Prey by William W. Johnstone

Author:William W. Johnstone [Johnstone, William W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2016-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

Eighteen

The two men rode in silence for a time, wandering the back roads of the county. After a few miles, just as dusk was settling over the land, Don said, “He could be anywhere.”

Barry glanced out at the gathering gloom. “Probably back at his rental house, sitting in the dark. Don, has Vic made bail yet?”

Don shook his head, stepped on the brake, cut down a gravel road, and said, “Not to my knowledge. This is a shortcut to the lake. We’ll be there in fifteen minutes or so. I want to talk to this bastard.”

“And what will you say?”

“I don’t know. I’ll think of something. If he gets too lippy, I’ll have the boys throw a net over him and lock him down. Then he can shape-shift all he likes, but he won’t be able to get past steel doors and bars.”

Barry smiled. “That would certainly be a sight to see.”

“Sounds as though you’d like to see it.”

“Oh, I would. John and I are not exactly what you might call friends.”

Don pulled into the driveway just in time to see John Ravenna walk out of the woods behind the lake house and pause by the side of the house as the sheriff pulled in. He walked over to the unit.

“Gentlemen,” Ravenna said with a mocking smile. “Ah! Good evening, Sheriff Salter. Out for a little drive in the twilight, are we? I’ve been walking in the woods for the past hour or so. It’s such a lovely part of America. How may I be of assistance to you?”

“We, ah, saw you coming out of the woods,” Don said. “Didn’t recognize you at first, Mr. Ravenna. Thought you might be a prowler and wanted to check it out.”

“Heavens, me!” Ravenna replied with that same mocking smile. “A prowler. Think of that. I’d probably have a heart attack if confronted by some criminal element. Violence is something I try to avoid. But I do thank you for your concern.”

“Have a nice evening, sir,” Don told him.

“Thank you, I shall.”

Don backed out of the drive and headed back to town. Just around the bend, he slowed and pulled in beside a van with two men in the front.

“Federal agents?” Barry asked.

“Yes.” Don lowered his window and spoke to the driver. “He’s back in his house now. Said he’s been out walking in the woods.”

“He’s slippery as sheep shit,” the driver said, giving Barry a visual once-over. “There is more going on here than meets the eye. I just wish I knew what it was.”

“Yes. Well,” Don said, suddenly uncomfortable. “You boys take it easy. See you around.”

A few hundred yards down the road back to town, Don’s radio began squawking. “Sheriff!” dispatch hollered, panic in the man’s voice. “The damn jail just blew up!”

* * *

When the heavy charge of dynamite blew, it threw one jailer through an office window, depositing him in a trailer load of watermelons that a deputy had brought in just that day, the vehicle having expired plates, no brake lights, and defective brakes, among other charges.

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