Before Knapp went home, he gave them all something to chew on. He sat in his car, not leaving, waiting on Linda. After she left to go home, he waited five minutes and cruised the back of the bar. He stopped, got out, and walked between the bar and the building next door, a small paint store. Mac had walked in the gap earlier in the day. There was five or six feet between the two buildings. It was a weaving dirt path, strewn with weeds, broken glass and crushed beer cans. It was dark, lit only by an occasional second-floor light turned on in either of the two buildings. It was the perfect hiding place.
“That’s where he’ll wait,” Mac uttered into the radio, watching Knapp through a night scope borrowed from the feds.
“You bet your ass,” Riley responded.
Knapp got back into his Pontiac and headed home. The second shift followed him home to Hudson and put him to bed.
It was 3:15 a.m. and they were at the Gas & Shop lot.
Riley and Rockford were waiting when Mac and Lich pulled in. When they were getting out of the van, Riley bellowed, “Is he getting ready?”
“I think he is ready,” Mac replied. “What do you think, Dick?”
Lich shrugged, “Still haven’t seen the van.”
Riley nodded. “That’ll be the sign. We’ll know for sure then. The four of us meet with the chief in the morning for an update. He was nice enough to give us till 10:00 a.m.”
Everyone nodded. Everyone was exhausted. Everyone headed home.
• • • • •
Viper admired the thoroughness of Knapp in stalking his prey. She was always alone when she left at night. The area behind the bar was dark. It was a good spot. Were it not for the police being right on top of him, he’d get away with it. Again.
The police were thorough in stalking their prey as well. Viper, while frustrated by it, admired the tracking job they were doing. They had a large crew and were masterful in following him. There was a different cop in the bar every night. They used different cars and vans every day. They rotated the tail well, never getting too close. The familiarity with Knapp’s movements and routes made that easier, but they had done well nevertheless.
It made it difficult for Viper and Bouchard to get at Knapp. They’d missed their best shot.
Knapp left his hiding place, got into his car and drove away.
Tonight’s little recon mission left no doubt he was ready to move. It wouldn’t be long now and one thing was clear. Viper had to find a way to get to Knapp before McRyan and company did.
Bouchard shook his head, “It’ll be tomorrow night.”
Viper agreed. They needed to move fast. But how?