Page 27 of Stalker

“So that was it? He didn’t tell you anything else?’”

“No, you know me,” he chided. “I bugged him a couple more times, but he wouldn’t budge. When I didn’t hear from him for almost a week, I finally went to his house. He opened the door and was covered in bruises.”

“What happened?” I was beginning to think there was a lot more to this story.

“He tried to blow it off, but I persisted. Finally, he told me he’d been involved in a hunt.”

“Like shooting deer?”

“No, like hunting humans and he’d been one of the prey.”

“What?” At first, I was horrified. Then something ticked inside my mind and it was more than just curiosity. I felt a rush of excitement. “That’s insane. I’m not sure that’s legal.” A single bead of perspiration formed almost immediately along the back of my neck.

“I guess it is if you agree to becoming a contestant. From what he said, a lot of people apply, but few are chosen. All pretty powerful people too.”

That would lend some credence to what Mr. Wells had suggested about the company’s enemies.

“A hunt. I wonder what that entails?” A strangely appealing yet fleeting image of myself running in a forest or through a dark alley played out in my mind. I could almost feel hot breath beating down on me as the hunter came closer and closer. Wow. It had been way too long since I’d gone out and had a good time.

“He mentioned something about the hunters being in creepy masks and carrying spears and sticks. Since Brax had been drinking, I wasn’t one hundred percent certain he wasn’t embellishing at least part of the story. He had a tendency to do that.”

“Where did this happen?”

“He can’t remember. They were taken in a truck to the location. A huge forest and the participants were given some basic rules before being told to run.”

“So he was beaten physically?”

“I don’t think so, but he didn’t do so hot. I think he just wasn’t used to being lost in a forest. He didn’t say anyone physically hurt him. It was all about creating fear.”

“They were testing the contestants’ emotional stabilities and how they handled severe stress. Interesting. I take it that’s all he said?”

“He did mention he had a damn good time. I laughed in his face, but that’s just… not normal. I mean come on.” Cash rolled his eyes.

I thought about what Mr. Wells had told me. “True, but certainly if everyone agrees to the game, that’s not illegal.”

“No, you’re right. Maybe Mr. Wells didn’t tell you everything.”

Nodding, that’s exactly what I’d been thinking. “I wonder what it is.”

“Do you want me to ask around and see what I can find?” He was way too eager.

“No. Mr. Wells was very clear about keeping this on the down low.”

“Hmm… Are you going to do it? Being at the top is all you’ve ever wanted.” Cash looked at me quizzically. I’d be damned if he didn’t have a twinkle in his eyes.

“How in the world would I enter a world like the Blackwell Group? I can’t remember the last time I played a video game so I can’t fake getting a job and I’m certainly not going to become one of their top programmers. I’m a prosecutor and I can’t just go waltzing up to the owners and introduce myself. If they are walking on the wrong side of the law, they won’t take too kindly to me sniffing around. I might end up being fish food.”

He lifted his eyebrows and laughed. “I don’t think they’d kill you, for God’s sake. I doubt any company would like a kick-ass prosecutor to spy on them though. So…”

I could tell by the mischievous look on his face he had something up his sleeve. “So? What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything but see what I could find out about the Obsidian Society on my own.”

“And?”

“Nothing.”

I took a sip, then another of my drink. “You had me all excited for a minute. Let’s order. I’m starving.”

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