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But no. His dad could get angry, could do terrible things, but he would never kill him. He wouldn’t. John’s throat felt tight, like he’d just swallowed a mouthful of dry cereal, as he forced himself to believe it. But if his dad wouldn’t hurt him, then why had he hurther?
John couldn’t contain the question any longer. “Why did you kill her?”
His father stopped and extended his arm across John’s chest. In a small clearing up ahead, two deer jerked their heads toward the sound. His dad kept his palm on John’s breastbone as the deer stared at them before bounding in the opposite direction, the white underside of their black tails bouncing up and down as they disappeared into the woods.
“Good thing we aren’t hunting,” his dad said, ignoring John’s question. “The secret to hunting is to not let your prey knowyou’re coming. The element of surprise is a hunter’s greatest weapon.”
John stared in the direction of the deer, unsure of whether his dad was referring to hunting animals or humans.
His dad smiled. “Ready to fish?”
John swallowed over the growing lump in his throat. “Yeah.”
Halfway back through the woods, in the empty grass lot adjacent to them, a car door slammed. John peered through the thinning trees. When he saw the vehicle that had parked behind his dad’s blue Ford Fairmont, a wave of dread washed over him. It was a police cruiser. Bold green letters marked the side:SHERIFF King County.
John watched a muscular man wearing a navy-blue suit put his hands on his hips, exposing his silver badge. His stocky build and dark hair reminded John of Sylvester Stallone. He approached his father’s car, studying the rear license plate.
His father placed a hand on the back of John’s neck as they neared the edge of the forest. A cold knot formed in his gut at the thought of that same hand closing around Sally’s windpipe. When the two of them reached the lakefront lot, the detective whipped his head in their direction then strode toward them.
“Let me do the talking,” his father said in a low voice.
“I’m Detective Peretti from King County Major Crimes.” He looked between John and his father without offering a handshake. Instead, he pulled back his suit jacket on one side, exposing his badge and holstered revolver. “Can I ask what you two are doing in those woods?”
“Just taking a walk,” John’s father said, lowering his steady hand to the top of John’s back.
“Huh.” The detective flexed his jaw, seeming to size up his father. “Did you know the body of a young woman was discovered in these woods only three days ago?”
His father didn’t answer.
“We believe she could’ve been a victim of the Green River Killer,” the detective added. He pointed behind him toward their parked cars. “You own this lot?”
His father shook his head. “No.”
The detective’s brown eyes narrowed. “Then you’re trespassing. This is private property.”
“Oh. Sorry, I didn’t know that. I was just going to let my boy throw a line in the water. But in that case, we’ll find another lake.”
John looked up at his father, impressed by his calm demeanor. There wasn’t a trace of a tremor in his voice.
“Let’s go, John.” His father started toward the car.
“Actually, I’d like you to come down to the precinct. Answer a few questions.” The detective glanced at John before turning back to his father. “If you don’t mind.”
His father spun around. John had read enough to know that his father didn’t have to go with the cop if he didn’t want to.
“I don’t mind at all,” his father said.
John gaped at his dad.What is he doing?Panic gripped him. Was his father going to confess?
“You want us to follow you?” his father asked.
The detective looked triumphant. “That would be great.”
John climbed into the backseat and waited until his dad closed the driver’s side door before he spoke.
“Are you going to confess?” John kept his voice to a whisper even though the detective in the car behind them was already backing out onto the road.
His dad whipped around and put a hand on John’s leg, just like he had after he’d killed Sally.