Page 39 of The First Hunt (The Final Hunt)

JOHN

B ehind the wheel of his dad’s Ford Fairmont, John dug a hand into the nearly empty bag of ruffled potato chips as he sat across the street from the house he’d been watching for the last hour. He’d seen movement more than once inside the front window, so he knew someone was home.

There were no cars in the driveway, which meant one had to be parked in the garage.

A few stray puddles on the street reflected the overcast sky, hinting at more rain on the way.

John finished what was left in his can of Coke, wishing he’d thought to bring a book.

Although, it was probably better that he hadn’t. He needed to stay focused.

He popped another chip into his mouth, glancing at the handwritten, anonymous message lying on the passenger seat.

He’d written the note before leaving school, then ripped it from his spiral notebook.

He tapped his foot, ignoring the growing pang in his bladder from drinking two Cokes since he’d gotten there.

If nothing happened in the next hour, he’d have to leave to find the closest public bathroom.

John reached into the bottom of the bag and stuffed a handful of broken chips into his mouth.

A few fell onto his sweatpants, and he looked down to pick them off.

Movement caught his eye out the passenger window.

He lifted his head to see a petite, older woman being dragged down the sidewalk by a large dalmatian on a taut leash. John sighed, getting beyond bored.

He dropped his gaze to his backpack on the floor of the passenger seat. He didn’t even have any homework. All his teachers were too distraught over the news that spread around school that afternoon to divvy out any assignments.

John reclined against the headrest. He checked his watch. If they didn’t go out soon, he’d have to leave his note on the front doorstep after dark, which would be a few hours from now.

The groan of a garage door opening across the street drew John’s gaze. A gray sedan with two men in the front backed out of the driveway. They had to be Tommy Reed and Holly’s ex-fiancé.

After overhearing Laurie tell his dad that Holly’s ex-fiancé was staying with Tommy Reed, an ex-drug informant living in Federal Way, John had looked him up in the White Pages.

Fortunately, there was only one Thomas Reed listed.

John twisted the key in the ignition and followed them out of the suburban neighborhood, making sure to stay at a safe distance.

After fifteen minutes, the sedan turned into a DMV.

John followed and parked in the rear corner of the parking lot.

Craning his neck to watch the two men get out of the car, John instantly recognized ex-detective Jared Peretti.

He’d gained some weight during his time in prison and looked even more muscular than when he’d shouted in John’s face after locking his dad out of the interview room.

The afternoon light caught a speckle of gray in his jet-black hair.

John waited for the two of them to go inside the building before snatching his note and striding across the parking lot.

John pulled his hood over his head and folded the notepaper in half as he walked.

When he reached Jared’s ride, John tucked the note beneath the windshield wiper of the passenger side.

He glanced at the patchy sky. There shouldn’t be any rain before they came out.

John strode back to his car with a spring in his step. Soon, his problems—and his father’s—would be over.