Waking up the next morning, Joe was surprised to see that Frank was still asleep in the bed across the room. His brown hair was just visible beneath the blankets that had somehow managed to make their way over his head. Checking the alarm clock on his nightstand next to his bed, he came to the conclusion that it was time to get his ass out of bed. It was nearly one in the afternoon and Joe's stomach growled with hunger. Throwing on a pair of navy sweats and a white tee, he stumbled downstairs and checked the weather outside. It was yet another hot summer day, and Joe couldn't wait to get showered and make the most of the weather.
He quickly downed a bowl of cereal as he flicked through the channels in the living room. Finishing his breakfast, he was just heading back upstairs when Frank sauntered out of the bathroom.
"Hey, I meant to mention something to you last night. Did you notice a green car kinda lurking around when you got home last night?" Frank asked as he toweled his hair dry. "I asked the guy why he was just parked up the street and he said his car broke down and he was waiting to get it towed. I was just wondering if he was still there when you got home."
Joe thought back. Leaning against the wall with his arms crossed he couldn't honestly remember seeing a car on his way in. "Well, I was a little worried about the reaction I was going to get from Mom and Dad when I got home, so I was a little preoccupied. I didn't see anything though. There were some cars parked along side of the street, but nothing suspicious." Frank nodded and glanced out the window to the street below. "Yeah, I didn't think it was anything to worry about, but with this guy out and all, I thought it was only safe to ask why he was there. Seemed nice though." With that Frank threw the towel at Joe. "Anyways, Ive gotta go work on that assignment. I really want to be ahead when school starts up again in the fall. What are your plans for the day?"
Joe sighed. "Well, with this weather I was kinda planning on going out for a jog. Maybe hit the beach. The girls are out of town so I thought Id take advantage of this while I still can." Smiling, he shut the bathroom door and quickly showered.
Once he changed into a pair of brown surf shorts and a white beater, he grabbed his sunglasses, stuck them on his head, and made his way back downstairs. Once in the kitchen, a peice of paper on the counter caught his eye. He reconized Franks handwriting right away.
"Joe, got called into work, won't be back untill around 11 tonight. Don't make a mess.. Frank" Joe sighed.. his brother was such a... big brother. Always fussing about him and acting like his dad. I mean, he's only a year older than me, it's not like I can't take care of myself. Throwing down the note Joe grabbed a water bottle out of the fridge and was just starting towards the back door to get his sandels when a loud knock at the door startled him. Turning back down the hall Joe strode up and, without even checking the identity of the visiter, opened the door.
"Hello, is this the Hardy residence?" The man surprised Joe. Wearing a dirty pair of jeans and a ragged button up flannel shirt, the man was quite out of place next to the clean cut teen before him. It wasn't just this that surprised him, but the mans size was a little overwhelming. Joe stood a good 6'1, but this man seemed to tower above him, making Joe take an involuntary step back.
"And you are?"
"Mike, Mike McLeod. I used to work with your father." Joe stared him up and down. Hed seen his fathers aquiantences before, and they looked nothing like this mess on his porch.
"Yeah? Well, he's actually not in at the moment. Ill let him know you were by." Joe turned to shut the door when the mans arm shot out and caught it before it could close.
"Well, Im assuming you're his son Joe that he's talked so much about." the man spat with false friendliness."Let him know its important. He needs to get back to me as soon as possible." The man smiled, his breath reeked of chewing tobacco and smoke. Joe forced a smile and stood up a little straighter, showing off his own size and muscle. Pulling the door out of the mans grasp Joe stepped towards him.
"Cool. Ill be sure to do that." The man was just about to say something else when Joe shut the door in his face and turned the lock. Bullshit, he thought to himself. That guy never worked for dad. He'd seen them show up here before, looking to see the man that had put all their colleagues in prison. It wasn't something unusual, it just made Joe uneasy to see scum like that find his house so easily. Shooting one last glance out the window, Joe watched the man retreat and stride down the walkway looking slightly pissed. Joe almost laughed. He had been rude, but whatever. Odds were he'd never see the guy again. Turning away from the door, Joe set out the back and into the sunlight, ready to start his day.
