Page 23 of Line of Sight
Keeping a straight expression took a supreme effort.
Four pairs of eyes gaped at Greg, and the silence was palpable.
At last Jennifer Sullivan spoke, an edge of outrage in her voice. “You think it was one ofus?”
“It had to be,” Greg remonstrated.
I couldn’t resist yanking his chain. I gave a shrug. “Unless it was you, and this is all for show.”
Greg’s eyes bulged. “Me?Ididn’t kill him. I could never….” His Adam’s apple bobbed sharply. “You read about how he died, right?”
My heartbeat quickened as I folded my arms and gave another shrug. I was more than ready to throw the cat among the pigeons.
“Well, if you want to be accurate,” I said in a low voice, “he died because I injected him with a massive dose of ketamine.ThenI planted the ax in his head, right through his mouth as a matter of fact.” I beamed. “Thatwiped the smile from his face.”
Their horror was so delicious, it was all I could do not to laugh my ass off.
Brad Mitchell gaped at me. “Oh my God. You’re serious.”
“Bingo.” I smiled at Greg. “Has your plan worked, by the way?”
Greg’s face went slack. “What? What are you talking about?”
I blinked. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten already.Youknow, your plan to be your stepfather’s sole choice to take over the running of his empire. How did Owen take Scott’s death? Is he going to lean on you? Is your position now stronger?” Another shrug. “You have to admit, therearepositives to this.” I leaned back and delivered the coup de grace. “Of course, technically, youalldid it.”
Amy Walsh’s face was the color of milk. “What do you mean?”
I examined my perfectly manicured fingernails. “Maybe I left some… evidence at the crime scene. Something that incriminates each of you.”
A bold lie, but hey, they didn’t know that.
Jason Kelly’s appalled expression was almost comical. “Why would you do such a thing?”
Yet another shrug, a habit I needed to get out of. It showed a lack of imagination. “I liked our discussion. In fact, it gave me an idea, something I’d like to share with you.” I flashed them a polite smile. “A proposal, you might say.”
Brad let out a strangled noise. “What makes you think we’re going to sit here and listen to any proposal of yours? Dude, you’ve just confessed tomurderingsomeone. What’s to stop any of us from leaving here and finding the nearest cop?”
“You’re quite welcome to do that if you wish, but if you do, then I make a call, telling the police where to find evidence that a certain student called… let’s say Brad Mitchell… killed Scott McCarthy.”
Greg narrowed his gaze. “You’re bluffing.”
I smiled. “If I’m resourceful enough to procure ketamine, to murder someone with an ax,andleave no clues to incriminate myself, I’m perfectly capable of finding physical evidence to incriminate all of you.”
Brad’s mouth fell open. “But none of us were anywhere near Boston that day. We can prove it. You know where we were—you gave us the damn tickets, remember?”
I held up a finger. “Ah, but wait.Gregcan, sure. He was caught on camera.” I gave Greg a glance of approval. “I hadn’t expected that, by the way, but I’m sure I can explain it away somehow. A late-night drive from New York, perhaps, timed to arrive at the moment Scott started his run.” I stared at the others. “The same goes for the rest of you.”
They all appeared to be in shock, which was fine by me. I wanted them to listen anyway.
I clasped my hands on the table. “Now, why don’t you listen to my idea? We all belong to the Mystery/Thriller Club. Well,whatI’mproposing is a different kind of club. A Secret Murder Club. And I’m offering you a very special service. I believe I alluded to it the night of the party.” I let my gaze drift around the table. “I will eliminate anyone who threatens your future, either financially or by impeding your success, your career. Now, you might be fortunate. You might never encounter such an obstacle. But if you do….” I folded my arms once more. “I will obliterate that obstacle, leaving nothing to connect the murder to you.”
Jennifer was the first to speak. “This is a gag, isn’t it?” she croaked.
I gestured to her glass. “You appear to have a frog in your throat. That might help.”
She ignored me. “You’ve got a camera set up someplace in here, and you’re recording this. Come on, tell me I’m right.” She held her hands up. “Fine. I’ll admit it. It’s a great gag. You got us. Now stop, because it isn’t funny anymore.”
I stared at her, saying nothing, and watched her shrink away from me.
