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Dan stopped at the threshold, his hand on the glass. “But cutting off her head? Isn’t that a step too far?”
Gary gazed at him. “You don’t think him capable of that? What do your senses tell you?”
“Nothing solid, but….” Dan shook his head. “No, I don’t think he did it, unfortunately for us. But don’t let that stop you. Don’t put all your faith in my abilities.”
Gary sighed. “We’re way past that. I trust your senses. But yeah, wewillstill check up on Aiden’s movements.”
“So what now?” Dan asked as they walked out into the sunshine. “Are we going back to the precinct?”
Gary peered at him. “Why? Something you want to do there?”
Dan nodded. “I think we should look into the car accident. If someone went to the trouble of sending death threats, I don’t think they would give up so easily just because they lost track of Ben.”
“But seven years elapsed between the threats and Cheryl’s disappearance.”
Dan had thought about that. “Maybe it took them that long to find her.” He gave Gary a beseeching glance. “Surely we can pay the family a visit, see what we can learn?”
“You mean, whatyoucan learn.” Gary chuckled. “You’re getting a taste for detection, aren’t you?”
Except it wasn’t detection that provided motivation—it was the burning need to learn the truth.
Chapter Nine
DAN RETURNEDfrom the restroom to find Gary making notes. “Did your digging turn anything up?”
Gary nodded. “Connor Brightmore was twenty when he died. College student from a wealthy family. But based on the eyewitness accounts and the examination of the wreckage, there’s no doubt he caused the accident.”
“So young,” Dan murmured. “His poor parents.”
“They still live in Boston. They have two houses, one on Marlborough Street and another on Cape Cod.”
“I’ve heard a lot about Cape Cod. Do you know it at all? Did you ever go there on vacation?”
Gary smiled. “Once or twice. My mom used to say she’d love to have a summer house on the coast. My dad told her to start buying lottery tickets.” He cocked his head. “How about a trip to Nantucket?”
“Okay, that’s… random.” Dan blinked. “Aren’t we a little busy right now? Maybe once we’ve gotten a case solved, but—”
“While you were gone, I called Mr. Brightmore to arrange a meeting. He says he’ll meet with us, but only if we come to their summer home—in Nantucket.” His eyes twinkled. “I said yes. I didn’t think you’d mind.”
Dan grinned. “When do we go?”
“I asked if we could see him tomorrow, but he refused. Said it could wait until Monday. Which means we have a long day ahead of us. It’s easily an hour and a quarter drive to Hyannis Port. Then we have choices. If we take the vehicle ferry, that’s another two-plus hours. Or we can take the high-speed passenger ferry. That only takes an hour.”
“We’d better have an early night Sunday, then. It sounds as if we’re going to have an early start Monday.”
Gary chuckled. “That only works in theory. Our early nights usually end up with both of us tired the following day.”
No time like the present.“Actually? I have plans for tomorrow.”
Gary’s grin widened. “I like the sound of that. What do they involve?”
“To quote you—down, boy. I think it’s time I finally got around to unpacking the rest of my stuff. I can’t keep living out of boxes and suitcases. If you’re serious about us living together….”
Dan didn’t have to see Gary’s expression or touch him to know a change had taken place—he could feel it in the air, feel Gary’s focus on him.
“Of course I am. And you’re right. It’s time we made it your home too.” Gary turned the monitor off. “And we’re done. It’s Saturday afternoon. Why don’t we go grab some lunch, and then we’ll go home.” He smiled. “We can get started on your unpacking.”
Dan couldn’t resist. “Well, we don’t have to start right away, do we?”
