Chapter 11 #2
Dan sagged into the chair, still clutching the ring. “I am so, so sorry. This must be killing you.” He wiped his eyes with his fingers.
Understatement of the fucking century.
“What’s killing him?” Lewis demanded.
Dan got up from the chair. He held out the ring, and Gary’s hands trembled as he took it.
Then he realized Dan’s hands were shaking too.
Dan shivered. “He’s the reason you agreed to me coming on board with this case, isn’t he?
You want to find the man who did this to your best friend.
” Dan went over to the board, stopping in front of Cory’s image.
“It was his ring.” It wasn’t a question.
Oh God.
“Okay, who told you that?” Lewis asked.
Dan pointed to the ring in Gary’s hand. “That did.” He indicated Cory’s photo. “And so did he.”
“Wait—you see dead people too?” Lewis paled. “Fuck. I’m sorry, Gary. I didn’t think―”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Dan retorted. “And I’m not going to waste my breath explaining myself, not to someone who clearly thinks I shouldn’t be here.”
Lewis opened his mouth, then snapped it shut.
Gary’s skin tingled. Pain lanced through his chest. “Did… did you learn anything about… how he died? Anything that can help us?”
Dan’s hazel eyes held nothing but warmth and compassion. “I’m sorry. All I got was feelings about you. He… he cared deeply for you.” He swallowed. “My apologies for the display of emotion. It happens sometimes, when the… signal, for want of a better word, is strong.”
Gary fought hard to stay upright, not to deflate into a quivering mess.
Dan laid his hand on Gary’s shoulder, and there it was again, a visible tremor that rippled through Dan.
He jerked his hand back, and it took every ounce of effort Gary possessed not to yell What?
What is it you feel that you’re not telling me?
Dan had taken Gary’s disbelief and doubt, crushed them in his slim fingers, and cast them aside in a heartbeat.
He doesn’t have inside knowledge.
He knows. He fucking knows.
How he knew, Gary had no idea, but that didn’t matter. All that concerned him was Dan was the genuine article. He replaced the ring in its bag and resealed it.
Dan turned to Lewis. “Do you need another demonstration?” There was no animosity in his voice. If anything, he sounded as drained as Gary felt.
Lewis studied him in silence before responding. “No, that’s okay. I think I’ve heard enough.”
Riley came back into the room. “Lewis, you got a minute?”
“Sure. Unless Dan here is going to go through every piece of evidence.”
Gary gestured toward the door. “Go see what Riley wants.”
When Lewis left, Dan expelled a breath. “He’s kind of… intense. What is his problem?” He sighed. “Stupid question. I’m the problem, obviously.” He glanced at Gary. “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to upset you, but….” He seemed to have regained his self-control.
Gary took a deep breath. “I’m okay. It’s still pretty raw.” Cory had only been dead four days, after all. Is that all? He glanced at Dan. “Are you okay? You sound kind of exhausted.” Shock seeped from him, and with each breath he regained his equilibrium.
Dan nodded. “One thing I didn’t mention when Riley was asking questions. The visions wear me out. I’ll be okay if I sit quietly for a while. I need to recoup my energy.”
“How far did you travel to be here?”
“Not that far, really. I live in New Hampshire. We’re practically neighbors.”
“Where are you staying?”
“I booked into the Fairmont Copley Plaza last night.” He sniffed.
Gary frowned. “Do I have BO or something?”
“God, no, it’s just….” Dan leaned in and inhaled. “What’s that scent you’re wearing? It seems familiar.”
Mystery solved. “It’s a throwback to when I was a teenager. My brother loved patchouli and sandalwood. My dad used to tell him he was an old man in a young guy’s body.” Except he never made old bones. “I found a cologne that reminded me of it. It’s more cedar than sandalwood, but I like it.”
It was more than that, but Gary wasn’t about to share.
“Me too.” There was a pause. “So… once I’ve recharged my batteries, I’ll be ravenous. Can you recommend good places to eat around here? I looked at the hotel menu last night, and I have to admit, while it’s pretty swanky, nothing leaped out at me.”
“What do you like? Chinese? Indian? Thai? Mexican? Sushi? There are a ton of good restaurants.”
“Sounds as if I’ll be spoiled for choice.” He bit his lip. “I don’t suppose you know a good Vietnamese restaurant?”
Gary gaped. “You’re kidding. Yeah, I do. It’s one of my favorite places to eat. The Noodle Barn, Jamaica Plain. Not a fancy place, but the food is awesome.”
Dan smiled. “Great. I’ll try it this evening.”
Gary couldn’t help himself. “I’m overdue for a meal there.
Can I join you?” He held up both hands. “I promise not to ask for demonstrations or ask lots of questions, but I know it’s no fun eating alone.
At least that’s how I feel. You might be different.
” Except that first part was a lie. He had a shit-ton of questions.
Dan’s smile reached his eyes this time. “I’d like that. I’d be grateful for the company, to be honest. And yeah, I’ll pass on the demonstrations. I wouldn’t mind answering questions, though.” He cocked his head. “After what happened just now, I have a few of my own.”
Gary had a feeling that meant talking about Cory. He wasn’t sure he was up to that.
Before he could reply, Lewis hurried into the room, his eyes sparkling.
“We got a break.” He gave Dan a smug smile.
“Looks like you’ve had a wasted trip, Mr. Porter.
Someone’s confessed to the murders.” He glanced at Gary.
“If you can tear yourself away, he’s in an interview room.
Work time.” He strode out without a backward glance.
Dan expelled a long breath. “Wow. Talk about a short engagement.”
“I wouldn’t leave just yet. We’ve had at least five confessions so far.” But something had clearly put a burr up Lewis’s ass, and Gary wanted to know more. He paused at the door. “Still want to eat out?”
Dan’s eyes twinkled. “Before Detective Stevens puts my bags in the trunk of my car for me and waves me off as I drive back to New Hampshire? Sure.”
“Then wait here. When I come back, we’ll exchange phone numbers.”
Dan pointed to the box. “Can I take a look at what you’ve got in there? You never know….”
“Be my guest, but don’t wear yourself out, okay?” He smiled. “In case this guy turns out to be another wacko who wants attention. And don’t worry. Lewis won’t be packing any bags.” He left the room, his head in a spin.
Lewis wants to believe we’ve got our killer because that would mean the end of Dan’s involvement on this case.
Gary’s senses told him otherwise. Their man had a lot left in him.
Unfortunately.
Dan waited till the door closed, then flopped into the chair, his legs trembling.
It can’t be. It just can’t be.
Nothing in Gary’s appearance had struck a chord, not even the fact that he was a redhead.
His beard hugged his jawline, thick but not overabundant, a warm rich color that somehow complemented his blue eyes.
The kind of man Dan would definitely look twice at, but that meant nothing.
It certainly didn’t mean Gary was the unseen lover from his visions, no matter how much Dan might want that.
But that scent….
It had to be a coincidence.
But you don’t want it to be a coincidence, do you?
No, he didn’t.
He found himself staring at the door, waiting for Gary’s return. Talk about torn. As much as he hoped the killer had suffered an attack of conscience and decided to end his grim spree, Dan didn’t want it to be true. Not yet.
I need to know more about you, Gary Mitchell.
If dinner was to be his only chance to discover more, Dan was going to learn as much as he could.