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More laughter ensued, and Dan gave Gary a dig in the ribs with his elbow.
Sean consulted his list again. “There’s also a Walkman, a compact CD player, VHS tapes….” He peered at his audience. “Really, people?” Chuckles and snorts erupted. Then he gave them a mock glare. “And who brought Pogs?” A wave of laughter rippled around the room. Sean narrowed his gaze. “NowI understand why some of you were behaving so furtively when you left your prizes.” Then he smiled. “But what this collection really shows is that our greatest pleasure was… going to the movies.” He gestured to the table. “Most of you brought DVDs of movies we all went to see back then.” He grabbed one and held it up. “Thelma and Louise, anyone?” He replaced it on the table and held another aloft. “Four Weddings and a Funeral?”
“How are we doing this?” a voice called out.
“I’ll get a volunteer to draw the first ticket,” Sean told him, “And if your number is called, go to the prize table and pick something.” He grinned. “I’m betting at the end of the night, the Pogs will still be there.” He scanned the tables. “So, can I have a volunteer to draw the tickets?”
A woman yelled, “Me!” Everyone laughed.
Sean beamed. “Bev, I knew you’d be the first.”
Bev turned out to be a short woman with bright red hair and an infectious smile. She came up to the mic, and Sean pointed to the large bowl behind him. Bev drew a ticket from it, handed it to Sean, who called out the number.
Dan peered at his strip of ten tickets. “Listen out for anything between one hundred and one hundred and nine.”
Gary chuckled. “Got your eye on anything?”
He smiled. “I think I’ll play safe and grab a DVD.”
Fifteen minutes later the numbers were still being called out, and Dan was starting to think his luck wasn’t in. He loved the laughter that accompanied each winner’s visit to the prize table.
Bev handed Sean the next ticket. “Number one hundred and seven,” he announced.
Dan grinned and held up his ticket. “That’s me!” He glanced at Gary. “And you’re coming with me. You can help me choose.”
They walked over to the table, and Dan scanned the remaining items. There were plenty of prizes left to choose from. He chuckled. “Decisions, decisions.”
And then he froze.
Gary moved closer. “What’s wrong?”
“I think this one has my name written all over it, don’t you?” Dan pointed to a DVD ofCape Fear.
“I think you’re right.” Gary rubbed his arms and shivered. “And now I’ve got goose bumps.”
Beside Dan, one of the female guests shuddered. “That movie gave me the creeps. Mind you, the book was just as creepy.”
Dan paused, his hand outstretched toward it. “Cape Fear’s based on a book?”
She nodded. “It was written by one of my favorite authors, John D. MacDonald. Different title, of course.”
Ice crawled over his skin. “What was the title?” He stared at Gary, silently willing the next words from her lips not to be the ones he was dreading.
“The Executioners.” She nodded toward the DVD. “But hey, if you want it, you take it.” She grabbed the DVD ofThelma and Louise. “Nowthisone is moremykinda movie.” She walked away from the table.
Gary’s eyes were huge. “Don’t touch it.”
Dan took a deep breath, dismayed to realize his hand was trembling. “You know I have to.” He picked it up and staggered, falling against the table. “Oh God,” he whispered. He couldn’t stop shaking.
“What is it?” Gary supported him. “What do you sense?”
Dan straightened, making an effort to get his emotions under control. “He’s got guts, I’ll say that for him.” He shivered. He scanned the room, first in one direction, then in another. “He’s here. He’s one of them.”
“He? Who?”
“Brad’s killer. And I don’t have a clue who he is.”
Then a thought occurred to him.
