Storm Chaser: Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Elena detoured to the grocery store before heading home, leaving Spin curled up in the floorboard. She frowned at the sleeping cat.

“I’ll be quick,” she said, not liking to leave the cat in the car. Spin opened slitted eyes to peek at Elena and then closed them again seeming the picture of contentment. Realizing she had been dismissed, Elena grabbed her purse, and slid out of the car. She locked it behind her and walked quickly through the parking lot.

Mentally she ran through her list. It was a short one, bread and crackers for the tasting in the morning, seltzer for mixing drinks, plastic utensils for scooping and spreading, and something quick she could eat for dinner with no fuss. The small basket was quickly filled and Elena stood frowning at the freezer in the frozen foods aisle debating the merits of frozen pizza over microwavable Mexican food.

“Well imagine running into you here.” Elena turned towards the sound of the voice. Jonathan.

“Hello,” she said politely. Making a split second decision, she opened the glass door and grabbed the first pizza she saw.

“How have you been?”

“Fine,” she replied automatically. “I am sort of in a hurry though and can’t really stay to chat. I left the cat in the car and don’t really want to leave her too long in the cold.”

“Of course,” Jonathan said. Elena started walking towards the check out counter. Jonathan followed and Elena sighed inwardly. She took her place in line and Jonathan lined up behind her. She glanced into his basket. It held a tube of tooth paste, some disposable razors, a box of plastic wrap and a bag of frozen peas.

“Are you sure you are finished shopping?”

“Oh, um,” Jonathan looked down at his basket. “Yeah, I just needed a few things. You know just for tonight.” Elena smiled.

“Looks like it should be an interesting night at your place then.” Elena placed her items on the conveyer belt while he figured out how to respond. The tired teenager working the register slid her items over the electronic scanner. Elena pulled out her debit card, slid it through the machine and punched in her pass code. Idly she wondered if all those scanners caused brain tumors. Her items fit into two bags and she picked them up, along with her receipt.

“Have a nice night,” She called as she walked towards the doors. Jonathan quickly paid for his purchases and to her chagrin caught up with her just as she reached the door.

“So did you just get in?” he asked as they walked.
“Yes,” she said.

“You know we have been trying to reach you.”

“Oh?” Elena said. “I didn’t see any voicemail messages.” Jonathan blinked at her.

“Well we’re not exactly going to leave a message when anyone can hear it.”

“But I don’t have your phone number and I don’t answer calls from people I don’t recognize.” They reached Elena’s car and she was pleased to see Spin had taken no harm from her absence.

“Will you be in town for a while?” Elena thought about that for a second as she opened the car door and placed her packages on the passenger’s seat. She frowned. They would probably find her anyway.

“Yes, with the store opening I will need to be around for a while. It will be very busy around here.”

“Good we have some questions and issues,” Jonathan replied. She had the feeling he had chosen not to hear the part about her busy schedule. “We’ll have to set up a meeting as soon as possible.”

“Yes you will. Peter should be getting into town soon. I’m sure he will be happy to meet with you.” Elena smiled and got into her car. “Good night.” She shut the door and he backed away. Elena felt she had actually gotten the upper hand in the discussion. Spin stood and stretched as Elena backed out of her parking spot.

“Not that it will last long,” she told Spin. “They will find a way around Peter if they can.” The thought put her in a bit of a funk as she drove home. She parked her car in the garage behind her apartment building and took her groceries and cat upstairs, her duffle bag slung over her shoulder.

In the morning she would worry about getting her mail from her neighbor Kiera. Tonight she just wanted to go home, eat her pizza and do her laundry. At her front door Elena pulled out her keys and unlocked the door. Spin zipped inside like lightning as soon as the door was wide enough. Elena finished opening the door and saw Spin sitting beside her empty bowl and staring at Elena in an accusatory manner.

Elena shook her head and closed and locked the door behind her. She crossed the living room and put her grocery bags on the kitchen table and let her duffle fall to the floor. Spin meowed loudly, afraid that she had been forgotten.

“It isn’t like you are starving,” Elena told her as she got a can of cat food from the cabinet. Normally she would mix the small can with dry food but this time she didn’t bother.

“Everyone deserves a homecoming celebration.” Spin dug into the food as if she hadn’t eaten in years. Elena shook her head and took the cellophane off her frozen pizza. “You’ll get sick if you eat too fast,” she cautioned the cat as she slid the pizza into the oven. She clicked the dial to the appropriate temperature and set the timer. A knock sounded at the door. Elena thought about ignoring it but since her place was most likely still bugged the military would know she was cowering inside her apartment. She walked across the living room towards the front door.

“Please be Kiera,” she muttered as she leaned up and looked through the judas hole. Standing in front of her door with his arms crossed over his chest and a deep frown creasing his face was Smith.

“Damn.”