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‘They‘re easy to find。 You just look at the parking lot。‘
‘Huh？‘
‘Lincolns and Caddys； honey。 Always means good clothes；‘ Kelly noted。 ‘Never fails。‘
She laughed as intended。 Kelly marveled at how much more in control she seemed； though there was still a long ways to go。
‘Where will we stay tonight？‘
‘On board；‘ Kelly answered。 ‘We‘ll be secure here。‘ Pam merely nodded； but he explained anyway。
‘You look different now； and they don‘t know me from Adam。 They don‘t know my car or my boat。 Frank Allen doesn‘t know your name or even that you‘re a girl。 That‘s operational security。 We ought to be safe。‘
‘I‘m sure you‘re right；‘ Pam said； turning to smile at him。 The confidence in her face warmed his blood and fed his already capacious ego。
‘Going to rain tonight；‘ Kelly noted； pointing at distant clouds。 ‘That‘s good； too。 Cuts down visibility。 We used to do a lot of stuff in the rain。 People just aren‘t alert when they‘re wet。‘
‘You really know about this stuff； don‘t you？‘
A manly smile。 ‘I learned in a really tough school； honey。‘
They made port three hours later。 Kelly made a great show of being alert； checking out the parking lot； noting that his Scout was in its accustomed place。 He sent her below while he tied up； then left her there while he drove the car right to the dock。 Pam； as instructed； walked straight from the boat to the Scout without looking left or right； and he drove off the property at once。 It was still early in the day； and they drove immediately out of the city； finding a suburban shopping center in Timonium； where Pam over a period of two … to Kelly； interminable … hours selected three nice outfits； for which he paid cash。 She dressed in the one he liked best； an understated skirt and blouse that went well with his jacket and no tie。 For once Kelly was dressing in accordance with his own worth； which was fortable。
Dinner was eaten in the same area； an upscale restaurant with a dark corner booth。 Kelly didn‘t say so； but he‘d needed a good meal； and while Pam was okay with chicken； she still had a lot to learn about cooking。
‘You look pretty good…relaxed； I mean；‘ he said； sipping his after…dinner coffee。
‘I never thought I‘d feel this way。 I mean； it‘s only been 。。。 not even three weeks？‘
"；That‘s right。‘ Kelly set his coffee down。 ‘Tomorrow we‘ll see Sarah and her friends。 In a couple of months everything will be different； Pam。‘ He took her left hand； hoping that it would someday bear a gold ring on the third finger。
‘I believe that now。 I really do。‘
‘Good。‘
‘What do we do now？‘ she asked。 Dinner was over and there were hours until the clandestine meeting with Lieutenant Allen。
‘Just drive around some？‘ Kelly left cash on the table and led her out to the car。
It was dark now。 The sun was nearly set； and rain was starting to fall。 Kelly headed south on York Road towards the city； well fed and relaxed himself； feeling confident and ready for the night‘s travail。 Entering Towson； he saw the recently abandoned streetcar tracks that announced his proximity to the city and its supposed dangers。 His senses perked up at once。 Kelly‘s eyes darted left and right； scanning the streets and sidewalks； checking his three rearview mirrors every five seconds。 On getting in the car； he‘d put his 。45 Colt automatic in its accustomed place； a holster just under the front seat that he could reach faster than one in his belt … and besides； it was a lot more fortable that way。
‘Pam？‘ he asked； watching traffic； making sure the doors were locked … a safety provision that seemed outrageously paranoid when he was so alert。
‘Yes？‘
‘How much do you trust me？‘
‘I do trust you； John。‘
‘Where did you … work； I mean？‘
‘What do you mean？‘
‘I mean； it‘s dark and rainy； and I‘d like to see what it‘s like down there。‘ Without looking； he could feel her body tense。 ‘Look； I‘ll be careful。 If you see anything that worries you； I‘ll make tracks like you won‘t believe。‘
‘I‘m scared of that；‘ Pam said immediately； but then she stopped herself。 She was confident in her man； wasn‘t she？ He‘d done so much for her。 He‘d saved her。 She had to trust him … no； he had to know that she did。 She had to show him that she did。 And so she asked： ‘You promise you‘ll be careful？‘
‘Believe it； Pam；‘ he assured her。 ‘You see one single thing that worries you and we‘re gone。‘
‘Okay； then。‘
It was amazing； Kelly thought； fifty minutes later。 The things that are there but which you never see。 How many times had he driven through this part of town； never stopping； never noticing？ And for years his survival had depended on his noting everything； every bent branch； every sudden birdcall； every footprint in the dirt。 But he‘d driven through this area a hundred times and never noticed what was happening because it was a different sort of jungle filled with very different game。 Part of him just shrugged and said。 Well； what did you expect？ Another part noted that there had always been danger here； and he‘d failed to take note of it； but the warning was not as loud and clear as it should have been。
The environment was ideal。 Dark； under a cloudy； moonless sky。 The only illumination came from sparse streetlights that created lonely globes of light along sidewalks both deserted and active。 Showers came and went； some fairly heavy； mostly moderate； enough to keep heads down and limit visibility； enough to reduce a person‘s normal curiosity。 That suited Kelly fine； since he was circulating around and around the blocks； noting changes from the second to the third pass by a particular spot。 He noted that not even all the streetlights were functioning。 Was that just the sloth of city workers or creative maintenance on the part of the local ‘businessmen‘？ Perhaps a little of both； Kelly thought。 The guys who changed the bulbs couldn‘t make all that much； and a twenty…dollar bill would probably persuade them to be a little slow； or maybe not screw the bulb in all the way。 In any case； it set the mood。 The streets were dark； and the dark had always been Kelly‘s trusted friend。
The neighborhoods were so。。。 sad； he thought。 Shabby storefr