<a class="postlink" href="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t270/aerith105/stuff/Junk/anime-5.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/>Jared Thompson braced an elbow on the driverâ€™s window, allowing his hand to float on the breeze as he sped south on the freeway. Fridays always left him this wayâ€¦ He felt anxiousâ€¦and yet somehow bored at the same time. Every day was the same all week, every week. There was no change in his routineâ€¦ nothing to brighten his moodâ€¦<br/><br/>Wellâ€¦ almost nothing. There was Bradleyâ€¦<br/><br/>As if on cue, Bradleyâ€™s voice sounded from the back seat and his image appeared in the rearview mirror, â€œFriday againâ€¦â€ he sounded as bored as Jared felt, â€œLetâ€™s have some fun this weekend. Youâ€™ve kept us cooped up in that office for months nowâ€¦ I want to have a good time.â€<br/><br/>â€œYou know we canâ€™t do that too oftenâ€¦ it isnâ€™t safe.â€ Jared tried to be reasonable, but he felt as anxious for excitement as Bradley did. Turning to look over his shoulder, he frowned at Bradley, who simply sat slouched in the seat, appearing completely relaxed.<br/><br/>â€œSo long as you follow the rules,â€ Bradley recited the same argument as always, â€œYouâ€™ll be fine. No one will be the wiserâ€¦ Whatâ€™s the first rule?â€<br/><br/>Jared sighed, unable to resist reciting his list of rules, the code by which he lived his life. â€œNever form a plan ahead of time.â€<br/><br/>â€œExactly, premeditation is the same as leaving a guide book for them to follow you.â€ Bradley smiled, â€œSecond?â€<br/><br/>â€œAlways select randomlyâ€<br/><br/>â€œYes. People, places, toolsâ€¦ they all need to be random. Third?â€<br/><br/>â€œNever use anything that belongs to me.â€<br/><br/>â€œAnonymity is a hunterâ€™s best friend, brother. Fourth?â€<br/><br/>â€œLeave nothing behind.â€<br/><br/>â€œExactly. Youâ€™ve kept up on your regimen? No excess skin that may flake away? No loose hair? You wont leave DNA behind? Good. Fifth?<br/><br/>â€œAlways be protected.â€<br/><br/>â€œYour kit is in the trunk still. Gloves, cover-allsâ€¦ gun? Perfect. Sixth?â€<br/><br/>â€œNo blood. Ever.â€<br/><br/>â€œYou, or yourâ€¦ friend. No one bleeds. No struggle until weâ€™re safely isolated. Seventh?â€<br/><br/>â€œAlways out of town.â€<br/><br/>â€œOut of state is even better, but not always possible. Eighth?â€<br/><br/>â€œChoose someone thatâ€™s going somewhere.â€<br/><br/>â€œExactly. If they are going from one place to another, the monkeys will have a broader playing field to search. Nine?â€<br/><br/>â€œThe body- Whatâ€™s that?â€ Jared suddenly changed the topic as something shimmered into sight on the freeway ahead.<br/><br/>â€œWell how â€˜bout thatâ€¦ a hitch-hikerâ€¦ Coincidence?â€ Bradleyâ€™s laugh filled the car, lifting Jaredâ€™s spirits.<br/><br/>A small smile spread across his face as he slowed next to the girl. â€œAre we prepared? Any reason we can be traced to her?â€<br/><br/>â€œI canâ€™t think of anything. Weâ€™re two hours from homeâ€¦ sheâ€™s clearly not from anywhere closeâ€¦  Looks like a runaway. The wont be searching right awayâ€¦  Or if they are, theyâ€™ll be looking where they think she was going. Not here. Iâ€™d prefer that we were lucky enough to have rented a carâ€¦ but we canâ€™t have everything handed to us, now can we? I think itâ€™s safe.â€<br/><br/>Jared nodded in agreement and rolled the window down, ignoring the cars that blared their horns as they went around him. â€œNeed a ride? Itâ€™s not safe out here for a girl to be alone out here like thisâ€¦â€ He made sure to insert just the right amount of care and concern into his face. His posture was relaxed now, friendly. He was dressed nice, still wearing the white shirt and tie heâ€™d worn to work, though the tie was loosened, the top button hanging open.<br/><br/>Bradley, invisible to all except Jared, leaned forward, bracing his elbows on the two front seats. â€œBetcha she just hops right inâ€¦ not a whisper of cautionâ€¦ Look at her. Sheâ€™s a mess. Sheâ€™ll trust anyone right nowâ€¦â€<br/><br/>Jared looked into the rearview mirror for just a moment, answering Bradley silently, â€œStop it. Iâ€™m concentrating. Sheâ€™ll notice.â€<br/><br/>Taking his eyes away from the image of his imaginary companion and best friend in the mirror, he returned his gentle, smiling eyes to the girl.