The Penitent One (Boston Crime Thriller Book 3) by Brian Shea (ereader manga TXT) 📕

Kelly paused momentarily before getting in to scan the street. It was desolate. Flicking the cigarette out onto the sidewalk, he climbed inside, then checked the mobile app one more time before driving down the block, passing JW's Pub.

He drove in a doglegged pattern, pulling into the back lot of a McDonald's a couple blocks away to begin the waiting game.

"It's pretty accurate. Should be able to keep tabs without having to be in visual range."

"And what do you hope to accomplish by following your friend around all day?"

"To be honest, I have no idea. I just thought it might be a good idea. He's definitely shaken by this, and I’d imagine so is his boss. Knowing McDonough the way I do, and his role in Walsh’s crew, I'd imagine if somebody is killing their people, then my friend will be assigned to eliminate that threat."

"I don't want to get tied into some murder conspiracy," Gray said. "As nice as it would be if the mob could kill off the TPO and save us a whole heap of paperwork, it's still not how we're doing business. Agreed?"

"Never crossed my mind. My hope is Bobby can draw him out of hiding. Right now, I don't see any other option. I mean, unless Barnes gets some intel, I have little to no hope that whatever Mainelli's doing is going to result in much."

"Let's see how this idea of yours plays out. Can’t hurt. Besides, it's been a while since I've had a good stakeout. Bureau life has had me tucked inside an office for the last couple of years. It's nice to be out amongst the people. Even if those people happen to be mobsters and killers." Gray laughed at his own joke.

They idled in the back lot for a little over an hour as the smell of the deep fryer wafted out and penetrated the inside of Kelly’s Caprice. None of the patrons paid any attention to the two investigators as they sat in uninterrupted relative silence while they waited for McDonough's next move.

The app on his phone chirped an alert followed by the message: MOVEMENT DETECTED. Kelly tapped on the notification and a map filled the small digital screen similar to a Google Maps display.

McDonough’s vehicle was indicated by a small red blip. When in motion, it pulsed. Kelly's position was indicated by a blue arrow. Simple enough.

He waited, knowing the GPS had fairly excellent accuracy. When he’d used it in the past, the transponder had been accurate to within ten feet of the target. Knowing this, Kelly allowed McDonough to get some distance between them before giving a very loose tail. It wasn’t long before McDonough’s blip showed he’d gotten on the Mass Pike and was heading out of the city.

He had known Bobby McDonough for the better part of his life, and if he knew one thing about his friend, it was that he rarely, if ever, left the city. Bobby said he never felt comfortable outside of the neighborhood and sought to avoid leaving it at all costs. He didn't take vacations and only traveled when directed by his employer. Seeing him leave now, after whatever meeting took place at Walsh's clubhouse, caused Kelly concern.

"Well, this should be interesting," Kelly said.

"Why’s that?" Gray asked.

"Because Bobby McDonough doesn't leave Boston unless he's under orders."

They closed the distance on the highway, fluctuating between keeping half a mile to a mile away from McDonough. After driving west for the better part of an hour, the two had stopped playing the guessing game of trying to figure out where he was taking them. The thought had entered Kelly’s mind that his friend had somehow figured out he’d been tagged and was leading them on a wild goose chase just to screw with him.

They turned onto US 5N and snaked down the long offramp into the City of Agawam near the Connecticut border. Kelly had only driven through it when taking his daughter to The Big E, Eastern States Expo, held mid-September to early October every year.

Passing the turnoff street he typically took to the expo, he thought back to his and Embry’s favorite tradition. All six New England states were represented in these massive, house-like vendor havens. The expo was set up like a carnival, and the food was legendary. Embry fell in love with the Maine house’s loaded baked potato. Every year they went, Kelly stood in line with his daughter for the hour-long wait it took to get one.

The price was worth it, both in time and cost, when he saw the look on Embry's face. Her eyes would light up as she took her first spoonful of the baked deliciousness.

"Your buddy got connections out here that you know of?"

Gray’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Kelly shook his head. "No, not that I know of. Like I said, everything McDonough knows is in Dorchester. He'd maybe branch out into one of the other neighborhoods, but not this far away. He's not a suburbs guy. He's got to feel crazy out here. Makes me wonder where he's going."

As if he were somehow telepathically communicating with his friend, the red dot stopped moving. Scanning the map, they could see he had pulled into a commercial lot containing a hardware store and weed shop.

Kelly pulled the car to a stop on the adjacent street, parking on the road with a good eye on the lot’s entrance.

McDonough's vehicle didn't move. A few minutes passed.

Kelly considered doing a drive-by of the lot to see if his friend was meeting with somebody, and was about to take his foot off the brake when a white panel van nosed out from the lot and waited to turn west onto the street. Ray's Electric was stenciled on the side, and at the wheel was none other than Bobby McDonough. He turned left without looking in their direction.

"You think he saw us?" Kelly asked softly.

"No, I don't. Your friend moonlighting