Anatomy of Fear

50

He stands in the shadow of an abandoned building slathered with city notices, watches a kid balancing a blaring boom box pass by, bobbing to the salsa music.

And there they are.

His optic nerve snaps pictures of the man and the old lady with him. He watches them hug and kiss. The man leaves, the old lady begins to climb the stairs. As he takes another mental picture, the old lady turns and sees him, dark eyes narrowing, and something about the way she looks at him causes him to shudder.

He slinks back into the shadows and waits for the door to close behind her. Then he takes another picture. This is just what he needed.

He thanks God for the idea that has just come to him.