Her mind was focused on the takedown ahead.
As she drove the car down the country lanes, May realized she felt totally awake and buzzing with adrenaline. Not surprising, seeing as she was going after a villain who was wanted for multiple crimes, who was a dangerous threat to the community, and who would hopefully soon be locked away in a maximum-security prison.
She was feeling shivery and excited at the thought of it. Her senses were heightened and she was feeling a sense of exhilaration, and also of relief, that their lakeside towns would soon be safe from the man terrorizing them.
As May turned onto Boardwalk Street in the quiet town of Floral Ridge, she saw a police car parked by the side of the road ahead, under a maple tree. An older police officer, who she recognized, climbed out.
"Morning, Deputy Moore. Congratulations on your promotion – last month, was it? You deserve it."
"Morning, Deputy Edwards, and thank you," she replied, glad to have his experience and skill in what might prove to be a violent confrontation.
"I have two more officers coming as backup," Deputy Edwards said, looking at his watch. "They should be here any moment."
"Thanks," May said, feeling relief. "Shall we make a start?"
He nodded. "Let's do that."
May got out of the car and headed over to the front door of the house. Edwards kept pace with her as she headed up the neatly paved path, past the mowed front yard. Everything was trim and tidy. This didn't seem like the home where a criminal fugitive had been hiding. He had kept his secrets well, May thought. He'd clearly presented a very different, and respectable, front to the world.
Swallowing hard, she knocked on the door.
Then she and Edwards waited expectantly.
In her mind, May recalled the features of the man who would open it any moment. Coach Adamson was six foot tall, according to the information. He had a strong face, chestnut hair, and blue eyes. He looked every inch the respectable P.E. coach, and she was sure that his good, clean-cut looks and handsome features had counted in his favor.
But why wasn't he coming to the door?
May sensed movement behind her and glanced around, but it was just the backup police car pulling up outside the house. Two officers climbed out and headed up the path to stand behind them.
Across the road, May saw a woman in a dressing gown peering curiously out of her front door. From the main road, a couple of blocks away, the hum of Monday morning traffic was getting louder.
She knocked again.
"He might already have left," the policeman muttered.
The woman in the dressing gown crossed the road.
"If you're looking for Mr. Adamson, he's already left," she called. “I saw him leave here about half an hour ago. He drove that way.” She pointed west.
Seemingly satisfied at having helped the police, she turned and padded back, in her pink slippers, across the road again.
"Always good to have informative neighbors," Edwards acknowledged. "It's early on a Monday. Would he have gone to the gym?"
"More likely, he headed straight to the school," May said. "It’s a few miles away in that direction, and there's a gym there, I'm sure. I think we should go there immediately. But let's leave someone here at his house, in case he comes back. We don't want him being tipped off that we were here, and destroying any evidence."
Edwards nodded. "Good thinking. Officer Emerson, please stay here. If you see the suspect, call for backup and make an immediate arrest."
With all bases covered, May hoped, she climbed into the car and set off on the short drive to Sleepy Hollow School.
The sense of anticipation was building as she sped along the road, and she felt her body tense as she got ready for action. Arriving at the school, she parked at the far end of the parking lot and waited for the other police car to pull up.
The school, in the town of Sleepy Hollow which neighbored Floral Ridge, was a small high school that catered to around three hundred students. It was set in a large building that was an old converted hotel, with a charming colonial-style frontage.
May felt a weird sense of dislocation as she climbed out of the car, knowing she would be entering this scenic building on the chase for a criminal.
She caught her breath as she saw the flower arrangements placed outside the building. There were three parents standing in silence, holding protest notices.
"Save Our Students, Keep them Home," one read. "Keep Our Schools Safe," another read.