Mother Undercover

The day had been chaotic. Mondays usually are. Getting the kids ready for school, dressed, breakfast, brushing their teeth, then finally gathering up the homework putting it in the backpack with the sack lunch I had made. There were complaints from John because he wanted to buy lunch with his friends. I explained again how we could not afford it as we bunched up and crowded through the door. I had to make sure everyone was there. Levi did not like to go to school so I had to make sure he did not sneak back in the house when I was rushing to get the kids in the car. “Headcount”, I said as I turned around before I put on my seatbelt. “1, 2, 3, Oh where is Levi?” I asked John as he is the oldest.

“I think he ran into the backyard”, said John. “If we wait for him, we will be late for school”.

“I’m going to strangle the boy”, I said out loud.

“Mom you said something bad”, said my youngest Alex.

“Yes, Mommy did”, I said acknowledging my mistake. “I did not mean I would really do it”.

My brain was on overload. I wondered why my husband could not help. He left for work at 5 am so he did not have to deal with the morning routine. When he got home, he took the boys to the park to play so I could get dinner ready.

“When did I choose this life:”, I said to myself. I must have said it a little too loud because my sweat little Alex started to cry.

“Oh Alex, Mommy did not mean it”, I said again telling him mommies make mistakes too.

During my self-pity party, John had Levi in his hands and put him in the car.

“Got him mom”, he said smiling.

Levi looked a little ruffed up, but he was in the car with his backpack, so I backed up and drove to the school.

I decided I was going to run in the park after dropping them off. I was excited to have 7 hours to myself.

When I got to the park it was empty, Nice I would have the beauty to myself. I put on my running shoes I keep in the trunk.

Along my run I saw something, I decided instead of going back I would wait until the second lap around the park. The second time was vigilantly looking for the speck of black I spotted in the bush.

“There it is”, I said to myself. I went over and picked it up. It was a little black book. The kind that people use to put numbers in when we did not have cell phones. I wonder who dropped it. I opened the first page. There is a list of numbers and names. I did not recognize some of them, but then I came to a name I knew well.

“Tim Slifer”, I stuttered. Why was my husband's name in the book? There was a number with a cell written by it. This was not my husband's cell or work number.

I looked further down the list. Matt Higgs was also on the list. This is Tabatha's husband. I kept looking down to the bottom of the page. it looked like a number for a locker. There was a bus drawn by it.

I think this is for the bus station. I thought, and this must be a locker combination.

“Jenny”, Tabatha called. “Earth to Jenny”.

I looked up from the book in a daze to find my best friend. “Hey”, I stammered out trying to hide what I had found. I trusted Tabatha, but her husband's name was in the book as well and I did not want her to be hurt.

“Do you want to go grab some lunch”, Tabatha asked. “I hear there is a great new Italian restraint that is around the corner.

‘I would love to go”, I said still a little dazed. When I am in my Columbo mode I have a hard time getting the thoughts out of my head.

“Hey Tabatha after Lunch I need to do something; can you pick up the kids from school later?”. I asked trying to make it seem like a normal activity I needed to do.

"No worries", Tabatha said. "I planned on asking if the kids could have a play date today".

"You always know exactly what I need", I told her as I ate my dessert. She gave me a wink.

"You can have next week's play date", Tabatha responded. " I have a spa date".

"Oh, I see how you are", I laughed. The truth is I knew that was code for, I have to pick up some extra shifts at work.

I waved to the waiter for the bill and took it from him. "I have it this time".

She smiled grateful for the gesture. After we both walked to our cars. I waved and saw her drive off. I got in my car and headed to the bus station. I needed to see what was in this locker.

I parked on the other side of the busses and walked around them to see the lockers.

There were rows and rows of lockers so I pulled out the book.

As I was looking at the book over by the benches. I saw a man dressed in an Armani suit, and a satchel slung over his shoulder. He was about 6'1", he had thick blonde hair cut into last year's businessman style.

He stopped at the locker I was looking for. He opened the lock then put the bag and a gun in the locker. After he looked around. Shut the locker and walked away.

I watched him walk away to make sure he was gone before I went over to the locker.

I looked around to see if there was anyone else coming towards the lockers I quickly opened the locker and pulled out the bag and gun. I put them both in my backpack. I had to shove it closed to get it to shut. I put the black book into my purse, then walked out of the bus station. Thinking about it later I am glad the gun didn't go off.

I speed walked to my car, opened the door, and threw in the bag. I hopped in the seat, put on my seat belt, and started to drive. I pulled up to the exit of the station. I looked to the right. A black SUV with tinted windows pulled in. The shadows in the vehicle showed a driver and two people in the back. One of the men's shadow looked like my husband. I quickly went right. I pushed the phone button on the car and dialed my husband. He answered. "Hey honey, I'm in a meeting. I can't talk right now". I could hear loud sounds in the background. He hung up quickly.

