Page 69 of Line of Sight (Second Sight #4)
“YOU SHOULD go to bed.” It had to be the fourth or maybe even the fifth time Riley had said that.
Dan couldn’t tell him that every time he thought about closing his eyes, Gary’s face was right there in his head.
I don’t know where you are.
I don’t know what’s happening to you.
Except he had a feeling that last one might be a good thing. Because knowing Gary’s circumstances would seriously interfere with his ability to remain calm, focused, alert to what his senses were telling him.
Riley got up and went into the kitchen.
Dan picked up a framed photo that stood on the side table.
It had been taken at Christmas, and he’d loved it so much, he’d printed it.
The whole Porter clan, along with their spouses, gathered around the tree, looking up at the camera, everyone laughing.
It wasn’t much of a surprise how quickly his family had taken to Gary.
He’s a special man.
A pleasant aroma reached his nostrils, and he glanced up. Riley stood by the couch, holding out two steaming cups.
“I thought some hot chocolate might help.”
Dan forced a smile. “Thanks. And in case I haven’t mentioned it, I’m really glad you’re here.”
Riley handed him a cup, then joined him on the couch. He glanced at the photo in Dan’s hand. “That’s cute. Gary looks happy.” He gazed at it for a moment.
Dan trusted his instincts. “What are you thinking?” He replaced the photo in its original position.
Riley leaned back with a sigh. “Before you came, he was… different. I didn’t know about Brad—I don’t think anyone did, except maybe Travers, but that’s only because Travers knows everything. You know we say if a mouse farted, he’d know about it? Lot of truth in that statement.”
Dan smirked. “I don’t think I’d recognize a mouse fart if I heard one.”
“So while we had no idea of the awfulness of what had happened, it clearly left its mark on Gary. He didn’t laugh much, although you could share a joke with him.
He was kinda driven. But then you joined us, and…
I don’t know… he’s lighter somehow. He smiles more, laughs more.
And I got to thinking maybe this is what love is supposed to look like. ”
“You’ve never been in love?”
Riley chuckled. “Not been bitten yet by that particular bug, but after seeing you two, I’m thinking more about finding someone special.”
Dan couldn’t resist. “Like Kathy Wainwright?”
Riley flushed. “I know I joke about her, but she’s one amazing woman. When she said she’d meet me for a coffee, it felt as though Christmas had decided once a year wasn’t enough.”
“So you will arrange to meet her? You won’t let your nerves get the better of you?”
Riley smiled. “We’ve already arranged it. Next week.”
Dan patted his knee. “Good for you.”
Silence fell for a moment, but that felt right.
“Dan, about your gift….”
His stomach clenched. “Yes?”
“Can… can you sense anything about him?”
Dan’s face tightened. “Nothing. I hate being in the dark like this.” He gazed at his phone. “Wherever they are, King has removed the battery from Gary’s phone. We can’t detect it. They could be anywhere.” He sipped his hot chocolate, hoping its warmth and sweetness would ease his roiling stomach.
“I want to hear more about the cases you helped solve in New York and Chicago.”
Dan let out a wry chuckle. “What you really mean is, ‘Talk to me about anything, Dan, so you’re not thinking about Gary.’”
Riley blinked. “Wow. I’m that transparent?”
He patted Riley’s knee again. “Only because I know you. Sure, I can talk about that.”
Anything was better than being left with his own thoughts, and sleep wasn’t even on the horizon. Dan would talk all night long if it meant he could ignore his imagination.
Because he could imagine quite a lot, and none of it was good.