Page 48 of Line of Sight

Monday, December 17, 2018

AS SOONas I clicked Answer, Greg blurted, “Sean Nichols is dead. It’s all over the news.”

“And why are you telling me?”

“Was it you?”

I suppose I should have been flattered that he recognized my fine hand.

I said nothing.

“Why, for God’s sake?”

I’d heard enough. “Because he was just like his stupid, loose-tongued boyfriend, that’s why.”

“Who said he knew anything?” Greg sounded appalled. “Surely he’d have told the police by now if he had.”

“I couldn’t take that risk.”

Okay, that was a lie. Sean wasn’t dead because I was afraid of getting caught.

Greg didn’t need to know that, however.

Without waiting for the next inanity to fall from his lips, I said, “At least now you know what will happen if any of you ever get the idea of opening your big fat mouths. Relax. This has nothing to do with you.”

I hung up.

I fully expected him to try to call again, but my phone remained silent.

Maybe he’s gotten the message.

Yeah. Somehow I doubted that.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

“WHERE’S RILEY?”Dan asked, glancing up from his laptop.

“Getting coffee. I don’t think he’s hit his caffeine level for today.”

He chuckled. “I thought he wasn’t twitching enough yet. Any news on when Sean’s funeral will be?”

Gary had been in contact with Sean’s parents. “Between Christmas and New Year’s. Did you have any luck with Jennifer Sullivan?”

“Still nothing.” Dan got up and walked over to the board. He’d created a timeline across the bottom, starting with Scott McCarthy in 1995 and ending with Sean.

So far they’d found nothing in their search for Sean’s killer. They’d learned he went rowing every morning before work, and there had been no one around when he’d arrived at the boathouse the day of his death, even though there were usually a few rowers who regularly did the early morning circuit.

Never a witness when you want one.

Dan stared at the timeline.

“What’s on your mind?” Gary asked.

Dan turned to look at him. “That obvious, huh?”

“I’m getting to recognize when you’re deep in thought.”