Something Missing_ A Novel - Matthew Dicks [109]
Martin continued up Ascension Street, turned his car at the next intersection, and then made his way back down the street, passing by the house one more time, hoping to spot anything else that might help him decide on his next course of action.
He saw nothing.
At the end of Ascension, Martin turned right and traveled four blocks north and then east, parking the Subaru in the lot at Smith Elementary School. There he donned a hat, sweatshirt, and running shoes from the backseat and placed his pick gun, surgical gloves, rubber moccasins, and a hairnet into a small backpack that he strapped to his back. Once ready, he began his walk back in the direction of Clive Darrow’s home.
Martin had decided that, in order to guarantee Darrow’s incarceration, he would need to locate evidence that implicated the man in the stalking, break-in, and planned attack on Sophie Pearl. He knew that the police officers’ hands were often tied when it came to obtaining search warrants, so he thought that if he could specifically identify evidence in Darrow’s home in his tip to the police, that might be enough to secure them a legal search of the premises.
Entering Clive Darrow’s home would be dangerous, Martin knew. First, he didn’t have much information on the man, so he had no knowledge of the type of schedule he kept. Because Martin had seen him exiting the Pearls’ home this morning, he reasoned that Darrow was either unemployed or worked odd hours, perhaps the night shift. If Martin could be certain that the house was empty, he might be willing to risk entry, even though he wouldn’t be sure when Darrow might return home. Sophie Pearl’s life could be at stake, and if not Sophie’s, then that of the next woman. For this, he was willing to take the risk.
In addition, Martin had little to fear from police intervention in the event that he was caught by Darrow inside the home. In the planning stages of a violent crime, Darrow would be unlikely to seek police attention, so he would be more inclined to deal with the situation on his own. This might mean Martin’s own life would be in danger, but that was a risk he was willing to take. If he was careful and planned his escape carefully, Martin was confident that he could exit the house safely, even if detected.
Martin’s plan was to maintain surveillance on Darrow’s home until he could determine if the man was home. Walking up and down Ascension Street and the side streets that made up the block that Darrow lived on, Martin would watch for lights to come on or other signs of life until he felt confident in his assessment of the situation. If it became clear that Darrow was occupying the premises, he would head home, pack an overnight bag, and park in the lot close enough to the Pearls’ home so that he could maintain surveillance on their rear door. Sacrificing a good night’s sleep would be problematic considering that the Ashleys’ party was tomorrow, but he would have to manage. This was serious business. If Sherman Pearl left the house for an early round of golf or a morning of boating and fishing, Sophie would be alone and Darrow might attempt to strike. This was especially true since tomorrow was Saturday and it was likely that Noah Blake would be home, asleep, without an alibi. Once Sophie and Sherman Pearl had left their home for the day and Martin was certain that Sophie was not home alone, he would return to Darrow’s home, looking for an opportunity to gain entry.
Hopefully all this could be accomplished before the party.
Martin began his walk, wondering how many times he might round the block before he could determine if Clive Darrow was home. Realizing the number might be high, he slowed his pace and steeled himself for a long evening.
Despite his high level of physical fitness, Martin felt uncommonly tired