Prey: The Hunt For Jade Harris

Prey

The Hunt for Jade Harris

Copyright2010 by Carlos King

Contact me at

http://carlosjking.blogspot.com

Or

carlitila@yahoo.com

Published by Amazon

Chapter 1

During the spring of 2012, two men enter a Los Angeles Starbucks and scan through the numerous faces in search of an individual they’ve come an exceptionally long ways to see.  The two men appear to be in their mid-thirties and both are of average height and build. 

Prior to this day, the two men were successful leaders of their own respective business and each had their companies listed in the Fortune 500 rankings within the past year.  And while the names of their true identities are unknown to any human walking the earth, for argument’s sake, they’ll be referred to as Zavior and Trent. 

The serious demeanor of the two men helps to separate them from the rest of the regulars who frequent the renowned establishment, which is mostly comprised of young people who are studying, socializing or simply accessing the internet while enjoying their favorite beverage.  The serious natures of the two men indicate they aren’t here for any of these reasons.

Wearing attire that has them both sticking out like a sore pair of thumbs, the two are dressed in expensive black suits, high-end accessories, and costly shoes that complete their ensemble.  Their professional and highly successful look is anything but discrete in a room filled with wrinkled sweatshirts, cargo shorts and sandals. 

Nevertheless, the oddest factor isn’t the costly clothes the men are wearing, it’s the fact that before today the two had no idea the other existed.  They had only met up the previous day and yet, here they are, walking alongside each other like they’ve been acquainted for years.

The two men stand near the entrance, perusing the area until they spot the person they seek.  The good-looking and well-groomed pair finally set their sights on a grungy male seated toward the far end of the café. 

The late-twenties male is known by all the café’s employees as Louis Grant.  It becomes noticeably clear that Louis is the complete opposite of his two sophisticated visitors.  His unkempt beard and uncombed hair only add to already his sloppy look, while his dingy jeans and badly stained sweatshirt provide further proof that he could care less about his outwardly appearance.    

The two men head in Louis’ direction, keeping a leisurely pace until they’re standing directly over his table.  Preoccupied by his laptop, Louis fails to notice the two men’s ominous presence looming over him until he takes a break from staring at the screen and takes a sip from his Mocha Latte. 

Startled by their unexpected company, Louis jerks back in a panic, spilling a good portion of his drink all over himself and the table. 

“What the hell, guys?  You tryna give me a heart attack or what?”  Louis uses a napkin to soak up the small pool of coffee before it reaches his laptop. 

The two mysterious men remain silent and continue to stare at Louis through the black tint of their sunglasses.  The odd silence only leads to Louis feeling all the more uneasy. 

Agitated, Louis rudely questions, “Who the hell are you guys, cops or something?  What the hell you want?”

One of the men, who’ll be referred to as Zavior, removes his glasses and tucks them into his inner jacket pocket.