Page 14 of Preying Game

Feeling her desperation, he could only say yes. And he didn’t want to break the connection either.

Tell me about yourself, she said.

He thought about what to say. You know I work for a security company. I have a degree in criminal justice from the University of Maryland.

Why didn’t you go into the police force?

I did. Then I met Frank Decorah, and his agency seemed like a better fit.

Tell me something fun about yourself.

The first thing that came into his head was, I’m really good at Monopoly. We had a club at my school.

Oh, me too. My brothers and sister and I loved to play. Do you have siblings?

No. I was an only child. My Mom was a teacher in Baltimore. My dad worked for the Social Security Administration. They’re both gone.

I’m sorry.

Decorah Security is like my family now, he answered, thinking how lucky he was that Frank had sought him out. Tell me about yourself.

I’m pretty ordinary.

I don’t think so. He must have picked you for a reason.

Maybe because I’m athletic. I grew up on a farm.

You did?

Uh huh. I had two brothers and a sister. My dad probably wished more of us were boys, but we all had to pitch in with the chores. I milked cows, fed chickens, collected eggs.

Sounds like fun.

Anything sounds like fun if you don’t have to do it every day.

He was about to ask another question, when he heard her gasp.

What?

I think he knows I’m awake. Oh Lord, I have to go.

Before he could say more, she broke off the conversation, and he felt like one of his arteries had been severed.

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