Creep - Jennifer Hillier [42]
Simon and Elizabeth Hoffer lived on the right. He could see Mrs. Hoffer bustling around the kitchen while her three young children sat around the large table doing homework. Simon Hoffer was in town this week, which meant Mrs. Hoffer’s lover would not be coming over once the kids were asleep.
A quick streak across his backyard and he was on his way, heading toward the forest behind. Briar Woods was technically a gated community, but the only actual gate was at its front entrance, which was manned by a security guard at night. The small forest was the only thing separating the homes from the rest of Lake Stevens. The Homeowners’ Association had polled the residents earlier that year, asking if they were willing to pay to have twenty-four-hour security. Ethan, of course, had voted no. So had most of the other residents, which wasn’t surprising. Rich people were notoriously cheap.
Once immersed in the trees, he moved through the forest at a quicker pace. It was completely dark, but the small, thin flashlight he’d stuck in his back pocket provided just enough light to keep him from stumbling.
Ten minutes later, he popped out on the other side of the forest, into the small community park. It was dinnertime and empty now, so nobody noticed the dark figure with the slightly off-center walk making his way past the monkey bars toward the big black Chevy Suburban parked near the sidewalk.
The SUV was a rental. He’d paid for it up front in cash using a fake driver’s license and phony insurance card in the name of James Smith. He never used the same ID twice.
Coming back home he would have no choice but to drive the Suburban through the main entrance, but he’d already planned for that. It was all in the timing.
Heading south on I-5, he had forty minutes until he reached Seattle. His first stop: the Safeway where Abby worked.
No better place to test out his disguise.
Standing in line under the harsh lights, Ethan held a carton of milk in one hand and a box of Fiber One cereal in the other. Once he got to the express checkout, he picked up a copy of People and placed it on top of the conveyor belt beside his groceries.
Abby stood at the cash register wearing her green Safeway smock. The bluish tinge under her eyes told him she was tired. Her shift wasn’t over for another four hours and she’d already been on her feet awhile. With a brief smile that didn’t quite touch her eyes, she pressed the large button near her hip, sending his items down the conveyor belt toward her.
“How’s it going?” Her tone was terse, disinterested. She scanned the items and placed them into the plastic grocery bag stretched open in front of her.
“Great.” He smiled. “It’s a beautiful evening. How about you? Long day?”
“Aren’t they all?” Finally she glanced up at him. “You’re Australian?”
“I’m from New Zealand, actually. Been here for ten years. Can’t seem to get rid of the accent.”
“Why would you want to get rid of it?”
He shrugged. “To blend in, I suppose.”
She punched the buttons on her cash register and frowned. “What’s so amazing about blending in.” It came out a statement, not a question. “That’ll be nine fifty-two, please.”
He paid with a ten. She made change, putting it right into his hand. Their fingers brushed.
“Sometimes it’s good not to stand out,” he said.
Their eyes met briefly. He held his breath. Her eyes moved away.
“Thanks and have a good night,” she said, then added, “Enjoy your People.”
The words would have sounded sincere to anyone but him. Abby had no interest in celebrity gossip.
He grinned. “Thanks. Don’t work too hard.”
Nodding, he picked up his bag and headed for the exit.
He couldn’t resist glancing back at her just once before he reached the automatic doors, but she was on to the next customer.
He’d passed with flying colors.
The Sex Addicts Anonymous meeting started at eight. Ethan made it with five minutes to spare. He parked his SUV in the parking lot of the Front Street Methodist Church and entered through the side like everyone else, bypassing the doors to the chapel and heading