Yak Yak

Darien, Connecticut - The Home Of Petra Schultz

I suppose everyone newly assigned to the Petra Shultz detail groaned if they were assigned the last time she needed protection.

By all accounts, Petra is a lovely woman, but her husband is away frequently—and he is away again. 

Petra is lonely, and when she has a captive audience, it can be harsh on them. She will talk your ear off about Snickerdoodles while baking them for you, which is not bad, which is the point.

She's not a bad person. She doesn't know when to stop flapping her gums.

I'm a civilian, but I got here before anyone else.

Petra has received a call from Tanaka at the F.B.I., a local liaison officer from the Darien Police Department, and another call from The Connecticut State Police. 

She also got a courtesy call from the Director of the Fort Devens Medical Center, who cheerily informed Petra that the serial killer who was targeting her got loose and she "should be extra careful."

I was in Petra's kitchen having coffee with her when the Devens call came in.

"Mr. Allston, do you think The Love Machine will come for me? Do You?"

I smiled at Petra and said, "You never know; that's why, in the next hour, there will be a strong law enforcement response here at your house."

"They may ask you to go somewhere else until they catch this clown again."

"I suppose I could go to our Marco Island home, drink Pina Coladas, and watch the news."

"That sounds like a great idea, but let's see who will protect you and what they recommend."

At that, Petra stood up and went to a cupboard just to the left of the sink. She pulled out a giant bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream and poured a healthy amount into her coffee.

"Would you like some of the creature to get your day going?" 

I looked at my watch and saw it was after eleven, so I smiled and said, "Sure."

She poured, and we clinked steamy mugs.

"Are you married, Allston?"

"Well, almost."  "I'm engaged."

"Almost doesn't count unless we throw grenades at each other." She said.

"Would you be interested in something spicy for breakfast?" "Darien is like Vegas without the games, Mr. Allston."

I shifted a little at the kitchen island, then looked at her and genuinely smiled and said, "I haven't had a beautiful woman give me such a tempting offer since I met my soon-to-be wife." "I wouldn't feel right since she is home, pregnant, and waiting for me to come home." 

"I'm so sorry, Allston, it's just that I..."

I stopped her and looked at her again. There was a sadness there, and I understood that. I said, "Thank You for your kindness, Petra. I don't think it was out of bounds. I know what being alone is like. Any minute now, you are going to be very not alone." 

"Why don't you use this time to throw on some comfortable day clothes and run a brush through that beautiful hair."

"While you are doing that, I'll make more coffee for the crew." 

Petra perked up, hugged me, and kissed me on the forehead.

"You're a good man, Allston."  "And you're right. I am lonely, and I'm beginning to hate it."

"I'll be right down."

At that, she went up the stairs.

The whole time she was changing upstairs, she called down to me. "Do you think I should wear green or navy blue as a top?"

"I'm going to wear jeans, not those skinny jeans. Lord, I have not seen skinny in years, and I won't wear designer jeans, maybe some classic Levis or Wranglers."

"You know my ass has held up, and it looks delicious in the Wranglers. I think I'll wear those, okay"?

​While she babbled, I heard a car coming up the driveway.

I looked out the kitchen window and saw Wally getting out of his truck.

I love it when I beat the FBI.

Boston Police Department - Mobile Command Center - South Station, Boston

The Boston Police are unparalleled when it comes to electronically hunting a person. Being in an area with multiple technology-driven schools gives them an advantage during the hiring season. In most years, they know who they want to hire.

This year's job fair, which took place at the Convention Center in South Boston, included representatives from Police Departments all over the country, the National Security Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, and every branch of the military.

Everyone wants to start a tech conversation with new grads that includes surveillance technology, artificial intelligence, and the rising role of ARVs or Aerial Reconnaissance Vehicles, either armed or unarmed.

​The Boston Police want a piece of all that, but they know that "Groundpounders" need to finish the work now.

Teams of associates are now going to every location within three miles of the South Station Train Terminal and asking stores if they can view their video recordings. They are going to office buildings, the subway system, and even municipal traffic cameras.

Camera systems in all buses and taxis are being reviewed at their depots, and traffic cams are also being reviewed.

A message was sent out from rideshare companies to all their drivers to report to a location for in-car camera reviews. Each driver was given a $20 voucher from that donut chain for their time.

The word spread through online driver threads and chat services about the violent death of one of their own.

A fund page has been set up for Abebe Afeworks family. By four PM, over $100,000 had been donated.

The hunt was on, and the B.P.D. was determined to beat the Massachusetts State Police and The Federal Bureau Of Investigation to this killer on the loose.

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