Page 16 of Line of Sight (Second Sight #4)

brAD MITCHELL called 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 one is 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.

I didn’t kill Scott. I had 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. ”

“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 at you . What’s your alibi 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 I really needed 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.