Chapter 5 - THE STRANGER WHO CAME TO THE CABIN
Three days later, a black SUV stopped outside Harold Morrison's cabin.
Harold watched from the window.
His expression hardened.
“Wyatt, stay inside.”
The boy looked up from his homework.
“Why?”
“Just do as I say.”
Titan rose immediately.
A low growl rumbled in his chest.
Two men stepped from the SUV.
Both wore dark coats.
One carried a folder.
The other kept his hands in his pockets.
Harold opened the door.
“Can I help you?”
The taller man smiled.
“Mr. Morrison?”
“Yes.”
“We're looking for the boy who found Jackson Kesler.”
Harold's stomach tightened.
“Why?”
The man smiled again.
“We represent a private foundation. Mr. Kesler would like to thank him.”
Harold stared.
“Then Mr. Kesler can call me himself.”
The man's smile faded.
“It's a generous offer.”
Harold stepped onto the porch.
“My grandson isn't interested.”
The second man looked toward the window.
Wyatt was watching.
Titan stood beside him.
The man smiled faintly.
“That's a big dog.”
Harold's voice hardened.
“Get off my property.”
The taller man opened his folder.
Inside was a photograph.
Wyatt.
Walking home from school.
Harold went cold.
“Where did you get that?”
The man closed the folder.
“Tell the boy to stay quiet about what he saw.”
Harold stared.
Then stepped closer.
“You listen carefully.”
His voice was low.
“You come near my grandson again, and I'll call the sheriff.”
The man laughed.
“Sheriff?”
Harold didn't smile.
“Yes.”
The men returned to the SUV.
As they drove away, Harold memorized the license plate.
Then he went inside.
Locked the door.
And called the police.
Wyatt stood beside Titan.
“Grandpa?”
Harold turned.
“It's okay.”
Wyatt shook his head.
“No, it isn't.”
Harold swallowed.
Then Wyatt whispered:
“Are they going to hurt Mr. Jackson?”
Harold looked at him.
“I don't know.”
That evening, Jackson received the report.
He sat upright in bed.
“What?”
Reed repeated what Harold had told the sheriff.
Two men.
Black SUV.
Photograph of Wyatt.
Threats.
Jackson's face changed.
The Reaper returned.
For one terrible moment, the man who'd built an empire through fear rose inside him.
He wanted names.
Addresses.
Revenge.
Then he looked at the lucky stone.
And remembered Wyatt's voice.
Until you're not scared anymore.
Jackson closed his eyes.
“No retaliation.”
Reed stared.
“What?”
“Not against their families. Not against anyone we merely suspect.”
Reed frowned.
“Jackson—”
“We're going to do this differently.”
He called his attorney.
Then the sheriff.
He offered full cooperation.
May you like
For the first time in his life, Jackson Kesler chose the law over revenge.
And the decision terrified the people who'd expected him to respond with violence.
