After his father walked out on the family, when Forbes was only six, his grandfather began to take him along on regular fishing and hunting trips. Forbes couldn’t stand the cantankerous old bastard, who always made it clear what a burden the boy was to him, but Forbes enjoyed the chance to escape the grime of the city. And from an early age, he got a rush out of tracking prey, especially deer, whose speed and perceptiveness made them a worthy challenge. They were a thrill to bring down.

Forbes had taken his last hunting trip soon after his fourteenth birthday. He never made it home from that trip, spending the rest of his adolescence in juvenile lockup. As an adult, Forbes had no interest in hunting or fishing. He considered it akin to a professional golfer going out for a round of minigolf. What was the sense in wasting time that way?

He browsed through the fishing rods, choosing one of the more expensive ones with just the right give in his hands. He carefully sorted through the flies and picked the ones he considered most eye-catching. He smiled to himself, realizing he was never going to use the gear. But meticulousness was what distinguished his work. He refused to compromise on detail.

He carried his selections up to the counter. Behind the counter sat a sullen young girl with a pale complexion. She appeared to be in her early twenties. She wore glasses and smelled of the bubblegum she loudly chomped. With barely a glance at Forbes, she began to ring in his purchases.

“Ma’am,” Forbes asked. “How far is it to Struble Lake?”

The girl shrugged. “Five miles or so.”

“And there’s a boat launch there, huh?”

“Guess so,” she said, still not meeting his eyes. “I see them come by with their boats and trailers all the time.” She glanced out the window at the ten-foot trawler tied up to the back of his stolen minivan. “That one yours?”

He shrugged, then flashed her a coy smile. “Not much of a boat, but it’s watertight and holds the fish. And I’m aiming to catch me a big one.”

“Yeah,” she sighed. “You and everyone else’round here.”

Very different fish, Forbes thought as he picked up his bag and new rod off the counter.

29 - Seattle, Washington

29

Seattle, Washington