Ally's Revenge (Part 1 complete, Part 2 in progress)

Chapter 11

*Picture: Google Image search of Lola's Burrito Joint (I changed name to Lolita's) decor located on King Street in Jacksonville FL*

IF YOU ARE UNDER 18 DO NOT READ THIS CHAPTER!!!!

CONSIDER THIS YOUR OFFICAL WARNING!!!

Chapter 11

Damien

I was very surprised when Ally called me this morning. I was sitting in a parking lot at a warehouse across the street from the Gator Motel where I had my little discussion with Luke and I was waiting to see what, if anything, he was going to do. I had been watching for him for about 20 minutes when she called and asked me to meet her.

It was actually a tough decision to make. Should I follow Luke today and see if I can figure out what he is up to? Alternatively, do I go right to the source and see if I can figure out who else is trying to collect on the job? I told myself it made more sense to keep my eye on the prize, but in reality, I just wanted to see her again.

Since I have a little bit of time to kill, I head to my rented apartment, which is close to where I am meeting Ally anyways, to change clothes and switch vehicles. My apartment is actually a spectacular plantation style home, complete with wraparound porch and massive white columns that was renovated to a duplex in the 1960's. It was split right down the middle so there is an upstairs and attic along with a portion of the back yard. I can hear Spanky, my American bulldog, running between the front window and the front door, ready to pounce on me the minute I walk through the door. I have trained him to hide and keep quiet if anyone other than myself was to come to the doors, or on the property, therefore his presence lets me know there is no one lurking about.

"Who's a good boy," I say to him as I open the door. I am met with a wet tongue and a wagging tail, the absolute best welcome home. Spanky runs to his chair and grabs his leash from the little table beside it, telling me he needs to pee.

"Alright buddy, quick walk, I have a hot date." His ears perk up when I say hot date, and I cannot help but laugh. "I know, it's been awhile." We take a quick stroll around the block where he pees on every tree, bush, signpost, fence... anything standing two feet off the ground. After I feed him, I change into a pair of Levis 501's, a black tee, and my black steel-toe Doc Martin boots. I let Spanky run around the back yard while I move the vehicles in and out the garage.

"You be a good boy and hold the fort down. I'll be back in a few hours," I say to Spanky as I lock him up in the house.

The Riverside Arts Market is about ten blocks from where my apartment is. I could have walked but with everything that has happened to Ally over the last few days, I do not want to be stuck on foot or be in a situation where I did not have my "survival kit" that is built into the toolbox in my truck bed.

It has only been about 40 minutes since she called but she said she was heading over there anyways, so I know she is probably there already. I have not been to this little market since I moved back to Jacksonville, but I have drove past it a few times so I knew where to go. I found a parking spot in the art museum parking lot that is only about two blocks away. The vendors were still setting up but there were already about 40 people milling around, looking at the various items set out for sale. I see Ally sitting at a bench that faces the river so I head towards her. I get about 20 feet away when I see a nicely dressed man watching her. He is not too obvious in his observance, but I have been doing this kind of work for the past fourteen years so I could tell he was not just casually leaning against the wall and watching the water as he was trying to appear.

I take a few steps back, thankful we are underneath a bridge where there is natural shading available. The man pulled out a cell phone, and took a picture of Ally. He must have sent it to someone because a minute later he gets a return text. Since I have done this myself a dozen times, I assume whomever he sent the picture to verified that she was indeed the target because he then walks up and sits down right next to Ally. And I do mean right next to her; the bench could have sat three people so it was awkward that he sat in the middle and not over to the side like you would think a stranger would. I watch as he talks to her about something, probably the weather, and I decide to snap a few pictures of my own. When I get a few good angles of his face, which is challenging since he has on a hat and sunglasses, I decide it is time to make myself known. As I am walking towards the bench, Ally suddenly stands up, apologizing to the man and telling him she is meeting a friend. A look of relief washes over her face when she sees me and I realize she must have been scared.