Page 55 of Hunter or Hunted

“About getting a drink together?” he asked. When I nodded, he continued. “I don’t know. I didn’t get his number or anything. He said he’d be at the refreshment hall all morning. Figured it was a waste of time honestly. And I didn’t think you’d wanna hang out with Delilah’s friends and family all morning.”

“Well, I do wanna ask around. Maybe talk to those friends Ava was hugging if they’re there.” I stood and headed for the dresser.

Sebastian was one of those live-out-of-my-suitcase-all-trip kinda people. As soon as we got in though, I’d organized all my things in the drawers. In the top one lay my spiral-ring notebook. I grabbed it and headed for the chair in the corner.

“But I had another idea too.” As I sat, facing Sebastian, I summoned a smile. I hoped it came off sweet, but judging by the downward turn of his lips, it came off mischievous.

“Why do I have the feeling it’s a bad one?” he said.

“Apparently because you have no faith in me.”

He gestured to the notebook. “What’s in there, Gwen?”

“Now I don’t wanna tell you. You’re doing that ‘looking down on me’ thing again.”

“Because you’ve got that same mischievous look in your eyes as the day you asked me to do this shit with you.” Still, he sat on the edge of the bed. As if to say, See? I’m not looking down on you. Just looking at you. “What’s in the notebook, Gwen?”

There was that disapproving tone again. “Look, if you don’t want to get involved in this, I get it. You don’t have to. If you want to know nothing, I’ll tell you nothing. Plausible deniability and all that.”

“As you know, I’m a good liar. I don’t need plausible deniability.” He reached out for the journal.

I tugged it back. “And I don’t need you to tell me that this is illegal, or I could get caught, or that this might be a bad idea. I know all of that, I’ve considered the consequences, and I’m still gonna do it.”

Deep breath escaping his nostrils, he propped his elbows on his knees. “Alright. I won’t be an asshole about it. What’s in the notebook, Gwen?”

“Evan’s address,” I said. “And directions to get there from here.”

Sebastian squinted for half a second. Then his shoulders sank. “You’re gonna break into his house?”

“Yep.”

“Why?” Face screwed up in confusion, he shook his head. “And where’d you get that? Shit, did you google him? Did you leave a paper⁠—”

“See, that’s what I’m talking about.” I narrowed my eyes. “If you keep acting like I’m an idiot, I’m not gonna tell you anything else.”

His disappointed frown came back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply you were stupid. I don’t think you are. But can you answer the questions, please?”

I huffed. “Before we left, I went to the library in Black Pines. I used a burner, logged onto their Wi-Fi, and searched for Delilah online. It wasn’t hard to find her. Wasn’t hard to find Evan from there either. He’s very active on Facebook. Posts almost every day. Usually pictures of himself or random life updates. I got his work schedule, employer name, and then his address. With that, I found the realtor listing from when he bought the house three years ago. I know the exact layout, the entry points, and where all the windows are located. From the Google Maps photos, it doesn’t look like he has cameras either. I could be wrong, but I’ve got a plan for that too. The big thing was making sure he’d be out of the house for a while so I could get in there and look around. It actually works out perfect. If you’re getting a drink with him, I’ll know he’s not home, and I have the perfect opportunity.”

Sebastian’s frown hadn’t gone anywhere, but there was something else in his eyes now. Pride, maybe? Amusement? “What’re you looking for?”

Biting my lip, I raised my shoulders. “I don’t know. Something that proves he was in Black Pines? A crumpled gas station receipt in his pants pocket? A mark on a calendar? Something. I don’t know. But I know that you’re right. If I’m gonna do this, I need proof. This is the only way I can think to get it.”

Another deep breath fell from his nostrils. He rubbed from his eyes down the bridge of his nose. “If he’s smart, you’re not gonna find anything.”

“He flunked out of college, went back to his hometown, and started dating a teenager. I don’t think he’s all that smart.”

“Valid.” Sebastian squinted me over. “What’s the plan if he has cameras?”

“There’s gotta be a blind spot somewhere,” I said. “It’s one level with a basement, and it butts up against the woods. All the brush was cleared when he moved in, but from the map images, he’s let some shrubs grow up. I can crawl under them and get in through the basement window. It’s small, but I measured my hips and shoulders. I can squeeze in.”

Giving me another once-over, he straightened up. “You’ve thought of everything, huh?”

“Just about,” I said. “Still not sure what I’ll do if someone comes in while I’m there. I guess go to jail? Which then eliminates my chances of getting away with killing him, because if he shows up dead, I’ll be the obvious suspect. But hopefully it doesn’t come to that.”

“Well, better you go to jail for breaking and entering than murder, so.” He leaned back on the bed, propping himself against the mound of pillows. “I support it. Do what you gotta do.”

I laughed and brought myself to my feet. As I sat on the bed beside him, stretching out my legs, I propped myself up on an elbow. “You’re not gonna lecture me?”