She laughed, allowing herself a rare, full-throated moment of pure joy.

Yes, she said. I absolutely do.

He moved the walker to the side and put his hands on her shoulders. For a moment she thought he might actually try to dip her.

Next time, he said, his eyes bright but his breath slightly labored. Taking rest of the week…off. Too pooped.

It was the first time theyd been standing together face to face in forever and she couldnt let the opportunity slip by. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she leaned in and kissed him. Then, very slowly and carefully, she guided him back to bed and tucked him in. He was asleep before she left the room.

Jessie returned to the guest room, which she was increasingly hopeful was only a temporary arrangement. She got ready for bed, climbed under the sheets, and turned out the lights. And then, within moments, she too was asleep.

And unlike so many recent nights, she didnt have a single nightmare.

EPILOGUE

He waited until the young man had settled in for the evening before he started.

By the time he rang Jared Hartungs doorbell, hed already spent several hours in the mans house, preparing for the events to come. But none of that planning diminished the excitement of this moment.

It had been years since hed engaged in a true hunt. For the last two decades, hed been reduced to the occasional use of the homeless to sate himself, but no longer. After seeing Jessie Hunt, the protégé of his long-time nemesis, Garland Moses, on the news, hed been inspired. He was ready to resume his work.

Yes? Jared said when he opened the door, barefoot and wearing a UCLA T-shirt and sweatpants.

Im so sorry to trouble you, young man, he replied, playing up his hunched back and raspy voice. My car conked out on the street just over there and my cell phone seems to have died as well. I was hoping I might borrow your phone to call the auto club.

Jared seemed torn between civic duty and the desire not to be bothered when he was trying to relax.

Um he started.

I promise not to be a nuisance. After I call for assistance, Ill wait in the car. I dont want to disrupt your evening.

That reassurance seemed to persuade Jared.

Sure, Jared said. The phones in the kitchen.

He stepped inside, and Jared closed and locked the door.

The old man smiled. That was one less thing for him to take care of later. He followed Jared into the kitchen, delicately removing the syringe from his jacket pocket when the younger man looked the other way. In the other hand, he held his wallet at the ready.

There you go, Jared said, pointing at the phone.

Thank you so much, the old man said as his wallet dropped from his hand onto the floor between them. Oh dear, Ill get that.