Condemned by Christopher Renna (iphone ebook reader txt) 📕

normally obscured by abundant masses of green leaves. Now, winding slowly through the streets, Conner felt like each unsheltered home revealed details about its structure and the people who resided inside.

Then he found himself on Cottage Drive, and he couldn't resist the urge to visit the Smiths' house. He parked in their driveway. Without turning the engine off, he sat and studied the house. The indigo shutters. The curtains still hanging from rods, concealing the interior from prying eyes. The navy-blue front door. The dent in the gutter above the garage caused by a basketball that had deviated so far from its intended target that it was embarrassing.

What happened in that house? What did Jared go through?

He thought of Hailey's fear that something evil had remained in the house after Jared died. But he wondered, did the priest chase the devil away before Jared died? If not, did the devil return to hell because Jared had died?

He scrutinized the shadows on the house, near the windows. The dark splotches darkening the yard. Were any of them a human-shaped entity hiding and watching Conner? He glanced in the rearview mirror and shuddered at the blackness of the street behind him. It was time to go home before he completely freaked himself out.

Driving to his house, he constantly checked the rearview mirror, fearful that he'd discover a humanoid shadow sitting in the back seat. The longer he drove, the more panicked he grew. When he arrived home, he jumped out of the car and rushed to the front door. He aimed the fob, securing the car as he scanned the yard for moving shadows.

The lamp on the side table illuminated the foyer. The rest of the house was dark. While the thump of his heart accelerated, he locked the front door and then retreated to his bedroom.

Now I'm paranoid.

FIFTEEN

"Thanks for the wake-up call," Dave said as he settled onto a chair at Lou's table. "I'm gonna fill my plate, then we'll get to work."

Lou poured a splash of creamer into his coffee. "We're gonna get the boys to sign off on audio and video, right?"

"That's the plan."

"Shouldn't take too much convincing, I wouldn't think."

Dave shrugged. "Doesn't everyone want the chance to be on TV?"

"I guess so."

"Should be an easy day."

"Who's first up to bat?

"Conner, Levi, Trevor, and then Adam," Dave said as he headed toward the breakfast buffet.

Lou removed the small spiral notebook from the pocket of his jacket. If the young men had an intriguing story to tell, he needed each to follow the same formula. Sticking to a script was the best way to get the boys to enhance the story with personal details. Although he hadn't done so in a long time, Lou set out creating a list of questions.

*   *   *

Conner arrived a few minutes before ten o'clock. The front desk clerk called Lou to announce his arrival, and then she politely hung up the phone. "Room 407."

He shoved his hands into the pockets of his olive-green hoodie, said thank you, and then sauntered across the lobby. In the elevator, he inspected his appearance in the reflective silver door. He lowered the hood from his head and smoothed his hair. Then he ran his hands across his face and released a nervous exhale.

One knock on 407 and the door immediately opened.

Lou smiled in an encouraging way and cupped Conner's shoulder. "Are you always so punctual?"

"I try to be."

Stepping aside, Lou gestured to the small sofa against the far wall. "Come on in. Make yourself comfortable. Would you like anything to drink? I don't have much. But I can get you a bottled water or a cup of coffee if you want."

"I'm good for now."

"I think the little coffee maker has a couple packets of hot cocoa."

"No. I'm fine."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

"Okay." At the sofa, Lou said, "Have a seat. Dave should be here in just a minute, then we'll get started."

Conner tugged the hoodie over his head, his T-shirt rising with the pullover. Suddenly self-conscious, he jerked the hem of his shirt down and then situated himself on the sofa.

"Nervous?" Lou asked.

"Eh. A little, I guess."

"Don't worry. It'll be painless."

The door swung open, and Dave hurried into the room. "Sorry. I had an issue in my room."

Lou raised an eyebrow. "Really? What was that?"

"Damn toilet clogged up on me."

With a chuckle, Lou said, "I always said you were full of shit. Now the hotel staff knows too."

Dave extended his middle finger as he approached. "You're a real comedian." He set the mini audio recorder onto the small coffee table and then assembled a tripod.

Conner observed the interaction taking place, curious if they ever argued. They seemed to have a good working relationship and even appeared to be friends. "You guys work together a long time?"

Lou laughed. "This damn son of a bitch has lasted longer than my marriage did."

"Ah, thanks," Dave replied sarcastically as he adjusted the camera settings. "So, Conner Preston. We're doing video too. You need to sign a form for us to use your footage."

"I don't know if I wanna be filmed."

"It's okay," Lou said. "If you decide that you don't want us to use your video, then we'll have it for duplicate audio. At the end of the session, you let us know. Sound good?"

"Uh. Yeah, I guess so."

"Great." Lou sat and flipped open his small notebook. "Ready?"

Conner glanced at the video recorder. He gripped his knees and took a deep breath. "Yeah. Let's get started."

Reclining in the armchair, Lou smiled and then winked. "There's nothing to be anxious about. You're gonna provide details that will help us form a full profile of Jared. We'll start with your friendship."

CONNER: Yeah, okay.

LEVI: Sure.

TREVOR: That's fine.

ADAM: Yep.

We reached out to you because we were told that you and Jared were really good friends. Is that correct?

CONNER: His family moved to town in the second grade. I don't really remember hanging out with him then. We became friends in elementary school.

LEVI: I remember him in school when we