Page 75 of Line of Sight

The door opened, and a uniformed officer entered, holding a package wrapped in brown paper.

Gary sat bolt upright. “Three guesses what this is going to be?” he muttered.

Riley huffed. “Gee, let me think.”

The officer handed it to Dan, then left.

Dan tested its weight in his hand. “Feels like a book. What a surprise.” He tore at the wrapping.

“You don’t want to send it to Forensics first?” Gary asked.

He snorted. “What’s the point? This guy never leaves prints, and we know what we’re going to find between the covers, right? Another cryptic message?” He tossed the paper onto the desk and stared at the book.

“Which one is it this time?” Riley demanded.

“The Silence of the Lambs.” Dan opened it, and a sheet of paper slid out. “Let’s see what the cat wants to share with the mouse.” He read aloud, “Thomas Harris has a way with words. ‘Beats of silence.’ Beautiful phrase. Will you be silent when I finally catch up with you, Mr. Porter? Or will you beg me to spare you? I’ll tell you now—save your breath. I loathe beggars. Do you want to know what I’m doing right now, Mr. Porter? I left you a clue.”

Riley groaned. “It’s another freaking highlight, isn’t it? Let me see.” Dan handed it over, and Riley leafed through the pages. “Yeah, there ya go. ‘I’m thinking about you both.’”

Gary noted Dan’s tight expression. “He’s trying to unnerve you. You know that, right?”

Dan scowled. “Well, it’s working.”

Chapter Fifty-One

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

The office of Senator Jason Kelly, York, Maine

3:00 p.m.

SENATOR JASONKelly rose to meet them as they walked into his office. “Good afternoon, gentlemen. And thank you for coming all this way. I realize Maine is hardly in your backyard.” He shook hands with Gary before gesturing to the couch and two armchairs at one end of his office. “This is usually when I take a break, so I hope you’ll join me for tea.” A squat teapot sat on the low table, along with cups, saucers, a milk jug, a bowl of lemon slices, and another containing lumps of sugar.

“Thank you for agreeing to meet with us, Senator.” Gary took a seat. “We understand how busy you are.”

Jason Kelly gave him an incredulous stare. “Of course I agreed. You said on the phone you’ve reopened my wife’s case. I want to do everything in my power to help you in your investigations. Although I’m not sure if I can offer you any new information.”

“Right now we’re reinterviewing all the people connected with our cases,” Dan told him.

Jason arched his eyebrows. “Cases?”

He nodded. “We’re investigating five that we believe to be connected.”

“Except now it’s six, with the death of Sean Nichols,” Riley added.

Jason sighed. “I was at the funeral. Horrible business.” He stilled. “But what can his death have to do with Heather?”

Gary ignored the question. “You were at a wedding when your wife was killed.”

Jason gave a nod. “It still sickens me. There I was, enjoying myself, drinking champagne, and in the meantime Heather was….” He winced. “Forgive me. I know it was five years ago, but I still find it difficult to speak of that day. I remember waking up to that dreadful phone call the following morning, when they… when they found her.” He grimaced. “It had to be the work of a madman. Someone who targeted Heather for no earthly reason that makes any sense.”

“You weren’t worried when she didn’t call you that evening?” Riley asked.

“I assumed she was working and that she’d gone to bed exhausted.” Another sigh fell from his lips. “My wife worked far too hard.”

“After her death, you continued in your campaign.” Dan didn’t break eye contact.

“Of course. Heather was my most ardent supporter. She would have wanted me to continue.”