The Killing Moon by Dan Padavona (books to read for 13 year olds .TXT) 📕

the house seemed strange and unsettling when it was this quiet. Naomi was supposed to pick up Serena after lunch and drive her to Shepherd Systems for a tour, so Raven assumed her mother had left an hour ago.

Over the half-year Raven had lived with her mother, she’d grown accustomed to Serena moving about the home, cooking something delicious in the kitchen, or reading a book on the couch. Raven didn’t mind sacrificing privacy. Keeping Mom on the straight and narrow was all that mattered. But how would she know when Mom crossed the finish line? Mom needed her own space, but Raven didn’t think she was ready.

Raven removed her sneakers and left them on the mat. After a quick glance at the clock, she threw the refrigerator door open and built a salad with yesterday’s chicken. As she forked the food into her mouth, she checked her messages. Chelsey and LeVar were on their way to the farmhouse. Raven had driven past the house since the kidnapping, but never entered the premises. Doing so would unleash a flood of memories.

She kept her radio on as she ate. The police band squawked a few times per minute. Once, she recognized Thomas’s voice. The sheriff was en route to the high school, ostensibly to interview a murder suspect. Nothing lately on Benson. Since the supposed sighting in Wolf Lake, nobody had seen the fugitive.

A message arrived on her phone as she finished her salad. Deputy Aguilar was heading to Kane Grove. Raven dialed Aguilar.

“What’s in Kane Grove?”

“Another potential sighting,” the deputy said. Raven heard the cruiser’s motor in the background. “I confirmed Benson was in Wolf Lake this morning.”

Raven dropped the fork.

“Are you sure it was him?”

“Caught him on security footage in the village center. Around the same time, a red Mitsubishi sped through a yellow light. Looked like the driver was in a hurry. We just received a report of a reckless driver in a red Mitsubishi coming into Kane Grove.”

Raven thought back to this morning. The list of stolen vehicles, which lay on the front seat of Raven’s car, included a red Mitsubishi.

“There was a vehicle matching that description stolen near the prison yesterday. I can get you the license plate number.” Raven grabbed her keys, locked up, and jogged to the car. When she located the Mitsubishi on the list, she read the plate number to Aguilar. “I’ll drive to Benson’s Barbells. Meet you there?”

“I’m on the way.”

Raven’s body thrummed with excitement as she took the interstate to Kane Grove. They were close to catching Benson. As dangerous as the former gym owner was, he repeatedly made mistakes. Driving like a madman was one. A sane criminal would maintain a low profile. Showing his face in Wolf Lake was another. And he should have ditched the Mitsubishi for a different vehicle by now.

She pressed the gas and arrived at the gym just as Aguilar’s cruiser swung into the parking lot.

“We released an alert on the Mitsubishi,” Aguilar said. “With any luck, someone will spot Benson.” The deputy checked her weapon and studied the windows fronting the gymnasium. Darkness loomed beyond the glass. “I’m going in.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“Stay here, Raven. I can’t put you at risk.”

“I’m not an everyday civilian.” Raven patted the holstered gun. “At least let me watch your back.”

Aguilar considered the request. The deputy understood Raven could handle herself under pressure.

“All right. But stay close.”

Raven led Aguilar to the rear entrance and pointed at the scuff mark on the lock.

“See what I mean? It looks like someone busted in.”

“The real estate agency changed the locks after the foreclosure,” Aguilar said, moving beside the door. “Could have been thieves or vandals who broke in.”

“Maybe.”

Aguilar tested the handle. The door opened. She raised her eyebrows and put a finger to her lips. Raven nodded and followed as Aguilar slipped inside the building. They stood in a short hallway with an office on the end. Twin doors led to the men’s and women’s locker rooms. This was where Benson assaulted Raven and dragged her out of the building. They waited in silence and listened. Water dripped from the men’s locker room.

Aguilar tilted her head at the door and held up a hand. Raven waited while the deputy pushed the door open a crack, both of the women cringing when the hinge squealed.

“Does it seem warm to you?” Raven whispered.

Raven felt the breath of humidity strike her face. Aguilar pressed her lips together and led Raven past a long wooden bench fronting a row of green lockers. Gray light filtered through a small window near the ceiling, just enough to push the gloom into the corners. The plunking sound grew louder as the humidity thickened. Aguilar held up a hand and stopped Raven. The deputy placed her back against the wall outside the showers and edged toward the opening. With the gun drawn, she spun around the wall and aimed the weapon into the showers. Water sparkled over the grimy tiles.

Raven followed Aguilar into the shower and glanced around. Wet footprints arrowed from the shower into the locker room. Aguilar set her hand against the shower head and held Raven’s gaze.

“Still warm.”

Raven’s heart raced. Benson might still be inside the building.

Aguilar darted past Raven and swung between two rows of lockers. Without asking, Raven mirrored Aguilar’s technique in the next row.

“Clear,” Aguilar muttered.

With Raven behind her, Aguilar opened the door and stepped into the gymnasium. Raven averted her eyes as harsh afternoon light spilled through the front window. Two squat racks stood at the front of the room. A maze of benches and weight lifting machines cluttered the floor. The next room held elliptical machines, treadmills, rowers, and the stair machine Raven had used while she spied on Damian Ramos.

Aguilar didn’t make a sound as she stepped between the benches, light on her feet and at one with the shadows. Raven admired the deputy’s skill. Aguilar was the last person Benson wanted to cross. Though the deputy carried