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Jon took an off-rah to see that they were on Little Pony Road Moments later Walker felt the car slow, turn left, and stop Jon got out of the car, leaving the engine running Walker roused himself from his reverie and looked out He knew the place well, a pocket park once known as Passion Peak Jon re vehicles He returned to the car and took the road up and around two big bends until he reached the parking lot, where he pulled in, nose against the retaining wall He shut down the engine The two got out and began cli the hill They ell above the town, and once they reached the crest, the toould lie beneath the as they ascended frorassy meadow at the top, where six picnic tables were laid out

Jon sat on a bench Walker perched on the table, his legs dangling A round level, airy drifts of white Trees sheltered the spot on three sides and the fourth was open to the view The blackened remains of the bandstand hunkered in the dark behind theh school, this was the spot where the two of theirls, ot the pretty one while Jon got stuck with the ho and removed the four candy bars He offered Jon a Three Musketeers bar and kept the other three for himself

Jon said, "I didn’t know you had a sweet tooth"

"It’s weird Now that I’ar"

Jon pulled the paper off his candy bar and bit in "So what’s the big eency?"

"I saw Michael Sutton this afternoon and he sawand he was there in the parking lot, picking up a girl When Brent drove me back to the office, he followed"

"So?"

"So why’s he tailing oes to the police?"

"And says what? Two decades ago, we dug a hole Big deal"

"I don’t like it"

"Oh, for god’s sake You haul ht for this? You could have toldto take hiet to him anytime I want He’s not a problem"

"Get to him? What’s that supposed to mean?"

"I knohere he lives I’ve kept an eye on hi his illustrious career path He’s not a threat He’s a loser and a wimp He’s e call ‘ Everyone knows that"