The Executioner

Hundred and Twenty-Five

‘Do you know this guy?’ Patricia asked, hitting the PRINT button on her keyboard.

Hunter nodded and she watched as his eyes suddenly widened in realization. ‘Damn, the book,’ he said, bringing both hands to his forehead.

‘What book?’ she asked.

‘The Compton High yearbook.’

‘It’s downstairs,’ Garcia confirmed.

Hunter faced Patricia. ‘Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back.’

Patricia glanced at her watch. ‘You gonna owe me big time for this, Robert.’ But he was already racing out of the door and down the steps.

He was back in forty-five seconds flat.

‘Wow, that was fast,’ Patricia said and frowned. ‘How come you’re not even out of breath?’

Hunter didn’t reply. His attention was on the Compton High yearbook pages as he flipped through them, scrutinizing every photo.

‘Who are you after now?’ Garcia asked, taking a step closer and peeking at the book.

Hunter finally stopped turning the pages and rushed over to Patricia’s desk. His face set in concentration. ‘Can you scan this picture?’ He pointed to a photo in the middle of the page. ‘And do the same that we did to that one?’ He nodded towards the printout on her desk.

‘No problem.’

They watched as Patricia Phelps took her time airbrushing and retouching, once again transforming the student on the picture into a completely different one. As she completed the ageing process, Garcia felt his body shiver.

‘You’ve gotta be shitting me.’