Page 18 of Bleed for You
Dalton gave him a chocolate smeared grin then popped a piece of toast in his mouth. Dalton shook his head, then glanced at his phone when it rang. Wagging his finger at Dalton, he went over to his phone and stared at the screen, a slight frown on his face, then answered it as he left the room.
Dalton tried to listen in, but Jinx kept his voice low so he couldn’t make out what was being said. When he came back in, he placed his phone on the counter and stared at it before facing Dalton and giving him a close-lipped smile. Dalton could sense the change in Jinx and mumbled, “Daddy?”
“Just a surprise job, my boy. Nothing to worry about.” Jinx sat next to Dalton and helped him finish his breakfast, then began cleaning up. Dalton watched his Daddy and licked his lips. “Now what does my boy want to do? Should we watch cartoons?” Jinx helped Dalton out of his highchair after cleaning his hands and face. “I think one of Dalton’s cartoons might be on the TV soon.”
Dalton took Jinx’s hand and let him lead him into the living room. He sat next to him on the sofa and smiled when Jinx put on his favorite cartoon about a dog and a group of humans who solve crimes. Dalton moved from the sofa and sat in Jinx’s lap, resting his head on Jinx’s chest as he sucked his thumb. Jinx pulled him close and kissed the top of Dalton’s head. Perfect, except Dalton still felt there was something different with his Daddy since the phone call.
They watched cartoons for a while, then Jinx carefully moved Dalton onto the sofa. “I need to make a phone call. Stay here, my boy.” Dalton watched Jinx move into the kitchen and partially close the door, and he couldn’t stop the frown from developing. He kept sucking his thumb, waiting for his Daddy to return, and when he did, he sat next to Dalton and put his arm over his shoulders, tugging Dalton into his side. “Want to watch a different cartoon?”
Dalton nodded. “Fireman!”
“Ahh, I know which one you want.” Jinx moved through the channels until the cartoon Dalton wanted came on. “This one?”
Dalton nodded and cuddled into Jinx’s side. “Yes, Daddy.”
They watched the cartoon and when it had finished, Jinx stood and held his hand out to Dalton. “Want to go to the park?”
Dalton nodded. He loved going to the park. They always found a place away from everyone else so he could be who he wanted to be, and Jinx could still be his Daddy. Jinx put a bag together with Dalton’s favorite snacks inside, then helped him get his sneakers and coat on. Holding his hand, they left Jinx’s houseand walked to his van where Jinx helped Dalton put his seat belt on. Once Jinx got in and started the engine, he smiled and asked, “Ready?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
Chapter Eleven
Jinx sat in his van watching the man he’d been asked to track. The man appeared to be in his mid-thirties, with light skin and short blond hair. He was the kind of man you glanced over, the kind you didn’t pay too much attention to. A man who blended in so seamlessly that you forgot all about him. Jinx knew differently, though. He was a man who preyed on those who were younger, vulnerable. A man who abused and murdered, destroying lives. A man who hurt those too young to be able to defend themselves, too young to run away and hide. Jinx despised him and he would make this man suffer for a long time before he ended his miserable life. And he would enjoy it. There was nothing better than listening to these kinds of people beg and plead and scream as he sliced and diced.
Did this man listen to his victims? Did he let his victims go?
No, so why should he?
Moving in his seat, he grunted when his back twinged. Sitting in his van for over an hour watching this man meant Jinx didsuffer some discomfort, but it was nothing compared to what this man had done to innocent children. Jinx could easily endure more if it meant he got his hands on this man and punished him. He had a list provided to him by one of the families he’d devastated, and Jinx would follow it to the letter. He’d escaped the law due to a technicality, but he would not escape Jinx. Once the job had been completed, he’d make sure word reached the family. That justice had been served.
Shifting again, he picked up his can of soda and took a long drink. Sighing, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and continued to watch. From the look of it, this man had his eyes on a young boy. Jinx had seen these kinds of people in action before, seen how they operate. He’d been doing his extra job for a couple of years now and had learned the tricks they employed to succeed.
The park he’d been staking out was beautiful. The trees in bloom, flowers along the paths, children playing. The perfect place for people like this man to roam. Perfect to find the perfect victim, who they could tail, talk to and isolate from their parents, then disappear with when a moment of distraction meant a parent had turned away. He’d seen a lot doing this, and each time the revulsion he felt for these kinds of people gripped him.
