The Killing Moon by Dan Padavona (books you have to read TXT) 📗

a flashlight, she kept it off. No need to alert the fugitive.

Raven swept her vision across the exercise room. In the half-light, the strength training machines looked like slumbering, apocalyptic monsters. This place should be lit like a Christmas tree, lifters grunting as they pushed through repetitions. Instead, it felt like a metallic graveyard. To the right, a turnstile blocked access until visitors slipped their membership cards into a reader.

As they crossed the floor and neared the front windows, a flash of motion in the parking lot caught Raven’s eye. She touched Aguilar’s arm. The deputy pulled up as a man in a gray hooded sweatshirt crossed the road and angled toward the laundromat across from the gym.

“Is that him?” Raven asked.

Aguilar bounded toward the entrance without answering. The deputy leaped the turnstile and sprinted down the hallway to a pair of glass doors. She shoved the handle. Padlocked chains prevented the doors from opening.

“Dammit!”

Aguilar rattled the doors in frustration and peered through the glass. The unidentified man disappeared between the laundromat and a bicycle repair shop. She reported the sighting to dispatch as she reversed course and ran through the gymnasium. Raven rushed to keep up, following the deputy between the benches, through the locker room, and out the back door.

“That must have been Benson,” Raven said as they hustled for their vehicles.

“He was in the building,” Aguilar said. “The scumbag must have seen my cruiser in the parking lot.”

Raven’s tires squealed as the Rogue leaped out of the parking lot. She raced around the block as Aguilar flashed her lights and drove through a red light. The deputy’s cruiser bucked over a curb and motored down the alleyway beside the laundromat. A sheen of sweat broke along Raven’s brow as she weaved between vehicles. She slammed her hand against the horn to force a hatchback out of her way. The driver saluted her with an obscene gesture as she raced past.

The SUV fishtailed when she took the turn too fast. As she neared the alleyway, Aguilar’s cruiser motored into the thoroughfare and braked along the curb. The deputy lowered her window when Raven stopped beside her.

“He’s gone. Let’s hope Kane Grove PD catches him before he hits the highway.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

October 31st

12:55 p.m.

When the principal led Leland Trivett into the conference room, the boy caught sight of Thomas and Presley and froze like a deer caught in the headlights of an onrushing car.

“What’s this about? I didn’t do anything?”

The way the boy’s eyes darted around the room made Thomas question his innocence. Thomas rose from his chair and gestured at the open seat across from them. Leland glanced at the principal, then back to Thomas and Presley before sitting down. The boy’s body trembled, and his hands wrung together in his lap. On the wall, a clock ticked with grim finality. The principal exited the room and closed the door.

“Leland Trivett?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Sheriff Shepherd, and this is Detective Presley with the Kane Grove Police Department.”

“Am I in trouble?”

“We just want to ask you a few questions,” Presley said, smoothing out her voice.

“About what?”

“I understand you’re close friends with Derek Jordan.”

Leland’s eyes widened. He dropped his head again and scratched his neck.

“Yeah, we’ve been friends since grade school. Why are you asking about Derek?”

“We understand Derek was supposed to sleep at your house last night,” said Presley, tapping a nail against the table.

“I invited him, yeah. But he didn’t show.”

“What time did you invite Derek over?”

“A little after midnight, I guess.”

Thomas noted the time. Even if the tech team couldn’t read the SD card from Derek’s phone, the cell company would confirm the messages.

“You were up late for a school night. Weren’t your parents concerned?”

Leland shrugged.

“They crashed early. I played Call of Duty with my headphones on so I didn’t bother them.”

“Where was Derek when you invited him to spend the night?” asked Thomas. Leland studied the table. “It’s all right. You can tell us the truth.”

“He sneaks out a lot. Derek was with Valerie.”

Thomas glanced at Presley. This was the second time Valerie’s name had surfaced today.

“Valerie Leonard?”

“That’s her. How do you know Valerie’s name?”

“Is Valerie Derek’s girlfriend?” Leland squirmed in his chair. “There’s nothing illegal about teenagers dating, Leland. Answer the question.”

“I think so. They hung out a lot over the summer.”

“Was Derek with Valerie when he wrote you?” Presley asked, setting her arm on the empty chair to her left.

Leland thought for a moment and shook his head.

“No. He was on his way home, so I invited him to spend the night. Derek lives on the other end of Barton Falls. Our house is on the way.”

“So you understand Barton Falls is a dangerous place after dark.”

“It can be.”

“And you weren’t concerned when Derek didn’t show?”

Leland placed the heels of both palms over his eyes.

“I fell asleep.”

“So you’re not even sure if Derek made it to your house. Perhaps he knocked, and you didn’t hear him. Didn’t you say you were wearing headphones?”

“I stopped gaming after Derek messaged me back. My room is down the hall from the front door, so I would have heard him knock. Derek would have banged on the bedroom window if he couldn’t get in. Anyhow, Derek and Gardner have keys to the house.”

“Gardner?”

“Gardner Raimi. The three of us game together. I don’t want them banging on the door late at night and bothering my parents.”

“Your parents don’t mind them having keys?”

Leland shook his head.

“We’ve known each other since grade school. Derek and Gardner are like family.”

“What time did you wake up?”

Leland fidgeted in his chair.

“When my mom told me to get ready for school. It must have been six-thirty. I figured Derek blew me off and walked home.”

“Didn’t you worry when he didn’t show up for school?”

“Did something happen to Derek?”

Thomas tilted his chin at the boy.

“You have allergy problems this time of year, Leland? Leaf mold and such?”

“Not really, why?”

“Your eyes. They’re bloodshot and irritated.”

Leland lowered his head and swept a hand through his fair hair.

“Like I