Donovan slammed the door to his small country house in anger. Fuck, he hated kids. Especially cocky ones like that one he had just encountered. The Hardy kid was not what he had expected. The kid hadn't even invited him in, just gave him lip and slammed the door. Who did he think he was? He was just like his father. Smart toungued and rude. Didn't even give him the chance to explain who he was. Simply slammed the door and left him standing there like an idiot. True, Donovan didn't really have a plan when he walked up the steps. Just give the kid a fake name and see where it went form there. He didn't want to try anything in broad daylight, but he had hoped to at least maybe make it inside and hold the kid there untill he could get him out unseen.
He needed to do this. Fenton had fucked him over royally. It was true, he hadn't lied to the kid, They had worked together once. A long time ago. Of course, Donovan was working on the wrong side of the law and Fenton had been undercover, posing as a fellow hit man just to catch him in the act. He'd lost 15 years in that prison, along with everything else he had ever held onto in life. Prison.. in short, was worse than he had ever imagined. He'd escaped with what little sanity he had left, completly bent on getting even with the man who had condemmed him to hell.
Grabbing a beer out of the practically empty fridge and promptly slamming the door, he contemplated what excatly he was going to do. Murder had always been his thnig. He had never felt the guilt or regret many others before him had felt. He knew that everyone dies.. its just that some make it there before others. He had never had a bond with any of his victims. It was something he had to do to make a living, something that just came easy to him. But kidnapping... now that was something different. His victims were always shot down when they least expected it, he never had to actually spend time with them. What he was planning on doing with the kid, well, it was almost exciting. He felt like a kid nearing Christmas as he made his plans and stalked his prey day in day out. He had spent time to think about this. He had been watching those kids for a couple days now. Coming in and going out. Always doing something. They were together most of the time too, which could prove to become a problem when he actually had decided which one needed to go.
Chugging the beer and thinking back on his decision, he smiled. Yes, that cocky one was the one that he had to get. He seemed to have too much confidence for his own good. His brother had been polite, even offered to call a tow company when he interrogated Donovan the day before. But this one.. the younger one, had been less cautious the night before and this morning he hadn't even taken the time to look through the window. He could have pushed his way in no problem. He silently cursed himself for not taking advantage of the situation. He'd do it tonight that's for sure. But he might have to deal with both of them this time and he had initially planned on avoiding that. He had found the older one was a little too over protective and it might spoil his plans if he had to bring them both. He was working alone, and one teen was going to be hard enoough, but throwing his nineteen year old brother into the mix was asking for trouble.
Slamming the empty can onto the table and leaning in the window sill, Donovan took in his souroundings. The country house was located way out in a wooded area of town and the nearest neighbors were miles away. He had stumbled on the place while he was still on the run from the cops after escaping prison. The older couple had taken him in, believeing his story of how he became lost in the woods for days. He lived in the wood shed for a couple of days untill news hit this area of town that he had escaped. It was only when the couple had confronted him about it that he had taken matters into his own hands and disposed of them. Now he had the place to himself. No one had come to visit the couple, they must have chosen this particular location for a reason, which suited him fine. Once he had the kid here, he wouldn't have to worry about anyone coming around... it would just be him, and the boy.
Donovan was still contemplating this when the bag on the table caught his eye. Turning away from the window he upended its contents ontop the table. Rope, bullets, rags and one large hunting knife spilt onto the table. Taking a seat on one of the unstable chairs, he surveyed his purchases. Grabbing the knife he held it close to his face and admired it. He had always liked knives more than guns. Maybe it was because unlike guns he was able to get physically close to his victims and kill them himself. He didn't know, and frankly he didn't care. He admired the knife for several more seconds, then without warning he viciously stabbed it into the wood of the table. Glancing at the clock above the window he made note of the time. It was 5 pm. He sat back and, turning to stare out the window.. he waited for darkness.