The Hunters Part 4

Other novels by Jason Pinter in the Henry Parker series: The Mark The Guilty The Stolen The Fury The Darkness For more information about Jason Pinter and his books, visit him at: His website-www.jasonpinter.com His blog-www.jasonpinter.com/blog Facebook-www.facebook.com/jason.pinter Twitter-http://twitter.com/jasonpinter Mys.p.a.ce-www.mys.p.a.ce.com/jasonpinter Flickr-www.flickr.com/photos/jasonpinter Goodreads-http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/281516.Jason_Pinter

AUTHOR BIO.

Jason Pinter was born in New York City in 1979, read his first book at the age of three and progressed quickly from the life lessons of was born in New York City in 1979, read his first book at the age of three and progressed quickly from the life lessons of Little Toot Little Toot to the otherworldly epics of Brian Jacques, Terry Brooks and Stephen King. He soon began writing short stories that were, unsurprisingly, D-grade knockoffs of Brian Jacques, Terry Brooks and Stephen King. At least he aimed high. to the otherworldly epics of Brian Jacques, Terry Brooks and Stephen King. He soon began writing short stories that were, unsurprisingly, D-grade knockoffs of Brian Jacques, Terry Brooks and Stephen King. At least he aimed high.

Throughout high school, Jason dreamed of becoming a screenwriter, and took jobs at various production companies to learn more about the film and television industry, including one (unpaid) stint at Jon Stewart's Busboy Productions. Jason is proud to say he was the inspiration for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (at least in his own mind). (at least in his own mind).

During his junior year in college, Jason decided he wanted to make the leap and become a writer. Heeding words of advice from his physician who'd written a book ("The first thing any writer needs is an agent"), he began querying literary agents. The physician neglected to mention that in order to get an agent, you needed to have an actual book. Needless to say, agents were not chomping at the bit to sign up Jason's non-book.

After a half-hearted attempt to find an agent for his, um, nothing, Jason decided it could be interesting to learn more about the publis.h.i.+ng industry from the inside. Over the summer, he took an interns.h.i.+p at a boutique literary agency in New York, where his first day on the job consisted of lunch at Mickey Mantle's restaurant with a renowned sportswriter. Ah, the glamorous world of publis.h.i.+ng (cough).

Jason interned at the agency through the fall, racking up $726,374 in E-Z Pa.s.s fees while commuting from Connecticut to New York for work and to visit his girlfriend (who later became his wife).

After graduating, Jason took a job as an editorial a.s.sistant at a publis.h.i.+ng house. It was during that time that he began writing his debut thriller, The Mark. The Mark. Shockingly, it was easier to land an agent with an actual ma.n.u.script, and that agent eventually sold Shockingly, it was easier to land an agent with an actual ma.n.u.script, and that agent eventually sold The Mark The Mark to MIRA Books in a three-book deal. to MIRA Books in a three-book deal.

When not writing his acclaimed Henry Parker/Amanda Davies series, Jason still works as a book editor. He lives in New York City with his college-sweetheart-turned-wife, Susan, and their dog, Wilson.

He is a member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America, and a co-founder of Killer Year.

Ready for more action with Henry Parker? See how the story began in THE FURY, available now in print and eBook format wherever books are sold, and continues in THE DARKNESS, on sale December 2009.

THE FURY.

Henry parker must uncover the most devastating secret of all...His own

Am I my brother's keeper?

If I'd known I had a brother, I might have been. But he's dead-shot point-blank in a rat-hole apartment, wasted by hunger and heroin. Stephen Gaines, a man with whom I shared nothing...except a father.

For some reason this stranger who shared my blood came to me for help...and I blew him off thinking he was just some junkie. Now I'm forced to question everything I ever knew...and figure out why this man was murdered in cold blood.

All I can do for Stephen Gaines now is find his killer-and with the help of Amanda Davies uncover the whole, hard truth. If it means tracking down a vicious drug kingpin-who may or may not exist-then so be it....

THE DARKNESS.

A young man is found murdered, his bones crushed nearly to dust before his body was dumped into New York's East River.

In New York there are hundreds of murders a year, but this one is different. Somebody is sending a message. And shockingly, the victim has ties to my brother, Stephen Gaines, recently murdered by an elusive drug lord known only as the Fury.

