Meat’s eyes were glazed from a night of fitful napping in his car. He had driven from his woodside spot into the HoHoKus business district and pulled into a gas station. There were several cars parked at the side of the station. His Escort slid in next to them. Just another car, waiting to be serviced. There he stayed until the morning light.
He bought a Taylor ham-and-fried egg sandwich on a buttered roll and a cup of coffee at a deli and ate his breakfast in the car. He chewed and wondered what Eliza was going to do today.
Meat gulped his hot coffee and considered his options. If he went back to his spot and parked, the police might come sniffing around. Cruising the neighborhood would be risky. If he passed by the house, those thugs parked out front would be sure to notice. He needed to find a spot from which to view the house without the guards seeing him.
Then it occurred to him. The new mansion that was being built down the street. The construction workers wouldn’t be there on Saturday. He could pull right into the garage. Even if someone saw his dusty old car, they would assume it was only a laborer’s.
He turned onto Saddle Ridge Road, his tired eyes spotting the back of the gray sedan up the street ahead. Meat pulled into the dirt driveway of the uncompleted house and slipped into the garage. He got out of the car and walked up the makeshift wooden ramp that led up to what looked like it would be the new kitchen. He wandered around until he found the main staircase, went upstairs and turned in the direction of Eliza’s home. In a comer bedroom, he found a spot that gave him a clear view.
He watched and waited until, finally, the payoff. Eliza shepherded her little girl into the station wagon. A little boy came out of the house across the street and got in as well. The Volvo pulled out of the driveway and the gray sedan followed behind.
Meat brushed the sawdust from his pants and sped downstairs to get to his car.