Page 111 of Line of Sight

Riley nodded. “At least we know why he went after you. Gary was just the bait.”

That disquiet hadn’t dissipated. Dan wanted to know more about King’s final surprise. He went over to King and squeezed his shoulder.

“You need to tell me. The game isn’t over, is it? You’ve one more move planned.”

King managed a weak smile. “I do indeed. ‘Two down, three to go,’ remember?”

Dan couldn’t move. “Who else is involved in this game?”

A chuckle gurgled in King’s throat. “You’ll work it out. But by the time you do, it’ll be too late, and you’ll have something in common with Detective Mitchell. The clock is still ticking.” He erupted into a fit of coughing, and Dan was startled to see blood stain his lips and chin.

“Where are the damn paramedics?” Travers yelled.

Dan grasped King’s hand. “Tell me. No more riddles. No more games. For God’s sake, you’re dying.”

“You could still make it,” King wheezed. “If you’ve got a good set of wheels. But I doubt it. And when I’m gone, all you’ll have left will be….” More coughing, and yet more blood, followed by a rough whisper Dan couldn’t make out.

He leaned in close. “What? What will I have left?”

King’s voice cracked. “A portrait… of a serial killer.” Then the last breath left him.

“What did he say?” Riley demanded.

Dan repeated King’s final words.

“That’s a movie,” Riley told him. “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. But it doesn’t make sense. They’re all dead. What do we need a clue for?”

“No, they’re not. Jennifer and the senator are still alive, he said. And that still leaves one more that we know nothing about.”

“What about this movie?” Travers stared at Riley. “What happens in it?”

Dan froze.Portrait….“Oh fuck,” he croaked.

“What?” Riley’s eyes were like saucers. “What do you know?”

Dan pulled his phone out and saw the missed call. He clicked on it. “What’s wrong?”

His sister-in-law sounded frantic. “Have you heard from Matt? I’m going out of my mind here. He went to do a portrait session yesterday evening, and he didn’t come home. I got a message to say he’d bumped into an old friend, and they’d gone for a drink. But since then he hasn’t answered his phone.”

“Where was the painting session?”

“In Boston, I think.” Nicole’s voice grew tearful. “Dan, this isn’t like him.”

“Nicole, I’ll call you back.” Dan hung up, his chest so tight he could barely draw breath. He met Riley’s concerned gaze. “He took my brother. The bastard took Matt, and I have no idea where to.”

Chapter Seventy-Five

TRAVERS TOOKcontrol, for which Dan was grateful.

“It’s a safe bet that wherever your brother is, Jennifer Sullivan and Jason Kelly will be close by. And judging by King’s past performance, they’ll be drugged.”

“I agree. So the doctor should come with us,” Dan insisted.

Travers arched his eyebrows. “Youshould be on your way to the hospital with Gary, remember?”

“I’ll go get checked out when I know Matt is safe.” Dan stuck his chin out.

Travers rolled his eyes. “Fine. The doctor goes with you—assuming we have a destination to go to.”