He leaned closer to the computer screen to read the address and smiled with satisfaction. Yes, he thought perhaps this would be the right one.
Shaking his head slightly, he marveled at the wonders of all this new technology. Why, with just the slightest bit of information, one could locate just about anyone one wanted to find. So far, he was batting 1.000 in his search. There was no one he hadn’t been able to locate.
And here, he’d thought the task would be so difficult. As it was, he’d be finished in no time. No time at all.
He looked out the window and pondered his future. What might he do, after all these loose threads had been tied off?
He giggled at his choice of words. How clever he was, even when he wasn’t trying to be.
His fingers glided swiftly over the keyboard. He loved the computer, loved the power of the information it gave him. Loved knowing it was taking him just where he’d been dreaming he’d go, all these years. He loved the speed of it, the ease.
“Bingo,” he whispered. “There you are, Mary Alice Tunney, nee Bancroft. I think it’s time for a little reunion.”
He laughed again, out loud this time, there being no one to hear him.
Oh, and a grand reunion, indeed, these past few weeks had turned out to be. How perfect it all was. In every detail.
There had been no one—no one—who’d suspected, though there had been a tense moment or two along the way. But no one had known him. Naturally, he’d left nothing—absolutely nothing—to chance. The phone calls he’d made using a disguised voice, of course, were made weeks in advance of his coming to call, long enough before his visits that no one would ever make a connection between the call and what came later. And he’d learned long ago how best to become anonymous in any situation. Dress like the locals. Blend in.
When in Rome. . .
He giggled again. Mary Alice Tunney hung her hat in a house on Egan’s Lane in Rome, New York.
It was just all too perfect.
It was all, obviously, God’s will.
With the click of the mouse, he brought up the file containing the entire list. He typed the address and phone number next to the name of the unsuspecting Mary Alice, then scanned the list to see how many more he needed to find.
The list was amazingly complete.
Of course, the last name on the list already had the address filled in, there’d been no problem finding her.
Oh, no. He’d known right where to look, even after all these years.
But he had to wait, though there were times when the waiting nearly drove him crazy. He had to take them in order. That was very important. After all, if you’re going to do something, for heaven’s sake, do it right. Isn’t that what Mother always said?
Sticking to the plan was important. It was the right way to do it.
It was just so hard sometimes to look at her and to let the game play out.
Five more.
There were only five more before he could finally have her.
He’d simply have to wait.
And remind himself once again of the pleasures to be found in saving the best for last.