Free Borderline by Chase T. A. Page A

trailing the woman.
    He peered over the edge of the paper as she walked past him. With long blonde hair and big blue eyes, she looked good, if he went for that kind of woman. He didn’t and never had, but he understood why the other guys on the sidewalk watched her stroll past, hips swinging.
    Her phone rang, and she dug it out from her purse. After standing, he folded the newspaper and tucked it under his arm. He straightened his suit coat before heading after her, acting like a businessman on his way home from work. Slowly weaving his way through the crowd, he came up right behind her. She chatted on the phone, ignoring everyone around her. Hell, he could pick her pocket without the woman realizing it until she got home.
    Shaking his head, he eased back, not ready to make his move yet. The urgency wasn’t as strong as he needed it to be to take her. He was still running on the satisfaction from his last kill. The woman had been a fighter. It took far longer for her to stop struggling and lose consciousness than the other women. There were far more slices on her than he liked. It had looked messy when he finished laying her out in the pentagram.
    He trailed her to the corner of her street. He knew what she was going to do. She would go home and change before leaving for her gym for her nightly workout. Once finished with that, she’d return home and stay in during the week. On the weekends, she’d work out, return to her house and change, then head to one of the clubs. He’d followed her while she went dancing with friends or on a date. He’d been tracing her routine for a week or more. Even before he took the last woman, he’d been searching for his next victim.
    Continuing past her corner, he went down to the next one and dropped the act, moving quickly toward where he’d left his truck. He would come back in a day or two after finding the perfect place to take her and writing his letter. A terrible smile crossed his face at the fear he’d cause with his communication.
    * * * *
    Mac held the bag of barbecue in his hand as he knocked on Tanner’s door. He glanced around at the small front porch and yard. It was well kept, but the railings needed a coat of paint.
    Tanner opened the door, and Mac caught his breath at the welcoming smile on Tanner’s face. He didn’t remember anyone ever looking as happy to see him as Tanner, not even his adopted father. He held up the bag of food.
    “Barbecue.”
    “Awesome, and you got it from Goode’s.”
    “Where else would I get it from?” He grinned as he walked inside.
    Laughing, Tanner led the way to the kitchen. “True. I’ll grab the plates, if you want to unpack the food. What do you want to drink?”
    “Beer.”
    Mac set the food on the table while Tanner set out the plates and silverware. He grabbed some paper towels and sat across from Tanner. They split the ribs and brisket between them, along with the cornbread and baked beans. Silence reigned except for an occasional moan of pleasure for the food.
    With the last rib finished, Mac leaned back in his chair and groaned. “I always end up working out twice as long after eating at Goode’s.”
    “It’s definitely a meal where you can feel your cholesterol climbing with each bite.” Tanner pushed away from the table and grimaced as he stood. “All I want to do right now is curl up on my couch and take a nap.”
    Mac chuckled. “Sounds good to me, but we need to do some work tonight.”
    “I know.”
    Tanner started to clear the table, and Mac stood to help him. They got the dishwasher filled and ready quickly. Mac grabbed two more beers out of the refrigerator while Tanner turned it on. Mac set the bottles down and turned, reaching out to rest his hands on Tanner’s hips.
    “Before we get into the photos and all the other shit, I need to kiss you.”
    Mac could see his declaration surprised Tanner slightly by the widening of the man’s eyes. Yet there wasn’t any protest as he pulled Tanner close and