Stalker

Chapter 2-3

Jake was beginning to doubt his sanity as he drove up and down the aisles in the zoo’s parking lot, looking for a free space. He was already running late, and now this. Eventually he found one, parked, and made the long walk to the ticket booth. Russ saw him coming and waved.

“Sorry,” Jake said as he joined him. “I’d have called to let you know I was behind schedule but we didn’t exchange numbers.”

“That’s okay. It gave me a chance to watch all the parents trying to keep their kids corralled. Makes me glad I’m not one of them.”

“A parent or one of the kids?” Jake teased as they got in line for their tickets.

“Both,” Russ replied with a laugh.

When they were inside the zoo proper, they debated what to see first. Russ wanted to check out the big cats while Jake was all for visiting the primate area, which was in the opposite direction.

“We’ve got all afternoon,” Russ said as he went left toward the cats. “We can see it all.”

“Uh-huh, if you say so.” Jake really didn’t care that much. It was a nice day for walking and if he didn’t see the gorillas he’d survive.

A good hour and a half later they’d almost made it to the bird house and the primates were in sight—once they went through the kids’ area with its train and carousel.

“Food,” Russ said, coming to a dead stop. Ahead of them was a restaurant that had, according to the sign, barbecue and beer.

“Okay, but we get it to go. I’m not sitting inside with a thousand screaming toddlers and teenagers.”

“I’m with you on that.”

They got sandwiches and cups of beer, and then found a vacant bench.

“Do you think people are looking weird at us?” Russ said after they’d begun to eat. “Two grown men trolling through the zoo?”

Jake chuckled. “I’m not sure we’re trolling, and I haven’t noticed anyone giving us funny looks, but then I’ve been watching the animals, not the people.”

“Who knew there were so many of them here? I mean animals.”

“The zoo keepers?” Jake grinned when Russ rolled his eyes. “We skirted half of them because someone didn’t want to visit the seals and otters or stop to look at the antelope and kangaroos.”

“Hey, we visited the giraffes. That should count.”

“Yeah, I guess. All we have left now is the birds and the monkeys.”

“Can we skip the birds?” Russ begged.

Jake bit back a laugh. “Well, if you insist.”

“I do. My feet are killing me.”

“Wuss,” Jake muttered but he knew what Russ meant. The zoo was bigger than he’d realized.

“Great. Monkeys then home. What time is your stakeout?”

“After the store closes,” Jake replied. “And that’s all I’m going to say about it.”

“Got it.”

They finished eating, tossed the wrappers in a trash can, and went to commune with the gorillas, orangutans, and other smaller primates. By the time they finished Jake was definitely ready to head home.

“This was fun,” Russ said when they got to the parking lot.

Jake was surprised to realize that it had been. It certainly wasn’t the sort of thing he’d have done on his own but having Russ along…Yeah, it was fun.

“We could try something different next Sunday. I mean if you want to,” Russ said.

“Like what? And you’d better not say catching a ballgame.”

Russ snorted. “As if. The Museum of Nature and Science, and how the hell did it get such a pretentious name? Or the art museum? I work right next door to it and I’ve never been inside.”

“Art’s not my thing but what the hell, it’s never too late to start learning about it,” Jake replied.

“So you’re willing?”

“Sure, why not. Same time and we’ll meet out front?”

“Deal. Okay, you’d better get moving if you’re going to make your stakeout. I’ll see you next Sunday, or before if we end up at The Copper at the same time some evening.”

“Which we might,” Jake replied. He started toward his car, stopping to watch Russ who was headed in the opposite direction. “Is this Sundays together going to become a ‘thing’?” he asked under his breath. What the hell, it’s better than sitting at home doing nothing and he’s easy to be with, and easy on the eyes, so we’ll see.