooper says as he settles his suspicion about me.
“You too officer.” I say as I remain seated.
I wait to hear the door open and close but I remain seated eating my sandwich and drinking my coffee. I look up and see there is forty-three minutes left on the dryer. I also can see out of the corner of my eye a silhouette of a person standing there. I remain calm and don’t move because I know I was the only person in the laundromat. Then I hear the door open and the trooper walking back towards me. I look up and take a sip of my coffee.
“One last question, what is your name?” The trooper asks.
“Fred Church,” I reply
“Can I see some identification?” The trooper asks.
“Sure, let me get my license out of my wallet.” I reply.
I pull my wallet out of my back pocket and pull out my license. I hand my license to the trooper. I look at his eyes as he looks thoroughly at my license. I say to myself just stay calm they don’t have anything to link you to the murders. The trooper is going on a hunch and he is trying to pressure me into panicking. I make sure I don’t say anything about the homicide they are investigating. I want them to think I am just an ordinary citizen on vacation in the sunshine state.
“Okay Fred you have yourself a wonderful day.” The trooper says as he hands me my license back.
“Yes sir, I will.” I reply.
I finish up my laundry. I fold the clothes nicely and put them in my bag. I walk out to my car and put the bag in the backseat. I start the car and drive towards the interstate. When I get on I-95 north I notice a Florida State Trooper car following in a distance. I continue to drive 70 miles per hour which is the speed limit. When I reach the Jacksonville city limits I look in my rearview mirror and the trooper car is still following me. I slow the car down to 55 as the speed limit is reduced inside the city limits. Then I drive by I-10 and the trooper car is staying back and following me.
“Fucking prick, there goes my exit. Now I have to pretend to be going north to Myrtle Beach.” I say as I pass the interchange onto I-10 west.
I play the game and continue to drive north on I-95. When I leave the Jacksonville city limits I know I only have twenty miles until the Georgia state line. I look in my rearview mirror and the trooper car is still there. I drive the twenty miles and cross into Georgia. I look into my rearview mirror the Florida State police car is turning around as it crosses the median. I drive a little further and pull into the Georgia Welcome Center. I get out of my car to stretch my legs and take a piss. When I return to my car there is a welcome center security guard walking around the car.
“Can I help you?” I ask.
“No I’m just doing my job.” The man replies.
“The car is parked and there is no one suspicious walking around it. So what are you looking for?” I ask.
The security guard walks back towards the welcome center. Now I am suspicious of what he was doing so I followed him. He walks into the security office and I grab the door before it shuts. The security guard turns around and sees me.
“You can’t come in here.” He says as he walks towards me.
I look around in the room and there is no one else in here. It’s just a room with a desk and phone with a map of Georgia on the wall. The security officer is unarmed with the exception of a nightstick. I walk right towards the security guard and I see him reaching for the nightstick. Before he can get the nightstick out of his belt I grab the young skinny man by the neck. I throw him down on the desk and hold my hand over his hand that is on the nightstick.
“Alright goofy why were you mes
sing around my car?” I ask as I squeeze his neck.
“It was a routine walk around.” He says with a frightened look on his face.
“Wrong answer goofy.” I say as I punch him square in the nose.
The punch breaks his nose as blood begins to pour down his face. I pull my arm back for a second blow.
“Okay, okay the Florida State Police called me and asked me to delay your departure out of the welcome center until the Georgia State Police could arrive.” The security guard says.
“What did you do to the car?” I ask.
“Nothing I didn’t have enough time.” The security guard states.
“Good and goodnight.” I say as I punch him so hard I knock him out.
