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.But Mr.Payne wasn't letting me take that path.He was committed to driving me away before I resolved anything.I dashed back to Stacy.The theater had darkened; a preview of an upcoming film flashed on the screen."Where's the popcorn?" Stacy said."I didn't get any.Your dad's here.I saw him buying a ticket.""Oh, no." She covered her face with her hands."If he comes in for this movie, we're going to see something else," I said."I couldn't stand having him in here."She sucked in air."Daddy has never gotten on my nerves this badly.I think he knows there's something special between us.He's scared of what it might lead to."I frowned."And what might it lead to?""Later, " she said."I'll explain later.Please trust me.""Why don't you just tell me what's on your mind?"But she had raised a finger to her lips, motioning behind us.I turned.I saw a tall, hulking silhouette in the doorway at the back of the theater.There were two aisles, and we were near the left one; slowly, the figure marched down the right aisle, head swiveling back and forth, looking for either a seat—or for us."That's him?" I said in a whisper."I think so."I grabbed her hand."Come on, let's go see something else."Masked by darkness, we slipped out of there.I did not look back to see if Mr.Payne saw us leave.I had the bizarre notion that if I glanced in his direction, he would be watching me.Like a creature of the night, he seemed to have heightened, almost extraordinary senses.We entered the theater at the end of the hallway.It was a horror flick, and it was dark inside.Luckily for us, the opening credits had just begun.We found seats in the same area as before.Far left corner, against the wall.Stacy took the seat near the wall, and I sat beside her.I put my arm around her.She snuggled closer."I forgot to ask you," I said, "do you like horror movies?""I love them," she said."Especially monster movies.This is one of those, isn't it?""Yeah, something about a werewolf." I recalled the lurid poster beside the movie entrance.She grinned."Ooooohh, that's perfect.I only hope it's realistic."I was about to ask how a film about a werewolf could possibly be realistic, but then she kissed my lips, no, tasted my lips, and I didn't care about asking her questions.I didn't even care about her father.I cared only about being with her.She lay her head on my shoulder.I stroked her lustrous hair.Maybe we were falling in love.The idea worried me.How could I resolve my case if I were in love with her? Love would make it difficult, if not impossible, to carry out my assigned task.Rather than mull over the situation, I immersed my attention in the movie.It was a gory show about a pack of werewolves that tore through a quiet Illinois town.The acting was terrible, the dialogue was stilted, and the plotting was choppy, but it nonetheless got a huge response from the audience, especially Stacy.Every time a werewolf ripped out someone's throat, she whooped, and she sighed with something approaching ecstasy at every drop of spilled blood.I got the weird feeling that she rooted for the werewolves to prevail over the humans.But I didn't complain.We explored each other's bodies quite a bit during the show.At several points, we become so entangled that I wasn't sure whose limbs were whose.We might never have done any of that if she hadn't been so engaged by the film.Not only was I curious to see if this new level of intimacy would loosen her tongue on family matters.I also, I admit, looked forward to becoming better acquainted with her body.As the closing credits rolled down the screen, the theater lights brightened.Hands entwined, we stood.I led the way to the crowded aisle.and then I glimpsed a familiar shape in the corner of my eye.I spun.It was Mr.Payne.He stood two rows behind us.He glared hatefully at me.I realized, with despair, that he had witnessed every kiss, every forbidden touch that I had shared with his precious daughter.Mr.Payne pointed a long finger at me."You!"I shrank back.People around us looked, curious and alarmed.Stacy gripped my hand."Daddy, you shouldn't have followed us!""I'm only looking out for your best interests, sweetheart," he said.His eyes burned into me."I should kill you.""Will you relax?" I said."We only watched a movie!""Bullshit.I saw you.You were all over her!"The crowd snickered.Heat flushed my face.I hated that he had chosen this place to make a scene.Mr.Payne charged toward us.The crowd fled out of his path like antelope fleeing a lion.Indecision, disbelief, and fear had rooted me in place.I stood there holding Stacy's hand, while fury seethed in her father's eyes.His hands clenched and unclenched, as if in eagerness to crack my neck.Spurred to move, I pulled Stacy backward.As though she weighed no more than a Barbie doll, Mr.Payne grabbed Stacy by the arm and yanked her toward him.She cried out, her hand slipping out of mine.Using one huge arm to cradle his daughter against him, he thrust his other arm toward me."Stay away from my little girl!" He shoved me.I flew backward, tripped on something, and hit the floor.I lay sprawled in the aisle, gazing at the ceiling.Agreeing to this assignment had been a mistake.Mr.Payne was too volatile for me to get close enough to him to learn the truth.The safe, slow-moving course of action sanctioned by my superiors was not going to work.If I were to succeed in my mission, I'd have to break protocol.I was more certain than ever that Mr.Payne was a killer.With his tendency toward violence and fiery temper, I could believe that he had slaughtered several men, as the rumors indicated.All in the name of protecting his lovely daughter.By the time I got out of the theater, Mr.Payne was roaring out of the parking lot in a silver Cadillac.Stacy was mashed against the rear windshield, mouthing my name.I raced to my car.I was about to jam the key in the ignition, when I noticed the front of my shirt, in the area of my chest that Mr.Payne had pushed.A couple of buttons had been torn off.Dark blood—my blood—stained the cotton.The blood had clotted and the small wound didn't hurt—in fact, I hadn't noticed the injury until now, maybe due to my dazed shock.But I thought of Mr.Payne's long, sharp nails.Nails like claws.Mr.Payne had left me no choice.I opened the glove compartment.Inside, a revolver gleamed.It was already loaded.With silver bullets.* * *When I arrived at Stacy's house, she answered the door.She ushered me inside."I'm so glad you came," she said."I'm sorry about what happened.""Your father went nuts," I said."Is he here?""He's out running.""Running? At this hour?""He does it all the time," she said."I usually go with him, especially when there's a beautiful full moon like there is tonight.But I was mad at him for what he did to you, so I stayed in." I nodded."When will he be back?""Later." She smiled seductively."Relax, Nathan.We have plenty of time to pick up where we left off."She led me to the sofa
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