MINDCHANGER

somebody's watching me (5)

[WICHITA, KANSAS]

"Hey Dennis," says a manager in the ADT office. "How's that new van treating you?"

"Oh, it's excellent." Dennis responds with a smile. "And I believe the seats are even more comfortable than in my old one. Is there any way I can just keep driving this one, even when the other van is fully repaired?"

"I think I can pull some strings," his manager smiles back at him. "I've seen you become much more confident in your work. Things are looking up for you, I see it in the stars."

"Thank you," Dennis responds. "I'm going to get some coffee, would you like some?"

"No, I'm okay, thank you though."

Dennis stands up, leaving his desk to walk to the break room. On the counter top he sees a newspaper, with a drawing on the front cover. It's the police sketch. It has a slight resemblance to himself, the hair and mustache are right. She must've forgotten he wears glasses, which helps him feel a little relieved. He picks up the newspaper, and looks in each direction. Nobody is around. He crumples it up and throws it in the trash. As he walks away, he has no idea that his face is still slightly visible through each wrinkle of the paper.

[CROWN POINT, INDIANA]

"I'm recording this interview. Do you give consent?" Ford says firmly.

"Yes." A quiet voice responds.

"State your name please," Ford pauses. "Maybe speak up."

"Hunter Banta." he speaks in a slightly louder voice. "Why am I here?"

"We are members of the FBI that have been brought in to investigate the situation that occurred on your property." Tench chimes in. "We are just trying to narrow out the suspect pool with our more distinct methods."

"Okay, well what do you need to ask me?" Hunter shakily responds. 

"So what were you doing on the property when you came across the victim?" Tench lights a cigarette.

"Well," Hunter begins. "My papaw called my pa on the 11th and said the weather's gettin' just right for some crops to be grown. I was just lookin' around."

"Okay," Holden looks in his eyes. "How close are you with your dad?"

"We go fishin' every Sunday after church, we don't miss a beat on it. Can I chew while I'm speakin'? I'm a little nervous."

"Yes, of course," Ford agrees. "So what did your papaw say to him?"

"He said son, send Hunt to the land. I'll get him some new fishin' line in return if he can do me this favor. You see," he paused. "Papaw's knee's been botherin' him a lot here lately. And my dad works in the truck factory so he ain't got the time to go lookin' at the field for hours."

"Alright," Ford takes a deep breath. "So you're looking around his property, testing the soil to grow some crops. When did you find the victim?"

"Well I'd say I'd been out there until around a quarter til 3, I left the house around 10 a.m., so maybe around 1:30? I ain't for sure, I don't have a watch on me most times. I just keep track by the sun's spot in the sky."

"So you've had a life spent outdoors a lot then, huh?" Tench wonders. "Telling time by the sun's position isn't easy to learn."

"I'd say so, yeah." Hunter spits into the trashcan. "I grew up on the land most of my life. Farmin' is a love I got from papaw. Pa isn't as into it, he ain't got the time of day for it."

"Tell me about your mom," Ford quickly interjects. "What does she do, is she around?"

"Ma stays home, takin' care of my little siblin's all day. Me and pa work to put food on the table."