When his job was complete, there would be one less alive, and Jinx could live with that. Their deaths didn’t stain his conscience. He enjoyed it. There was no better sound in the world than their agonized screams. Smiling, he licked his lips, his eyes tracking his prey, and when he walked deeper into the park, Jinx left his van and trailed behind him. Never too close to arouse suspicion, but close enough that Jinx didn’t lose him. And he didn’t want to lose this man because he had plans for him.
Rafe Constance. Thirty-six years old. Single. Lived alone.
The man who Jinx would kidnap, torture, and kill, then dispose of his body in Jinx’s normal manner. An addition to the hole he would dig, especially for Rafe. A grave no one would know about, and no one would visit because men like Rafe didn’t deserve it. No, men like him deserved to experience extreme pain and fear before Jinx took their life.
In his mind, he was already preparing his plan, incorporating what the family wanted as well. Not that much compared to some requests he’d had, but he did like the skinning of Rafe’s balls… while he was awake and forced to watch. Jinx would have to look into it a little more to ensure he provided maximum pain while doing it. Nothing but the best for Rafe. Make him watch, make him feel every slice of his blade… if he used a blade. There were other instruments Jinx had at his disposal. He could use one that would tear the skin and flesh rather than slice it. He’d have to give it some more thought.
Strolling slowly after Rafe, Jinx whistled some silly tune. He didn’t want Rafe or anyone to realize what he was doing, so he would periodically call a dog’s name. The leash he held in his hand also added to the illusion he was walking his dog, and it helped him to blend in more. Rafe didn’t look back once, but then again, he was on the hunt. He had his eye on a boy; one he would never touch because Jinx would stop him.
Rafe left the path and walked over to a wooden bench, sitting and watching the young boy play on the swings and other equipment. Jinx slowed, glancing around the area, and noticed the path circled the play area. Walking on, he kept the leash on display, casting glances at Rafe to make sure he didn’t up and leave without Jinx noticing. He didn’t think Rafe would. The young boy held his complete attention, and Jinx wondered how none of the parents had realized there was a predator in their midst. It was obvious to Jinx that this man wasn’t a father and wasn’t there with a child, but he wasn’t a parent, and he saw theworld differently. He doubted the parents here would sing and dance as they slowly tortured someone to death.
Around thirty minutes later, Rafe pulled his phone out and snapped a few pictures, then appeared to note something. Jinx had seen phones from these people and knew he would no doubt have hundreds of photos of children. Probably more. He may have details of children too. Some did keep descriptions, and some didn’t.
After he’d done that, Rafe stood, putting his phone away, and walked away from the play area. Jinx followed at a distance, noticing who Rafe would give a second or third glance at, and it appeared he had a type. Young, slim, dark hair, pale skin, large eyes. Male. Rafe only looked at boys. Never the girls. Only boys caught his eyes and held his attention.
Gritting his teeth, Jinx watched Rafe leave the park and walk over to where he’d parked his car. Jinx slipped his phone out of his pocket and snapped a couple of photos of the car, then got into his van and followed. The black station wagon left the parking lot and Jinx waited a few seconds before doing the same. He wasn’t scared of losing Rafe. He’d placed a tracker under the wheel arch so he could easily find him if he did lose him, but he wanted to watch Rafe in action.
Jinx tailed him for close to an hour as Rafe went to one school, then another. He’d get out of his car and take photos of the children before leaving. Jinx also knew the spots Rafe liked to go to so he could jack off to the photos on his phone, but he had yet to locate the place Rafe took his victims. That hadn’t been found by the police either. It appeared Rafe was careful that there was nothing that linked him to this place. The only reason he’d been caught was because he’d been seen picking a boy up and trying to leave with him.
A mental health crisis and incorrectly completed documents had meant Rafe had to be released, but his arrest had meantthe family who now employed him had seen him and recognized him as the man they’d seen near the park where their son had disappeared from. They’d informed the police, but nothing had happened. Months of waiting had eventually taken its toll and now Jinx would finish the job. No other child would be this man’s victim.
Feeling his phone vibrate, Jinx ignored it. He stayed focused on the job at hand and didn’t want any distractions. Rafe. Now he was at another park, strutting his stuff as Jinx saw it. Strolling along the path like he owned the place, eyes scanning the area and only slowing when he saw children. “Hmm. You do have a type, don’t you, Rafe? Maybe I’ll show you photos of little boys and every time you get hard, I’ll shoot nails into you or slice a piece of skin off your body.” Jinx smirked. “Listen to you scream and beg. Then I’ll make you wish you were dead, but you won’t be, because I’ll make sure you stay alive for a long time.”
