CHAPTER NINE
He filed into the line behind another man, joining the slow shuffle forward as they all took one step closer to having their turn at the counter. He had a small number of items clutched in his hands: some gum, a candy bar, a music magazine. He didn’t really need any of them.
What he did need was an excuse to stand in this line. Her line.
He liked observing her. Sometimes from a little farther away. Sometimes as a customer of hers, when he dared, just like this. Never too much. It would be suspicious if he was here too much. But every now and then, it was a good chance to get really close to her. To hear her speak. To watch her without needing to squint.
Close physically, anyway. They had never been close in another way. Not like that. He’d been watching her for so long, and he’d never been able to get close enough even for a real conversation.
The line shifted up by another customer. Just the guy in front next, and then it would be his turn. He enjoyed the moment, taking her in, making sure not to do it in such a way that she would catch him.
By the counter there were a number of items on sale. A bundle of tea candles caught his eye, and he almost wanted to smile. Their lights were small and went out quickly, which was never going to be right for him. He needed a big statement, a candle that would burn properly, that would take time.
If they burned down too quickly, no one would ever see their light. No one but him, and her. No, for her, he was going to pick out something a lot more special than a discount gas station tealight.
He wanted other people to see it. The light that burned above her when she was laid out for her final rest. It would be a special moment. That was why he had to leave her somewhere public – to make sure that she was found and seen. He couldn’t just let her disappear into the darkness and have no one notice it. That wouldn’t be right. Not for someone like her.
Last time, he’d been so nervous about Ashley not being found that he’d even called the police himself. Well, not as himself, obviously. He’d used a pay phone that wasn’t covered by cameras, and he’d changed his voice a little, and tried not to say anything that would give him away. Just a simple statement, that there was a body and where it was, and that they needed to come look at it. That was all the information they needed. No need to push things by saying more. He’d just wanted to be sure that they would find her.
Ashley had been lovely, and he was glad that he had chosen her. But now that it was done, he had to move on to his next choice. To this woman, even now serving the man in front of him. She had such a lovely voice, even if she didn’t use it often enough. Or nicely enough. She could be surly. But he understood that. Working a job like this, you had to deal with a lot of people who weren’t worth dealing with. That could be hard.
He didn’t blame her for being short with any of them. Even with him. It didn’t matter.
Soon they would be closer, close enough to satisfy him. It didn’t need to be right now.
The man in front moved away, and it was like a bright spotlight shone down on him, lighting up the way; it was his turn now to be served. To be close to her, just for a moment.
There had been many moments like this in all the time he’d watched her. But soon, these kinds of moments would be over.
Soon, they would be closer than they had ever been – and he couldn’t wait.