Page 25 of Line of Sight

“Sure. I’ll take them into work, then call you. They’re not my kinda thing. I was more into horror—Stephen King, Dean Koontz…. Brad loved a good mystery or a thriller.” There was a pause. “Well, at least he did until 1995.”

Gary glanced at Dan. “What happened?”

“He went off them,” Sean replied. “In fact, he stopped reading altogether.”

“When, Sean?” There was an edge of excitement in Dan’s voice. “When exactly did he stop reading? Was it February?”

Whatever Dan was sensing, it was infectious. Gary had goose bumps.

Sean didn’t speak for a moment. “You know what? I think it was.”

Dan’s eyes gleamed. “We need to see those books, Sean.”

“I’m on it. I’ll call you.” He hung up.

Gary stared at Dan. “Well, you wanted something else of Brad’s.” He frowned. “The timing of Sean’s call was uncanny. That bit about Brad stopping reading… I have to admit, that shook me. It had to be something pretty major to cause that to happen.”

“I’d call a murder pretty major, wouldn’t you?”

Gary cocked his head. “You think the two events are related.”

“And so do you.”

He couldn’t deny it was starting to look that way.

Chapter Fifteen

Friday, April 14, 1995

BRAD MITCHELLcalled me. I knew as soon as I heard his voice that he wasn’t about to take me up on my generous offer. I’d been watching all of them since that night in the Twelve Ben’s Tavern. Not just watching—I’d been boning up on them, finding out whatever I could. It didn’t take much effort. I’d charmed my way into the confidences of their classmates.

You’d be amazed what people talk about.

What also amazed me was how much time had elapsed since that night. How long it had taken one of them to call me. I imagined they might have had a few sleepless nights.

“Are you listening to me?” Brad’s indignant tone yanked me back into the present.

“I’ll listen when you actually say something. I’m assuming this call has a purpose.”

“I’ve been thinking about everything you said, and I can see only one way out of this.” He paused. “You have to give yourself up.”

At least he gave me my first laugh of the day.

“Excuse me?” I tried to keep the amusement from my tone, but damn, it was hard.

“I’m serious. You have to put a stop to this.No oneis gonna ask you to murder someone for them. What kind of people do you think we are?”

I smiled. “Maybe I know them better than you do.”

Stunned silence. At last he spoke. “You’re crazy.”

“On the contrary, I’m eminently sane.”

“Then I’ll go to the cops,” he declared.

“Why have you waited until now? You knew I killed Scott two months ago. You could have gone to them the minute you walked out of that tavern, but you didn’t.” I paused. “That was because you knew what would happen. You’d be a suspect.”

“I spent far too long being scared of the consequences. I’m not proud of that. I should have been brave enough to speak out. And then it hit me. I have nothing to be scared of.Ididn’t kill Scott.Ihad no part in his death. And I’ve come to the conclusion you’re bluffing. I don’t think you left evidence to incriminate us. If you’d done that, the police would already be knocking on our doors.”