Page 111 of Sinner

Less than ten minutes later, I pulled the bike into the cramped parking lot, making a space near the back. I didn’t care if it was legal or not. I owned the joint.

With the helmet secured, I took long strides toward the front, yanking open the door. I was angry that anyone would dare destroy my limited peace, but also amused at their forceful attempt at threatening me.

I headed to the table where I’d sat with Jessica the night I’d pretended to interview her, keeping my back to the entrance. I had one weapon in the inner pocket of my leather jacket, another strapped to my leg. I’d learned to be extremely careful wherever I went long before learning enemies existed even in the gaming world.

I was well aware of the door opening and a lone person entering. There was no need to bristle or to become concerned. Only an idiot would open fire in the middle of a somewhat crowded location. This wasn’t some mafia turf war after all. I smirked at the thought.

Less than two minutes later, I sensed a presence behind me. The mystery guest stood watching, debating how to approach me. I smiled, remembering I’d always underestimated the man. He’d learned all my tricks and then some when we were running wild.

When a shot of tequila was placed in front of me, a second one off to the side, I shook my head.

“How long have you been following me, Michael?”

Jessica’s father, the one man who knew all my darkest secrets, slid the second shot closer to the chair opposite mine, sitting down as if years hadn’t passed.

I lifted my head, studying him the exact way he was doing with me. He’d aged, more so than I thought I’d done. I was surprised to see gray at his temples, but reminded myself he was several years older.

“Long enough to know you have something on your mind,” he answered and lifted the shot glass, waiting until I did the same. “I will say you know how to navigate a motorcycle.”

“It’s not just any motorcycle. It’s a Harley.”

“You always did enjoy taking risks.”

“So did you, back in the day. You were pretty daring with the rental car.”

“Some things change. Others don’t,” he admitted, laughing softly under his breath.

“Some aspects of our lives and needs don’t change as much as you would like to believe.”

He had a wry look on his face and was dressed in black. It was his attempt at either an act of solidarity or taking a moment to return to days we’d enjoyed more than he would likely admit to anyone.

I found it interesting he was dressed in all black as I was, the way we’d presented ourselves during the hunts we’d both participated in many years before. Granted, the tasks we’d performed at the time, while still criminal, were nothing in comparison to the ones I engaged in today.

Yet he’d been as enraptured by the thrill as much as I had.

Stalking.

Breaking and entering.

Hunting.

We’d enjoyed the fleeting aspects of being youthful and stupid while accomplishing very little. Of course his time had beenlimited. Not only by his family, but also because he was in medical school.

I’d had all the fucking time in the world, initially playing video games by day, perfecting my techniques as a monster by night. At least when I’d gotten my first coding job at twenty-something, I’d finally started to smooth out the rough edges.

“Don’t I always have something troubling on my mind?” I powered back the alcohol, amused that since our friendship had imploded, I hadn’t touched tequila.

He looked toward the bar, nodding to the bartender. “We both do. I read the article.”

“I’m sure you did.”

“Any of the blasphemous bullshit true?”

I laughed and sat back as the bartender brought a shot for Mike and a whiskey for me. “Even after all these years, I think you know the answer to that.”

“I guess I do. You were always into darker recesses of the mind and body. Racketeering is beneath you.”

He carried an expression like the one I remembered after a night of stalking. He was the one who’d taught me about the joys of observation, which was what he’d called how we handled discovering everything about a person’s life. He’d shared with me he’d learned the art to help him with his medical career.

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