Ed hesitates for a moment longer. "I... well... I guess I talk to hunters a lot... online." Ed admits. "I pretend to be one and just..."
"Why?" you ask.
He shrugs. "I dunno. It started out as a curiosity thing."
"For how long?"
"Not... not that long."
A lie. You can see that as clear as if it was written on his forehead in flashing neon letters. He's been doing this for a while.
Holy fucking shit.
"You catfish hunters?" you say.
Ed shuffles nervously in his seat. "I mean... I guess? I've never thought about it that way." An awkward pause. "So, eh," he continues quickly. "I emailed these guys a few weeks ago and said I might be passing through town soon. They said I was free to come in any time and chat. That's how I got this address. I think it's this one guy's house."
"Do they know your real name?"
Quietly. "I'm not an idiot, Gideon Mercer."