For years this kingpin has been shrouded in darkness. Stephen was executed just as he was about to shed some light. Working alongside my mentor, Jack O'Donnell, I'm going to find the truth behind this blood-soaked curtain. But the more we reveal, the more we realize just how dark the Fury's plans are. And that no matter how brutal the violence has been, we haven't seen anything yet....

Turn the page to read a special excerpt from THE DARKNESS...

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THE DARKNESS.

By Jason Pinter

Chapter One.

Paulina Cole left the office at 4:59 p.m. Her sudden departure nearly caused a panic in the newsroom of the New York Dispatch, New York Dispatch, where she'd worked as a featured columnist and reporter for several years. Paulina was p.r.o.ne to late nights, though many argued whether the nights were due to a work ethic that was second to none, or simply because she was more comfortable spending her time among compet.i.tive, ambitious and bloodthirsty professionals than sitting on the couch with a gla.s.s of wine and takeout. where she'd worked as a featured columnist and reporter for several years. Paulina was p.r.o.ne to late nights, though many argued whether the nights were due to a work ethic that was second to none, or simply because she was more comfortable spending her time among compet.i.tive, ambitious and bloodthirsty professionals than sitting on the couch with a gla.s.s of wine and takeout.

She had left that day after a particularly frustrating conference call with the paper's editor in chief, Ted Allen. Paulina had spent the better part of two years becoming the city's most notorious scribe in no small part due to her ambivalence concerning personal attacks, heated vendettas, and a complete refusal to allow anyone to get the best of her. When her instincts faltered, she called in favors. When she got scooped, she would trump the scoop by digging deeper. And she held grudges like ordinary folks held on to family heirlooms.

Which is why, after reading a copy of that morning's New York Gazette, New York Gazette, the paper Paulina used to work for and now wished buried under a paper landfill, she demanded to speak with Ted. She knew the man had a two o'clock tee time, but she'd seen him golf before and cell phone interruption might even improve his thirty-seven handicap. the paper Paulina used to work for and now wished buried under a paper landfill, she demanded to speak with Ted. She knew the man had a two o'clock tee time, but she'd seen him golf before and cell phone interruption might even improve his thirty-seven handicap.

That day's Gazette Gazette featured a story about the murder of a young man named Stephen Gaines. Gaines's head had met the business end of a revolver recently, and in a twist of fate that Paulina could only have wished for on the most glorious of days, the prime suspect was none other than Gaines's father, James Parker. James Parker also happened to be the father of Henry Parker, the featured a story about the murder of a young man named Stephen Gaines. Gaines's head had met the business end of a revolver recently, and in a twist of fate that Paulina could only have wished for on the most glorious of days, the prime suspect was none other than Gaines's father, James Parker. James Parker also happened to be the father of Henry Parker, the Gazette's Gazette's rising young star reporter, whom Paulina had as much fondness for as her monthly cycle. rising young star reporter, whom Paulina had as much fondness for as her monthly cycle.

Paulina had cut her teeth at the Gazette, Gazette, and had briefly worked side by side with Henry Parker. But after seeing what the and had briefly worked side by side with Henry Parker. But after seeing what the Gazette Gazette had become-an old, tired rag, refusing to adapt to new technologies or understand that hard news was essentially dead-she'd made it her business to put the paper out of its misery. had become-an old, tired rag, refusing to adapt to new technologies or understand that hard news was essentially dead-she'd made it her business to put the paper out of its misery.

n.o.body cared to read about the government or the economy-at least not on a grand scale. They only cared about what they saw right in front of them, day in and day out. Their mortgage payments. Their bank accounts. It was all visceral. You bought the celebrity magazine so you could make fun of the stars' cellulite with your friends. You shook your head at the news program that exposed the foreman whose building was overrun with rats because he refused to pony up for an exterminator. You scorned the politician's wife who stood silent at the press conference by her cheating louse of a husband. Paulina gave those with no life something to live for, something to chat about at the nail salon.

The New York Gazette New York Gazette was dead. It just didn't know it yet. was dead. It just didn't know it yet.

So when Ted Allen suggested that Paulina write an article about vampires, she was taken aback to say the least.

