Page 109 of Line of Sight

Chapter Seventy-Three

DAN OPENEDhis eyes, which felt as though they’d been stitched shut. He was still in the crypt of the mausoleum, propped up against the cold stone wall. Gary lay beside him, still unconscious, and Dan’s wrists and ankles were bound.

Anthony King stood inside the archway, holding a gun aimed at Dan.

Dan drew in a deep breath. “You’ve changed your look.”

King brushed his hand over his short hair. “It’ll change even more before the end of the day.” There was enough light to see his smile. “I didn’t give you a large dose, but enough to knock you out. And I’m not about to shoot you with your own gun, Mr. Porter. I just wanted it where you couldn’t get at it. I’ve got your phone too, so I’m sorry, you can’t call for help either.”

Dan glanced at the prone figure beside him. “Is Gary dead?”

“No, but that won’t matter in a very short while.” He took a step toward them. “You see, you two are going to be proof of the quotation etched into these walls. I thought it only fitting that Gary goes the same way as his brother, but then I had a wonderful idea.” He beamed. “Instead of cutting out one heart, I’ll cut out two. When the police finally find you, Gary’s heart will be in your hands, and yours will be in his.” He tilted his head to one side. “Kind of… romantic, don’t you think? And okay, so it’s notexactlywhat the poet had in mind, but it’s awfully close. ‘In hearts we leave behind’?”

Dan raised his chin. “You got Greg to call us, didn’t you?”

King smiled once more. “Well done, Mr. Porter. Yes. I told him I had a plan to take the heat off him. He just read his script. Of course, he didn’t realize he’d be dead as soon as he’dfinished the call. And when I’ve dispatched you two, I’m going to disappear for a while. Change my appearance… my build…. After I’ve dealt with Jason and Jennifer, of course.”

“They’re not dead?”

“Not yet, but they won’t be alive for much longer.”

Dan stared at him. “But why kill us? It’s not as if you’re concerned that we’ve discovered your identity, is it? You don’t give a damn about that.”

King crouched in front of him, looking him in the eye. “How do you know me so well? Something you sensed from one of the recent crime scenes? Just how much can you tell from touching me?” He bit his lip. “Youhavegot me curious.”

Come on, Riley. Send in the cavalry.

Dan had to buy him time to get there with backup.

“Then why don’t you find out?”

“What—untie your hands?” King snorted. “I don’t think so.”

“You don’t have to. Take my hand.”

King arched his eyebrows. “Why should I?”

Dan looked him in the eye. “Because you need to know, don’t you? No, scratch that—youhaveto know.”

He prayed he’d read King accurately.

King did nothing for a moment, then reached out and grabbed Dan’s right hand. “Let’s see you in action, then.” That icy smile. “Your final performance.”

Dan closed his eyes and laid himself bare, opening himself up to whatever secrets his gift could discover.

“Killing is nothing more than a rush to you, is it? There’s so little in your life that thrills you. There’s nothing to put limits on your actions, is there? Certainly not the fear of getting caught. That’s all part of the game. Because not playing means boredom.”

“And speaking of boredom,” King said, “if all you’re going to do is recite what you’ve read in a book on psychopathy, thenI might as well kill you now. Is that really the best you can do?” His voice dripped with disdain, and he tried to pull his hand away, but Dan gripped it, holding on with all his might.

“Tell me something, Mr. King. If you don’t care about breaking the law, or consequences, then why are you running away? What are you running from?” He stared into King’s eyes. “What are you afraid of?”

“I’m not afraid of anything.” King sneered. “Certainly not you.”

Dan smiled. “But you should be. Because I know where the bodies are buried. Metaphorically speaking.”

King stilled. “You’re bluffing.”

In a sudden rush of insight, Dan saw what lay at the heart of all these deaths.