And there on the list of names and addresses was Bob’s Joanne Dart, a veritable youngster compared to her peers. Joanne Dart, 48, 2377 SW Winding Road Way, Portland, Oregon. Next to Joanne’s name was a button Bridget could click to purchase more information, including email addresses, social media profiles, and criminal records.

But what Bridget needed—Joanne’s full home address—was right there on the main, free listing. Bridget could stake it out, wait for her to leave, and then follow her Honda.

Reality set in. From watching cop shows, Bridget knew that when the police followed a suspect, they used several vehicles and took turns so the suspect didn’t get suspicious. Even though a Subaru Outback was Portland’s unofficial car, it seemed likely Joanne would eventually notice Bridget driving behind her, especially on rural roads.

In the Google search bar, Bridget typed in How to secretly follow someone.

A few clicks later, she was on an Amazon product page.

Peace of mind comes from knowing where everything is at all times. Do you need an easy yet stealthy way to track a teenager’s vehicle, a possibly philandering spouse, a wandering pet, an elderly parent, luggage, or other important belongings? Compact and discreet, our tracker is easy to slip into a backpack or piece of luggage. Or use its built-in magnet to attach it to the underside of a vehicle. Then our easy-to-use app will let you remotely track movements in real-time.

Just reading the product description made Bridget feel dirty. Since when were people “important belongings”?

Then she clicked the BUY button and paid extra for one-day delivery.

Next she drove to Joanne’s house to scope out the situation. It was in a newer clutch of houses, a neighborhood with cul-de-sacs and sidewalks. The houses were all variations on the same theme, two stories tall, painted in neutral colors, with closed two-car garages. This last observation made Bridget bite her lip. There would be no attaching the magnet in the middle of the night if the car was inside the garage.

But Joanne’s black Honda was sitting in the driveway. Bridget didn’t vary her speed or even turn her head as she drove past. A few blocks away, she found a spot on the edge of a small park where she could park the car when she returned with the tracker.

What else did she need? At Dick’s Sporting Goods, she picked up a pair of binoculars. Once she confirmed Bob was being held captive, she’d call the local police. In case she was confronted, she also got a baseball bat. Her last purchase was a Leatherman tool. If she had to, she could unscrew a door hinge or saw through ropes.