Chapter 40 #2
Dan nodded. “You’ve got me intrigued too.”
Travers sat back in his chair, his fingers laced. “You have an incredible gift, Mr. Porter. Would you consider using that gift to help us on a more permanent basis?”
What the…? “In what way, exactly?”
“We have a backlog of cold cases, some dating back many years, long before DNA testing had even been thought of. But with present-day technology and your gift… I feel we could solve some of those cases.” He shrugged.
“No one likes to admit defeat. I’m sure Detective Mitchell will understand how much it would mean to some people to be able to close the book on the death or disappearance of a loved one, even after so many years.
” Travers smiled. “It’s just an idea, but… at least think about it.”
Talk about coming out of left field…. “I’ll consider it. I make no promises, mind you.”
“That’s all I ask. And besides, the chief might listen to my proposal and the first thing out of his mouth is going to be ‘We don’t have the budget.’”
Gary stood. “If that’s all, I’m going to take Dan back to his hotel. After everything he’s been through the past few days, I think it’s time he got some sleep.”
Dan had to fight the urge to smirk.
Travers glanced at the wall clock and nodded. “It’s time we all got some sleep.” He got up and walked around the desk, his hand extended. His eyes twinkled. “Shaking hands with you is a risky business. Who knows what deep dark secrets you’ll uncover.”
Dan chuckled. “The fact that you’re willing to take my hand says a lot.” They shook. “Thanks for the whiskey.”
“Dutch courage, I suppose. It can’t have been easy, telling us about Lewis.” Travers frowned. “You think you know a man….” Then he straightened. “Good night, Mr. Porter. And Mitchell… well done.”
They walked out of the office. Gary was silent, and no psychic ability was required to know what was running through his mind.
“I know,” Dan murmured. “The shock I felt when I touched Paul’s necklace…. I didn’t want to believe it, but I had to accept it. The visions don’t lie, and it explained too many things.”
“You couldn’t lie either,” Gary observed. “But you were right. It had to come out. And it’s no one’s fault but Lewis’s. He chose that path.”
“And then he walked away from it,” Dan added. “Don’t forget that part.” He was still ruminating that unexpected proposal. “Travers wants me to work with you on those cases, doesn’t he?”
“That was my impression.”
“That bit about closing the book on the death of a loved one….” He speared Gary with a look. “He was talking about your brother, wasn’t he?”
Gary paused at the door to the case room. “It’s not something I’ve ever talked about, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he knew.” They went inside, and Gary walked slowly to the board. “I’d better take all of this down and file it.”
Dan sat. “Something occurred to me in the middle of the night.”
Gary chuckled. “I know. I was there, remember? I don’t know what woke you, but I was more than happy to help you get back to sleep.”
Dan tried not to think about Gary’s methods. That would have to wait until they were alone. “You and Christopher Ludlow….”
“What about us?”
Dan did his best to formulate his thoughts. “You both lost a brother. Their deaths devastated both of you. And yet you went in completely opposite directions. He wanted to avenge Paul’s death. You wanted to become a detective to solve deaths like Brad’s.”
“At first, all I thought of was finding Brad’s killer. As time went by, I realized that wasn’t going to happen. And please, don’t make me out to be some kind of hero. I’m not. Believe me, if I’d ever caught the person who killed Brad, you’d have seen how much ugliness lies within me.”
Dan rose and joined him. “I don’t see any ugliness in you.”
Gary grinned. “Yeah, but you’re biased.”
Dan stared at the photos, his heartbeat quickening. “You haven’t asked me. Not once.”
“Asked you what?”
“What I felt when I touched Brad’s sweater. You were dying to, weren’t you?”
Gary stilled. “You felt that?” Dan nodded, and Gary sighed. “I was frightened to, I guess. Plus, I didn’t want you to think I was using you.”
“I would never think that of you.” Dan checked the door was closed, then took Gary’s hand. “I like the lieutenant’s idea. Solving murders or crimes that people have given up hope of ever having solved. That would be awesome. But you know what would be even more awesome?”
“What?”
Dan trailed his fingers along Gary’s inner arm where the tattoo lay hidden. “Bringing you peace. Helping you to heal.” Now the second vision made sense.
“Do I need healing?”
Dan lifted Gary’s hand to his lips and kissed his fingers. “Yes, you do. And I think learning more about Brad’s death is a big step in the right direction. Like I said to the lieutenant, I’m not making any promises, but… we can try.”
Gary let out a long sigh. “It was twenty-three years ago.”
Dan nodded. His face tingled. “And yet after all that time, I know something about his death that you don’t.”
Gary’s breathing hitched, and for several seconds, he said nothing. Finally he croaked out the words. “What is it you know?”
Dan looked him in the eye. “I’ve been sitting on this for days, and I can’t hold it in any longer. I don’t know the name of the person who killed Brad, but one thing I am sure about—he knew them.”
THE END
Keep reading for an excerpt from In Plain Sight, book two in the Second Sight series, by K.C. Wells