Page 26 of Line of Sight

“Unless I hid it. Are you prepared to take that chance?”

Another pause. “You know what? I think I can prove I wasn’t there. But at least the cops will start looking atyou. What’syouralibi for the day Scott died? Do you even have one?”

I couldn’t tell him the prospect of law enforcement knocking on my door didn’t deter me in the slightest. Their dumb laws didn’t apply to me. But Brad was threatening to spoil my game, my fun.

I couldn’t have that.

I waited for a moment before speaking. “I’ll tell you what. Give me this weekend before you do anything. It… it’s been on my conscience, I have to admit.” I made my voice quaver a little.

Two things were obvious in the seconds that followed. One, I was a damn good actor, and two, judging by his silence, Brad wanted to believe me.

The sap.

I could wait. My mind was already cogitating my alternative course of action.

Brad had just made a fatal mistake.

“Give me one last weekend before you tell them everything?” I hoped I sounded suitably contrite and nervous.Now Ireallyneeded him to believe me if my plan was going to work.

He was still quiet, and I waited to see which way he would jump.

Finally, he sighed. “Fine. But Monday morning, I go to Boston PD. As soon as I get back from seeing my folks Sunday night, I’ll call you. Okay?”

“Okay.”Perfect.

“Except… I’ll be seeing you anyway. Aren’t you going to Jason’s party?”

Oh yeah. I’d forgotten about that. As if. I had no intention of being there.

“You’re right,” I said. “We can talk at the party.”

As soon as the call ended, my brain shifted into high gear. Brad’s parents lived in Springfield. I’d learned that from one of my more successful conversations with those who knew him better than I did.

Looks as if I’m going to Springfield in the morning.

I had a bag to pack.

Chapter Sixteen

Sunday, April 16, 1995

DO YOUknow how easy it is to tail someone when they’re not expecting that? When their mind is distracted?

Reallyeasy.

I knew from my research where Brad would be. Yet another creature of habit. Forest Park was one of his favorite haunts. It was my first time visiting the place, and I have to admit, its size provided a momentary obstacle. The park comprised more than seven hundred acres, and it took me half an hour to locate him. Which was about twenty minutes too long with that bag slung over my shoulder. But once I had him in my sights, I kept him there as he walked around, past the zoo, the amphitheater, the aquatic gardens. Judging by his body language, he wasn’t seeing any of his surroundings.

It didn’t take a genius to know where his head was at, and his distraction meant he was less likely to spot me.

All the better for me.

Eventually he followed one of the winding wooded trails, and I saw my chance. I waited until he was beneath the trees, with no one around, before alerting him to my presence.

“Hey.”

Brad whirled around, his eyes wide. “What are you doing here?”

“I called at your parents’ house. They said I’d find you here.” A lie, but one he wouldn’t be able to disprove.