Kurt Stevens's Blog, page 11
October 9, 2013
Chapter 28: Showtime
Tailing Martin Dawes wasn’t difficult. Hours spent playing Grand Theft Auto had taught me to stay three blocks back, but I soon realized that caution’s only necessary if someone is expecting to be followed. I could’ve ridden his bumper from his office to his home in Worthington, and I doubt he would have noticed.
He pulled his beat-up minivan into the driveway of a suburban ranch with more lawn art than a Cracker Barrel store and hopped out.
“Is this his house, or his mom’s?” I wondered aloud a...
October 8, 2013
Chapter 27: Last Call
Forty minutes later I left the gun shop with a holster for Greg’s Sig Sauer 9mm, a Taser, and a 7-inch K-Bar knife. I stopped at a convenience store and picked up a pre-paid cell phone, just in case. Then I drove back to the law office of Martin Dawes and waited. It was just like being back at work, sitting around doing nothing, waiting for something to happen.
Martin Dawes’ office was about as well cared for as a highway exit. Martin, or whoever owned the single-office side street building, h...
October 7, 2013
Chapter 26: Breaking Dawes
When I arrived at Martin Dawes’ office that morning, I listened to talk radio in Sam’s Toyota and sipped a Dr. Pepper for two hours. My fingers ticked nervously on the steering wheel. I found myself vehemently agreeing with everything the local talk show host was saying, nodding my head in excitement.
When I caught a glance of myself in the rearview mirror during such a fit, I almost punched myself in the face. I slapped the dial, and the radio went silent. The radio station frequency faded aw...
Chapter 26: Gearing Up
It wasn’t just that Tolliver told me about Martin Dawes, it was also the fact that Tonya had never mentioned him that told me he would have answers. Before I’d arrived at his office, I wasn’t sure why the Martin Dawes I had imagined would be involved with my wife. When he parked his mini-van behind me, a whole new world of possibilities opened up.
I thought about going into his office to ask him a few questions – size him up. He might recognize me, which would spoil the element of surprise. I...
October 5, 2013
Week 5 In Review
Thanks for enjoying another week of Capital Offense. I have a feeling it’s about to get real. Real real.
In case you missed a day this week, here are the chapters that we released.
Chapter 21: Boxes and Bags
Chapter 22: Preliminary Research
Chapter 23: Sweet Talk
Chapter 24: Born Again
Chapter 25: Gearing Up
We’ve also added a Table of Contents, in case you’re looking for something earlier. And if you’re new here, we recommend that you Start at The Beginning.
If you’re following the book on GoodReads...
October 4, 2013
Chapter 25: Breaking Dawes
When I arrived at Martin Dawes’ office that morning, I listened to talk radio in Sam’s Toyota and sipped a Dr. Pepper for two hours. My fingers ticked nervously on the steering wheel. I found myself vehemently agreeing with everything the local talk show host was saying, nodding my head in excitement.
When I caught a glance of myself in the rearview mirror during such a fit, I almost punched myself in the face. I slapped the dial, and the radio went silent. The radio station frequency faded aw...
Chapter 25: Gearing Up
It wasn’t just that Tolliver told me about Martin Dawes, it was also the fact that Tonya had never mentioned him that told me he would have answers. Before I’d arrived at his office, I wasn’t sure why the Martin Dawes I had imagined would be involved with my wife. When he parked his mini-van behind me, a whole new world of possibilities opened up.
I thought about going into his office to ask him a few questions – size him up. He might recognize me, which would spoil the element of surprise. I...
October 3, 2013
Chapter 24: Born Again
I was sixteen. I’d like to think that my motivation for attending church the first time was more pure than just wanting to be with Tonya, but that’s not true. All I could do while I was there was search the pews for her signature wave of hair among the blue-haired kneelers of her stodgy, fundamentalist congregation.
When I saw her, I nearly dropped to my knees. My chest tightened as I slowly made my way over to her, aware of the fact that my thoughts were impure and that I was under the watchf...
October 2, 2013
Chapter 23: Sweet Talk
I jumped into the back seat, changed into a pair of Greg’s khakis and a blue long sleeve button-down shirt. I slid on a generic fleece jacket to complete the everyman ensemble.
After pulling Greg’s Toyota behind a dumpster, I stepped out of the car and threw the keys in the garbage. It was chilly, low fifties, but it was also Friday night at Ohio State. I hit the nearest college bar, pretended to drink while I searched out the lushes. Only males—young, stupid, weak, someone like me at that age...
October 1, 2013
Chapter 22: Preliminary Research
I drove a mile over the speed limit because I read somewhere that cops are least suspicious when you’re just barely breaking the law. It was time to follow my only lead: Martin Dawes, the man who’d emailed Tonya.
On I-70, I headed west toward Columbus’s Short North district. My destination was the UPS Store on Fifteenth. The small store off High Street was one of the last places in town where you can rent the Internet.
I had gone there a few months ago to order a present for Tonya because I did...
