Page 97 of Line of Sight

He waited until her sobs had ebbed. “Ms. Sullivan, I’m sending a patrol to your address. I want you to stay there until they arrive, okay? We think your life might be in danger.”

“I’m not setting foot outside this apartment. Not with him out there. How fast can you have someone here?”

“As soon as I finish talking to you, I’ll organize a watch.”

“What about Jason?”

“I’m about to call him too.” Her sobs started up again, and he lowered his voice. “Jennifer, please, try to stay calm.”

Little by little, she regained her self-control. “I-I’m okay. Make your calls.”

He thanked her and hung up, then called Senator Kelly. His housekeeper, Mrs. Fletcher, answered, and as soon as Gary heard the panic in her voice, he knew he was too late.

“The senator is missing. He went out yesterday evening to visit friends, and when he didn’t return, I began to worry. He messaged me to say he was staying the night, which was unusual, but hehasbeen under a bit of stress lately, so I thought nothing of it.”

Gary was starting to see a pattern. “What happened?”

“Five minutes ago, I had a call from Mrs. Sinclair, asking to speak with him. And that was when I started to worry all over again, because, you see, his dinner date had been with the Sinclairs. Only he never arrived. He sent them a text to say he’d been taken ill and that they weren’t to worry. Mrs. Sinclair was calling to ask how he was.”

Riley stared at him, and Gary shook his head.King has the senator, he mouthed. Okay, he didn’t know that for certain, but it was definitely a possibility.

Riley’s eyes went wide. “Fuck,” he whispered.

“Mrs. Fletcher, an officer will be there soon to take your statement. Tell him anything you can about the senator—what he was wearing, his car, places that might be important to him,anythingthat might help us find him.”

“O-okay,” she croaked. “Please, find him. He’s such a sweet man, and he’s already been through so much. Who would want to harm him, and why?”

You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. And you’d never look at Senator Kelly the same way ever again.

As soon as he finished the call, Gary contacted the precinct and arranged for uniformed to go to Jennifer’s place. He asked for a female officer to stay with her. Then he made another call to the York police department to inform them of the situation and to ask them to organize a patrol to visit the senator’s house.

He took a moment to breathe.

Where has King taken him?

The fact Kelly hadn’t already turned up dead implied only one thing to Gary’s mind.

King has plans for him, and after seeing what he did to Greg, God only knows what he’ll do next.

He called Jennifer again, to let her know to expect a patrol. She answered after only two rings. “Why aren’t the police here yet?”

“They’re on their way. Now please, try to remain calm.”

“Easy foryouto say,” she fired back at him. “That psychotic bastard isn’t after you, is he?” There was a momentary pause. “There’s someone outside my door.”

“Don’t open it,” he warned her.

“I’m looking through the peephole.” Another pause. “Oh thank God. It’s a cop.”

“You’re sure?”

“Okay, he’s standing with his back to me, but I do recognize the uniform when I see it. I won’t be a minute.”

Gary heard the snick of a bolt being drawn back and the rattle of the door chain. For some reason, his heartbeat raced, and cold fear slicked the back of his neck.

“Don’t open it!” he yelled.

What followed was thewhumpof a body hitting the floor, and then the line went dead.