AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ian paled. “No. Don’t do that.”
“Why not?” Gary demanded.
Dan couldn’t speak. Every sense he possessed told him something was coming.
“Because….” Ian launched himself across the living room to the sideboard, where he picked up a cigarette pack. He opened it and groaned. “Christ.” He tossed the empty packet aside.
Dan’s heart hammered. “Wait a sec. You can have one of mine.” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the pack he’d taken to FMC Devens. He held it out and waited, his heartbeat racing.
“Thanks.” Ian’s hand shook as he took it. He removed a cigarette, then grabbed his lighter from the sideboard. He lit it and took a long, shuddering drag on it before glancing at a nearby framed photo. “My husband keeps telling me to quit, but I just can’t.” He handed Dan the packet.
Dan took it, his breathing catching as their fingers brushed.Here we go.He focused all his energy and concentrated.
Ian gave him a quizzical glance. “Are you all right?”
Dan ignored him, aware of the first trickles of knowledge crawling over him, making him shiver. And when realization hit, it floored him.
Gotcha.
He stared at Ian. “You told Mr. Brightmoreyou’dkilled her.”
Ian’s face was like milk.
Gary studied him. “Mr. Gordon?”
“How… how could you know that?” Ian’s eyes were impossibly large. “And how muchmoredo you know?”
“That doesn’t matter now.”
“Are you for real? What the hell did you do, read my mind or something?”
“Suppose you tell us what happened.” Dan regarded him with a speculative glance. “Don’t you think it’s time for that?” He softened his voice. “I already know the truth,” he lied.
He knew most of it, including one item that had him scanning the room, his heartbeat racing.
Where is it?
“Then you don’t need to hear it from me,” Ian croaked.
“Tell us, please.” Gary spoke in a coaxing tone.
Ian sank onto the couch, his fingers trembling as they clutched his cigarette. “When… when we lost all trace of Benjamin Raskin, I was devastated.”
Yet more knowledge washed over Dan. “You did send those letters, didn’t you?”
Ian nodded, swallowing. “But I didn’t make any threatening phone calls, I swear.” Another hard swallow. “I-I really thought the letters would do the trick, but… nothing. Then he just vanished. I-I was starting out in business as a software designer, and I needed capital. So….”
Dan expelled a long breath. “So you went to Connor’s father—Connor’s very wealthy father—and told himyou’dgotten rid of Raskin.”
“Not in so many words, but—”
“But you hinted,” Dan continued. “You hoped he’d read between the lines and help you out with a little investment.”
“Did he?” Gary asked.
Ian nodded once again. “As far as he’s concerned, I’d killed the man responsible for his son’s death. But I didn’t, honest.” He gaped at Dan. “You have to believe me.”
“But you did threaten him,” Dan countered.