"Vampires are huge," Allen had said. "There are those books that have sold like a gajillion copies. Now there are movies, television shows, soundtrack alb.u.ms. h.e.l.l, newspapers are the only medium that isn't getting a piece of it. Teenage girls love them, and teenage boys want to get into the pants of teenage girls. And this all scares the living h.e.l.l-no pun intended-out of their parents, so you write a piece on vampires I bet it's one of our bestselling editions of the year."

"What the h.e.l.l do I know about stupid vampires?" Paulina said, laughing at herself for even asking the question. She stopped laughing when she realized Ted was serious.

"Oh, I don't know," Allen had said. "Didn't I hear about some boys and girls who go around biting people on the neck because they think they can be vampires? Go interview them. Even better, go undercover and pretend to be one of them. You know, pretend you like to bite people's necks and see what they tell you."

"Ted, I'm in my forties," Paulina said. "I don't think going undercover with teenagers will fly."

"Are you kidding?" Ted said. "What's that term? Milf? The teenage boys will love you."

That's when Paulina left.

Rain beat down upon the streets steadily, with the precision of soft drumbeats. The drops splashed upward as they struck the pavement, and Paulina felt the water soaking her ankles as she exited into the gloom. A bottle of Finca Vieja Tempranillo was waiting at home. It was a good red wine, with a slight plum taste, and she could picture slipping into a warm bath with a gla.s.s in one hand and a romance novel in the other. The rest of the bottle sitting on the ledge just within reach, ready to be tilted until the last drops were consumed. Ordinarily she was not that kind of girl, in fact laughed at those who were, but Paulina needed a night away from it all.

Paulina opened up an umbrella and stepped into the sea of New Yorkers, entering the crowded bloodstream known as the commute home. The streets were chock-full of open umbrellas, and she tried to wedge her way into the crowd without having her eye poked out by a random spoke.

As she took her first step, Paulina heard a man's voice yell, "Miss Cole! Miss Cole!"

She saw a man wearing a dapper suit and dark overcoat approaching. He was tall, six one or two, with hair so blond it was nearly white, peeking out from underneath a billed cap. He looked to be in good shape, late thirties or early forties, and for a brief moment Paulina felt her heart rate speed up. The car service company had really stepped up their recruiting.

"Miss Cole," the man said, stopping in front of her. "My name is Chester. I'm from New York Taxi and Limo. Ted Allen called to request a ride home for you."

"Is that so," Paulina said, barely hiding her smile. She knew months ago that she had Ted by the b.a.l.l.s. Things like this proved it. Keeping her happy and pumping out pieces was worth hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to the Dispatch, Dispatch, and the publicity she received raised the paper's profile more than their "crackerjack" investigative team ever could. That Ted would extend an olive branch so quickly surprised her at first, but if she ran the company she'd want to make sure her star reporter got home safe, sound and dry. and the publicity she received raised the paper's profile more than their "crackerjack" investigative team ever could. That Ted would extend an olive branch so quickly surprised her at first, but if she ran the company she'd want to make sure her star reporter got home safe, sound and dry.

"Please," Chester said, "come with me."

Chester opened up a much larger umbrella and held it out. Paulina smiled at him, a big, bright, toothy smile, and stepped under the umbrella. He led her to a Lincoln Town Car which sat double-parked at the curb. Holding the umbrella to s.h.i.+eld her from the rain, the driver opened the door. Paulina thanked him, picked up the hem of her skirt and climbed into the backseat of the car. The driver shut the door, and Paulina watched as he walked around to the front.

Two sealed bottles of water were set in a pair of cup holders, and crisp new editions of that morning's newspapers were folded in the pocket in front of her. The rain pattered against the windows as Paulina unscrewed one of the bottles and took a long, deep sip.

The driver flicked on his blinker and pulled into traffic. He headed uptown. The only sound Paulina could hear was the rubber squeaking of the winds.h.i.+eld wipers. The only smell that of the car's leather.

"Good day, miss?" the driver asked.

"Better than some, worse than others," she replied. Traffic was b.u.mper to b.u.mper, and the car inched along. Paulina began to grow restless. As much as she hated taking the subway, she probably would have been home by now.