I walk out of the door and head back to my car. I get in and drive north to the first exit. I exit off and get on Route 301 and head south. Within ten minutes I am back in Florida and ten minutes after that I am on I-10 heading west. I drive the entire afternoon and into the evening to get out of Florida. I make sure I stay at the speed limit and only stop when I need too. When I hit the small portion of Alabama I drive the extra hour to get through it. When I get into Mississippi I drive to the outskirts of Biloxi where I grab a motel for the night. I make sure the motel is not near the interstate. When I pull up to this cockroach motel it makes the Bates Motel look like a five star hotel. I get a room which only costs me twenty-five dollars. I park my car on the backside of the motel so no one will see it. I grab my goody bag out of the trunk and hide it in the pine trees behind my room. This way if I am apprehended there is no evidence to link me to the murders. I lay in bed as my self-consciousness is in overdrive.
“What a fucking day. Now they know my name and I’m pretty sure I am listed as suspicious. I should have went to Myrtle Beach to back up my story. And then I have to hit that moron security guard.” I say as I shake my head lying in bed.
I try to fall asleep but every little noise has my attention.
“Fuck it and finish what you started out to do. You figured they were going to put two and two together sooner or later. Let’s get to Houston and pull off a triple play. I might even have a chance and get a bonus.” I say as I close my eyes and finally relax and that puts my mind at ease.
Chapter 15 - Houston We have a Problem
The next morning I was up early and on the road. I was heading to Houston where I would hunt down the three amigos that helped close down and move an entire operation to Texas. They left hundreds of people out of a job including me. I even took a beating because I was the only part of management that arrived for work on that Monday morning. I was livid at the way they masterminded this plan and how they pulled it off over a weekend. Payback for these three ass wipes is going to be painful, very painful.
“I need fuel and I’m getting a little hungry.” I say as I take an exit off I-10.
I pull into a gas station and fill up my tank. Again I am only using cash to pay my expenses because it’s almost impossible to track my location. To my luck there is a McDonald’s right next door. I get myself a breakfast meal and a large coffee. I take a seat inside the restaurant by the window. I am very observant as I look outside for anything out of the extraordinary. It only takes me five minutes to polish off the sandwich and hash browns. From the time I pulled off the road till finishing my breakfast the sun begins to rise and the sky begins to lighten. It is very quiet as I get into my car and head west. I take my time and by midafternoon I land in Houston. It is very big city in the middle of the flattest ground I have ever seen. I pull into a mall parking lot and steal a set of Texas licenses plates and put them on my car. I drive around the city for a little bit and find the shabbiest motel in the low rent district. I rent the room for a week and that totals a whopping $75 dollars. When I get into the room I count out my remaining funds.
“This is going to be close. I only have $173.59 left. I guess I’m going to be eating light over the next week. I need to finish this inside the week and get moving towards home for the final kill.” I say as I put my clothes inside the drawer in the room.
Before evening falls I head to the industrial park and find the new facility. I park inside the parking lot because there is no security. I watch and observe the people coming and going. Then I see a black Trailblazer pull up in front of the building and park in the visitor’s parking spot. I watch and see three men wearing dark suites get out of the car. All three of them look around for anything out of the extraordinary. Then they walk towards the front door and ring the bell. The receptionist opens the door as the three men show identification. She allows them access as they walk inside the building.
“Feds are now in the picture. They might be probing but they might know who I am and what I am doing.” I say as I take a swig of bottled water.
I sit and wait in my car. After an hour and ten minutes the three feds come out of the building. They are escorted to the door by Jeb Throrughgood. Even though I am parked three lanes back his perfect hair is non-deceiving. He shakes hands with the three feds as they walk towards their SUV. Jeb stands on the stoop as they get into the SUV and drive off. I stay put and lean down in my car. Jeb just stands on the stoop and scans the parking lot. This behavior tells me the feds just warned them of my intentions. When Jeb goes back inside I pull out of my parking spot. I drive up and down the parking lot looking for the cars they use to drive in Elmira. I find all three of them and two of them still have New York State license plates. I pull out of the parking lot using the secondary exit. I drive up to the main entrance and there is the black SUV parked inside the tree line. I drive by and pull into a plaza about a mile down the road. I park by a Burger King and observe the main road that heads into Houston. My intention here is follow each manager home. I know when I strike I’m going to have to kill all three in one night. My wait isn’t long when the first vehicle passes by my location. I drive towards the exit and follow the Toyota Camry with New York Plates.
