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Dan’s goose bumps would not quit.
Gary gave Mr. Brightmore a thoughtful glance. “How could you know that, sir?”
Another shrug. “I was informed.”
“The reason we’re here is because we discovered that for two years after your son’s fatal accident, death threats were made against Cheryl—Benjamin.” Gary kept his voice low.
“Ah, I see.” Mr. Brightmore arched his sparse eyebrows. “And you want to know whether someone carried out those threats.” He looked Gary in the eye. “I can assure you, though Connor’s untimely death devastated us, no one in this family would ever resort to such an illegal and immoral act.” He paused. “Clearly we have an avenging angel who is not hampered by such scruples.”
“But avenging what?” Dan demanded. “Connor was to blame for the accident.” Mr. Brightmore’s eyes narrowed, and Dan gave a slow nod. “Unless they’re avenging the fact that Cheryl survived and Connor didn’t.”
Mr. Brightmore’s breathing caught, and Dan knew he’d touched a nerve.
“That’s all you can tell us?” Gary asked.
A heavy sigh rolled from Mr. Brightmore’s lips. “There is nothing to tell. And if that is all, gentlemen….” His wife appeared at the door, holding a tray, and he shook his head. “Our guests are not staying, Marie.”
They had been dismissed.
Gary shook Mr. Brightmore’s hand. “Thank you for your time, sir. I’m sorry to have brought back such painful memories.”
Dan took the proffered hand and clasped it briefly, steadying himself for the onslaught of emotions he felt sure was about to overwhelm him.
What he felt was so much more powerful than he’d anticipated.
He waited until they were out of sight of the house before sharing his shock.
“Well, that was a wasted trip,” Gary declared with a sigh. “That is, if we believe him. Please, tell meyoulearned something useful.” They headed down the street toward the ferry.
Dan gripped his arm, forcing him to come to a halt. “Gary, he… he’s… dead inside. Thirty-five years have passed since the accident, and I don’t think he ever got over it.”
Gary stared back at the house. “He might be dead now, but what about twenty-six years ago? What if he sent out thatavenging angel? Orpaidsomeone to be an avenging angel? Someone unconnected to the family? He did say that, right? No one in the family. And he’s a man of means.” His expression grew grim. “A car accident kills his only son. I’d say that’s a pretty good motive for wanting the person responsible dead.”
Dan couldn’t help but agree. As they walked slowly to the ferry, all he could think about was the void he’d encountered.
A void he would never forget.
Chapter Ten
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
GARY GLANCEDacross the office to where Dan sat at his desk, drinking coffee and reading notes from Cheryl’s file. Gary couldn’t shake the feeling something was on Dan’s mind. He’d seemed distracted ever since they caught the ferry back to Hyannis, and he’d been pretty quiet during the trip home.
Gary hadn’t pushed. He was learning—slowly—that if whatever was bugging Dan was important, he’d share it.
Living with someone was a whole new ball game, yet another area where Gary was still finding his feet. Every day was different, bringing new experiences. For one thing, Dan slept naked, but that was a new custom Gary had gotten into with ease. Sharing a kitchen, a bathroom, however, had brought a few challenges. Gary had lived alone since he’d left college, and now here he was, two years shy of forty, learning to be part of a couple.
So far, he loved every single minute.
The knock at the door made them jump. Detective Will Freeman stuck his head into the room. “Can I come in?”
Gary resisted the urge to make a snarky remark; Will was never this polite. “Sure.”
Will came inside and closed the door. He went over to Dan’s desk, and Gary didn’t need Dan’s gift to feel the trickle of unease that had entered the room, an unseen visitor that had slipped in with Will.
He stood in front of the desk, hands at his sides. “I-I need to apologize.”
Dan arched his eyebrows. “Oh?”