"You think there might be a faster route?" she asked, leaning forward slightly when the car stopped at a red light. The driver turned around, grinned.

"Let's see what we can do."

The driver made a right turn, and soon the car was heading east. When they got to First Avenue, Paulina could see signs for the FDR Drive north. He pulled onto the on-ramp and headed uptown. The FDR tended to get flooded during heavy rain, but Paulina didn't mind chancing that to get home quicker. She watched the cars out-side, eyes widening as she saw her exit, Sixty-first Street, appear in the distance. Yet instead of slowing down and pulling left toward the exit ramp, the car sped along, bypa.s.sing the exit completely.

"Hey!" Paulina said, leaning forward again. "That was my stop. This isn't NASCAR, pay attention."

"My apologies," the driver said, "I must not have seen it."

"No kidding, Stevie Wonder." Paulina cursed under her breath. The next exit wasn't until Ninety-sixth Street, and then he would have to loop all the way back downtown. Just like Ted Allen to hire a car service and get a driver dumber than a pile of bricks.

Traffic moved along steadily, and Paulina sighed as they approached the Ninety-sixth Street exit.

"Exit's coming up," she said, making sure to remind him.

"Got it, thanks, Miss Cole."

As they approached the exit, Paulina noticed the car was not slowing down at all.

"Hey, will you slow down? What the h.e.l.l is wrong with you? You're going to miss it!"

The car drove right by the exit without slowing down one bit.

"Where the h.e.l.l are you going?" Paulina yelled. The driver did not answer. "I'm calling Ted. You'll work as a brain surgeon before you ever work our account again."

"Put the phone down, Miss Cole." The driver's voice had lost all of its pleasantries.

"Screw you. Now I'm calling the cops. Forget our account. Your a.s.s is going to jail." She took out her cell phone and flipped open the cover.

"If you ever want to see your daughter with all her limbs intact, you'll put the phone down right now."

Paulina's mouth fell open in a silent scream. Her daughter...how did this man even know about her? Paulina's daughter lived with her first husband, a loser of a man named Chad Wozniak. He was a good father, an aspiring architect who never progressed beyond the word aspiring. aspiring. He was a good man, a decent man, but not a provider. That's what Paulina had wanted for her family, but in the end she had to do what Chad could not. He was a good man, a decent man, but not a provider. That's what Paulina had wanted for her family, but in the end she had to do what Chad could not.

Abigail. She was twenty years old. A junior in college. A 3.7 average, captain of the soccer team at some all girls' school up in Ma.s.sachusetts. She and Paulina barely spoke. Maybe once every few months, and usually only when Abby's checking account ran low. Abby was beautiful, even if sometimes this budding young woman seemed like a stranger to her own mother.

"You're a sick monster," Paulina said, closing the phone.

"Don't be like that. We're almost there."

The driver took the FDR to the Triboro Bridge, pulling off once they'd arrived in Queens. He skidded around an off-ramp, took several turns in a neighborhood Paulina did not recognize, and slowly eased into an alleyway bookended by two buildings that looked like they were about to collapse. Paulina could see n.o.body, hear n.o.body. She was all alone with this man. Through the rain and desolation, n.o.body would hear her if she screamed.

The driver exited the car and walked around to the backseat. Paulina locked the door from the inside. She heard a click as the driver unlocked it with his remote. Before she could lock it again, he threw open the door, grabbed Paulina by her coat and spun her into the mud.

Wet slop splashed into her face. Paulina felt her eyes grow warm, anger rising inside of her. She launched herself at the man, her nails bared to rake at his face, but he merely grabbed her by the neck, held it for one horrible moment as he stared into her eyes.

Then Paulina felt him press something against her side, and suddenly she felt a scorching pain worse than anything she'd ever experienced. Her body twitched as she screamed. She lost control of her bladder, then dropped facedown into the mud. Paulina looked up to see the man holding a Taser, smiling.

"I wouldn't do that again. I can smell your p.i.s.s."

Paulina could feel hot tears pouring down her face. She was on her hands and knees, caked in grime, and her body felt like it had just been plugged into an electrical socket. She slowly got to her knees, managed to stand up, her breath harsh and ragged.