NYPD Puzzle by Parnell Hall

notice?
    Becky had the top of the pack open. She wrestled a stick of gum out. Okay, no way unwrapping a stick is as tough as unwrapping a pack.
    Becky heard footsteps behind her. Without looking around, she couldn’t tell if it was him or if it was someone else. She unwrapped the gum, fed it into her mouth. As she did, the man with the hat over his face came down the steps. He took no notice of her, headed back in the direction of his car.
    When he reached the end of the pumps, he hung a right and walked around the back of the Mini Cooper parked there. He had a bottle of soda in his hand. He hopped into the Mini Cooper, started the engine, and took off.
    Becky felt foolish as hell. She turned and walked back to Cora’s Toyota and slipped into the driver’s seat.
    Moments later, the door opened and Cora slid into the passenger seat.
    “Had to go to the bathroom after all,” Cora said. “So. Any luck? You see the guy?”
    Becky was grateful for the question. It was one she could answer truthfully without having to embellish. “No,” she said.
    “I didn’t think so. There’s a car parked in the shadows the other side of the station. Pull out, see if he follows.”
    “Fine,” Becky said. She started the engine.
    Cora looked at Becky, frowned. “Are you chewing gum?”

 
    Chapter
    11
     
    The black sedan followed them up the Merritt Parkway and turned north on Route 7 when they did.
    “Believe me now?” Cora said.
    “I believed you then,” Becky said. “I just didn’t want to.”
    “Well, it answers one question.”
    “What’s that?”
    “Why Crowley let us go.”
    “You mean that’s him?”
    “Well, not him personally. But one of his boys. Perkins, perhaps. He seemed to like you.”
    “You really think it’s the cops?”
    “I prefer it to the killer.”
    “Cora.”
    “What do you want me to say? ‘There, there, Becky, it’s all right. The killer isn’t on your tail.’ I have no idea who’s in the car behind us. But I prefer knowing about it to not knowing about it. Anyway, whoever it is, it’s interesting.”
    “Unless it’s a businessman on his way home,” Becky said.
    “Who followed us to a service station on the Merritt, parked in the shadows while we went inside, and then followed us out of the station?”
    “All right, a rather weird businessman on his way home.”
    “Hey, I’ll give the guy the benefit of the doubt if he’ll just turn off.”
    He didn’t. The black sedan was behind them all the way up Route 7, turned off when they did, followed from a discreet distance over the local roads. By the time Becky took the last turn toward Bakerhaven, there was no doubt about it.
    “Okay, Nancy Drew, you’re up,” Cora said.
    “Huh?” Becky said.
    “Where’s your car parked?”
    “Front of the library.”
    “Excellent,” Cora said. “Hop out, get in your car, and drive to the mall.”
    “I live right down the alley.”
    “Yeah, but you don’t want to go there. Head for the mall. If the guy follows you, I’ll drive up on his tail and get his plate number.”
    “What do I do then?”
    “Well, since the mall’s closed, I wouldn’t hang out there. Circle the parking lot and drive home.”
    Cora pulled up across from the library.
    “I won’t be able to sleep knowing someone’s watching me,” Becky said.
    “Don’t worry. I’ll sneak up on the guy and blow his head off.”
    “Cora.”
    “You don’t like that idea? Okay, call the cops. Dan Finley will make a point of cruising by. He’s as smitten as that Perkins guy. You know, it would be funny if Finley was protecting you from Perkins.”
    “Yeah, a laugh riot.”
    “But I don’t think it’ll happen. I think he’ll follow me.”
    “Why?”
    “Because of the crossword puzzle. If it weren’t for the crossword puzzle, I’d say he was after you. But you start throwing puzzles in the mix, someone’s out to get me.”
    “You’re probably right. So if he follows you, I tag along and get his plate