Oh, no I thought. What if my husband was in the SUV. I had to go back and see. I went around the block and pulled back in. As I pulled up to the lot. As I did I could see two men in suits. One that put the bag in the locker and another shorter, bald, with a sharp nose running to the offices of the station.

"Crap", I said out loud as I noticed the cameras that were displayed in the area of the lockers.

I drove around and looked into the SUV. There was one man still sitting in the dark car. I tried to peer in the bottom of the window without being seen but could not see if it was him or not. I decided to pull out my phone and call him again. I could tell him I butt-dialed if he answers. My phone rang, but I did not hear another phone. I sighed in relief. Then remembered that he could have put his ringer on silent after my first call.

Even if I drive-by his work, he could be in the SUV. I was at a loss. I then remembered what I pulled from the locker. At least I could get away. If I left now they would not be able to spot me.

I pulled out of the lot and drove out of town to the tree line where there is a wooded area. I can look at the bag there and get rid of the gun if I needed to. I pulled into an empty national park. I was close to the bathrooms so I ran in. I shut the door and locked it. I put the lid down on the toilet and sat bringing the bag onto my lap.

Inside there was a load of cash. The cash was wrapped in a money holder. Each bundle saying it held 10,000 dollars. The bag also held another back book. this one with names, addresses, and phone numbers. Next to my husband's name was mine, and our three boys. It had the school they went to where they played, and where we had family dinners on nights.

What had my husband gotten us into? I looked down further and saw the same for Tabatha's family. My mind raced. Should I tell her what was happening? I needed more information. Oh no, the boys are at her house right now.

I decided to drive to the police station. I needed help and protection for myself and my family. I chose to put the bag under a big rock that was in the park. I then took the gun and buried it near a tree. I marked the tree with a heart and my husband and I's initials so I would remember where it was.

I still had the black book in my bag. I need proof for the officer. seatbelted in I raced back to town. It almost was time to get my boys from Tabatha's and make dinner so I could not think about it anymore.

I pulled into the station ran through the door and asked for an investigative officer. I was not sure what he would be investigating, but it had to be something.

The front desk called for Detective Huston. As I waited so many thoughts were going through my head.

As I saw him come down the hall. It hit me he was the same man I saw put the items in the locker.

The room started to spin and then blackness.

When I opened my eyes the man in the suit was over me. At the back of him was Tabatha. She was dressed in a blue uniform. I thought you worked at a solon I said holding ice to my head. Huston took my arm and pulled me to my feet. Do you think you can sit without passing out.

At this point, I actually didn't know. Tabatha sat, " I think it is time to explain somethings to you.

"I think so", I said looking at her angrily. "Wait, where are my boys?", I asked.

"They are at my house on a play date", she said. "Just my nanny is watching them.

"Nanny", I said a little snooty.

"Let's start at the top", Detective Huston suggested.

"Good idea", Tabatha said.

I agreed.

"Our operation was to catch a local gambling ring", Tabatha started. I knew some of the guys that were involved so I told you one of them was my husband".

"The men who are running this are murderers. They have already killed 4 families in Florida and now they moved here. When I saw you at the park that day and our kids hit it off I just decided to use it to my advantage. I did not expect you to get involved. But when you went to the bus station today and took out the drop from the locker we knew your family was next".

"How did you know I was at the bus station", I asked.

"You have been followed for your protection for a while", Huston chimed in.

"What happened after I left?" I asked.

"Well Huston here was called and told they had a friend hostage", Tabatha said. "We think it is Tim".

"I thought I saw Tim in a Black SUV", I said. " I tried to call and see if it was him, but he did not answer. I was right next to him. I could have let him out of the car".

My gut sank. I did not get him out and now he is not safe. Plus I took the money that could have set him free.

"Have you heard from him?", I asked hysterically.

"No", said both of the detectives at once.

"What are we going to do?", I said shouting at them.

"We could get a warrant for their home, but we need proof", Tabatha said.

"Are you sure my kids are safe?". I asked her.

"Yes", she said.

"OK, I found this on my jog in the park. I pulled out the black book full of name's numbers and the locker at the bus station. Is this proof enough to go get my husband?", I questioned.

"I'm sure you already know I took the items out of the locker", I shyly admitted.

"That is why we are in this mess", Huston yelled.

Tabatha hushed him. She did not know what was happening and we should have told her upfront. She turned to me and apologized.

I gave her a hug and turned to Huston. "Let's get my husband back".