Page 75 of Line of Sight (Second Sight #4)

HE GAVE King a glance filled with triumph. “You didn’t want me to see it, but it’s too late. I know.”

“Know what?” King had lost a little of his swagger. He tried to free his hand, but Dan wasn’t finished with him yet.

Dan smiled. “Your lifestyle, Anthony. It really matters to you, doesn’t it?

All you really care about is meeting your own needs.

Living your life the way you want to. Spending as much as you want.

Well, you’ve got it to spend, haven’t you?

How many millions are you worth? Or is it billions?

” He paused to look King in the eye. “But you won’t be able to hold on to any of it once I tell the authorities what I know. ”

And to do that I need to be breathing, so where the hell are you, Riley?

King sneered again. “You know nothing. You’re just dancing around with words. To be honest, it’s piti—”

“The slayer law,” Dan blurted.

King froze. “What?”

Dan nodded. “That’s it, isn’t it? All this vast fortune at your fingertips, and you’d lose it all in a heartbeat. Everything . That would really hit you where it hurts. Now that you really would care about. Because that’s the law, isn’t it? You can’t inherit from someone you’ve murdered.”

King laughed. “You’re saying I murdered my parents? Check your facts. I was in Toronto when they were killed. I can prove it.”

“I’m sure you can. You might not have pulled the trigger, but we both know you facilitated it.

Strangers on a Train , right? That’s what gave you the idea.

Except for you it was more a case of strangers on a plane—or as near as made no difference.

And I can point the police in the right direction.

I can lead them to the killer. They never did find your parents’ killer, did they? ”

“I hate to disillusion you, but the only way you’ll be able to do that is via a medium at a seance.

” King took a breath. “But allow me to congratulate you. Your finale was impressively accurate. You’re right, of course.

I’d lose everything—the income, the companies, the property…

.” He made another attempt to pull free of Dan’s grip.

Dan froze. “Wait. I just sensed something. A flash of some strong emotion.” He widened his eyes. “You’re hiding something. And it excites you.”

King smiled, and the sight sent ribbons of disquiet unfurling in Dan’s belly. “Very good. I have one final surprise for you before you go.” Beyond the crypt, the iron gate creaked, and King lurched to his feet, finally pulling free.

“Put the gun down, Mr. King, or I shoot.”

Dan had never been so happy to hear a friendly voice.

“You won’t do that. Not when I have these two right here.” Movement came from behind the trees to the left, and King whirled around, firing a shot through the archway into them.

Only to be felled by a shot in the back from the other direction.

King fell to the ground, Dan’s gun clattering onto the stone beneath them.

Riley rushed in, accompanied by Lomax and five other officers. He pointed to King. “Check on him.”

An officer knelt beside King, feeling for a pulse. He jerked his head up. “He’s alive.”

Riley talked into his mic. “Where are the paramedics?”

Dan caught the tinny response. “Just arrived at the gates to the park. Doc should be there now.”

Riley knelt down, smiling at Dan with obvious relief. “Well, hello there.”

Dan smiled. “You must be the cavalry.” Then a familiar figure stepped into the crypt, and Dan grinned.

“Lieutenant Travers, you too? I’m touched.

” By the time Riley removed the plastic ties around his wrists and ankles, a doctor had arrived and was examining Gary.

“Is he going to be okay?” Dan asked anxiously.

He had to have been unconscious for quite a while.

The doctor removed the earpieces of his stethoscope. “His vital signs are good.”

Lomax searched King’s pockets and held up a small vial. “This must be what he used.” He handed it to the doctor, who nodded.

“Fentanyl. I’ll run blood tests to check for toxins, but right now I need to get both of you to a hospital.”

Dan gazed at King, addressing Riley. “You heard all that?”

Riley nodded. “At least we know why he went after you. Gary was just the bait.”

That disquiet hadn’t dissipated. Dan wanted to know more about King’s final surprise. He went over to King and squeezed his shoulder.

“You need to tell me. The game isn’t over, is it? You’ve one more move planned.”

King managed a weak smile. “I do indeed. ‘Two down, three to go,’ remember?”

Dan couldn’t move. “Who else is involved in this game?”

A chuckle gurgled in King’s throat. “You’ll work it out. But by the time you do, it’ll be too late, and you’ll have something in common with Detective Mitchell. The clock is still ticking.” He erupted into a fit of coughing, and Dan was startled to see blood stain his lips and chin.

“Where are the damn paramedics?” Travers yelled.

Dan grasped King’s hand. “Tell me. No more riddles. No more games. For God’s sake, you’re dying.”

“You could still make it,” King wheezed. “If you’ve got a good set of wheels. But I doubt it. And when I’m gone, all you’ll have left will be….” More coughing, and yet more blood, followed by a rough whisper Dan couldn’t make out.

He leaned in close. “What? What will I have left?”

King’s voice cracked. “A portrait… of a serial killer.” Then the last breath left him.

“What did he say?” Riley demanded.

Dan repeated King’s final words.

“That’s a movie,” Riley told him. “ Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer . But it doesn’t make sense. They’re all dead. What do we need a clue for?”

“No, they’re not. Jennifer and the senator are still alive, he said. And that still leaves one more that we know nothing about.”

“What about this movie?” Travers stared at Riley. “What happens in it?”

Dan froze. Portrait … . “Oh fuck,” he croaked.

“What?” Riley’s eyes were like saucers. “What do you know?”

Dan pulled his phone out and saw the missed call. He clicked on it. “What’s wrong?”

His sister-in-law sounded frantic. “Have you heard from Matt? I’m going out of my mind here. He went to do a portrait session yesterday evening, and he didn’t come home. I got a message to say he’d bumped into an old friend, and they’d gone for a drink. But since then he hasn’t answered his phone.”

“Where was the painting session?”

“In Boston, I think.” Nicole’s voice grew tearful. “Dan, this isn’t like him.”

“Nicole, I’ll call you back.” Dan hung up, his chest so tight he could barely draw breath. He met Riley’s concerned gaze. “He took my brother. The bastard took Matt, and I have no idea where to.”