“Let’s see where you live Mr. James Rufess.” I say as I pull out into the road.
I keep a safe following distance so he won’t recognize me or my car. James drives about a mile down the road and then he turns on his left turn signal. I am at least three cars behind him when we stop for the red light. I am wearing a Houston Astros baseball cap and wide rimed sunglasses. I look up through the car and watch James as he looks into his rearview mirror and out both side windows. I can see he is nervous and he should be. The light turns green and James takes the left hand turn. I step on the gas and just barely make it through and as the light turn’s amber. I keep my distance as he makes a right turn and then a left into an apartment complex. I follow keeping my distance. Then James turns into a parking spot. I keep my car off in the distance behind the side of his apartment building. I watch as he gets out of his Camry and looks around. When James sees no one is around he crosses the parking lot and goes into a different apartment building.
“Very clever James, but not good enough.” I say as I find an open parking spot.
I sit in my car as darkness falls. The parking lot is well lit but I park away from the lights. When it’s completely dark I get out of my car and walk over to James’ apartment building. Each building has two floors with four apartments in each building. There are two apartments on the first floor and two apartments on the second floor. I walk up to the front door that is open to the public. I walk inside and see the four mailboxes.
“James Rufess Apartment 403.” I whisper as I look at the two apartments on the first floor.
401 and 402 are across from each other on the first floor. I have to figure James apartment is above 401 but I want to make sure. So I quietly creep up the rugged stairs and when I hit the landing I gaze over and see I was correct with the apartment layout. With my assumption right I head back down the stairs and out the door. I head back to my car and sit and observe James’ room. At eight in the evening he opens his curtains and looks out towards the parking lot.
“Looks like you’re a little on edge there
James.” I say as I sit back in the darkness.
I stay there until 10 pm and James looks out his window towards the parking lot five more times. I can tell he is scared and he may be nervous because someone may be hunting him down. So I head back to my motel and get a good night’s sleep.
The next day I get up and take in the sites. By 5 pm I’m at the Burger King waiting. Sure enough just before 6 pm Robbie Colbalt drives by in his Dodge Durango. Again I pull out and follow him down the road. Robbie drives right into Houston and goes to a five star restaurant named The Porter House. I stay in my car and wait for what seemed like an eternity. Then Robbie comes out holding hands with some woman. They get into his car and drive back the same way Robbie came in. Again I stay back with a few cars in between us. I hope this is his girlfriend or wife because I don’t have another day to waste following him to her place. Robbie drives by the road to the facility and makes a turn into a new housing development. When I turn in I turn my headlights off and stay back at a safe distance. I watch and see him pull into a new two story colonial home. I pull over about ten houses back and watch him and her go into the house. I watch the lights go on and off as they make their way to the second floor.
“She must be a girlfriend.” I say
I wait an hour or so and then I drive by the mailbox in front of the house. It reads Colbalt 55 Cedarcrest Drive. I smile as I drive away.
The next day I waited for Jeb to drive by the Burger King and he didn’t. So the next day I went to the other side of the facility and waited. I found a diner and parked outside facing the road. I grabbed a bacon lettuce and tomato sandwich from the diner as I waited. Sure enough the Silver Impala drives by with a man resembling Jeb Throrughgood driving. I set the other half of my sandwich on the passenger seat and pull out. Jeb has the pedal to the metal for he is speeding. The speed limit is 30 miles per hour and he is going faster than 45. I keep my distance and just a little over the speed limit because I don’t want to be pulled over for speeding. I know if I continue at this speed Jeb will pull away before I can see where he turns off. I keep looking ahead as a black SUV goes flying by me. They don’t even pay attention to the car they are looking for with Texas plates. I stay in the right lane as I follow them down the road. I watch as they pull down a side road to the left and I keep going straight. I find a place off the road behind a barn. I turn off the car and the headlights as I take a nap. I wake up at 12:45 in the morning.