When the police call the slaughter of his mother and brother a home invasion gone bad, Mika doesn't believe it. Because he has no way to prove otherwise, he closes down, refusing to talk about what happened.<br><br>That is until Buck, a bouncer at a local bar Mika visits, convinces Mika to open up to him. When he does, Buck not only learns about the murder, but also that Mika grew up living off the grid until his father died, two years previously, at which point his family moved to the city.<br><br>They begin to bond as they try to figure out the reason behind the murders, which may revolve around the family property in the mountains. All they have to do is prove it, without being killed in the process. Only if they can will they take a chance and move their growing friendship on to something more.

Hunting a Killer

“Let’s hope our intrepid whoever-he-is decides he doesn’t want to chance getting rained on,” Buck said when they were on the highway.


“I hope he doesshow up. I want to end this, now.”


“Don’t be so hasty,” Buck replied. “He’ll undoubtedly be armed, given his history. Going up against a gun with a hunting knife wouldn’t be your best move.”


They left it at that for the time being, turning the conversation to books, movies, and other less tension-invoking topics until they arrived at the trailhead and parked. At that point, Mika suggested Buck put his jacket into the backpack, which he did, commenting, “At least the rain’s held off, so far,” before they started up the trail to the house.


Chapter 21