Page 32 of No Surrender
“Do you think it would come to that?” Simon sounded like he’d been sucker-punched.
Vic shrugged. “Maybe. It also creates pressure on the police to figure out who is sending the objects, and we look bad if it takes us too long. Reporters will explain away the danger as coincidence, but the idea that there’s a psycho out there sending weird-ass stuff to key players of the trial is something they’ll latch onto.”
“Any leads?”
“We’re going to talk to one of the detectives who handled the eighties disappearances. I wouldn’t doubt that he knows the reporter Walt is going to fix you up with,” Vic added.
“Walt is hardly ‘fixing me up’ with anyone.”
“You know what I meant.” Vic sighed. He sat up and met Simon’s gaze. “And you’re probably going to kick my ass, but I figured that since our fanboy doesn’t know that the ticket made me sick, maybe I could goad him into trying again—and tipping his hand. So I went out to the old Springsteen concert groups I joined a long time ago and raved about theawesomevintage ticket someone sent me. We turned the IT guys loose on it like with Andrews’s and the Judge’s groups to see if we can get a shortlist of suspects. They’re already watching the activity and noting likely suspects.”
Simon glared at him. “You’re setting yourself up as bait. I hate that.”
“This time, I know not to touch anything unusual.”
“Cursed objects can kill, Vic. This isn’t a game.”
Simon was pissed, but underneath the anger, Vic knew his partner was afraid. He reached out and took Simon’s hands, holding on even when Simon tried to jerk away.
“I know it’s not a game. I have every intention of growing old with you. But I’m a cop—and that’s a dangerous job. Drawing out a suspect is part of the process. If the IT guys find a match in two fan groups, it could be coincidence. But if they find the same person in three, we have a solid lead that could help us identify the fanboy.”
Simon relaxed and didn’t try to pull away, but his expression made it clear he still didn’t like the plan. “Don’t do anything stupid,” he grumbled.
“That’s asking a lot,” Vic teased and saw the corner of Simon’s lips twitch. “But I will do everything I can to stay safe. That goes both ways, you know. I’m not the only one who has a history of running into danger.”
“Okay,” Simon relented. “Is that why you’ve been stressed all evening?”
“Partly. All the stuff with the reporters gets on my last nerve. It doesn’t help that Ross has been edgy. He’s not sleeping well. Bad dreams. Can’t say I blame him.”
“Tell me about Ross’s bad dreams.” The intensity in Simon’s eyes made Vic frown.
“You think it’s important?’
“It might be. That vision I had at the shop, I think it was something the girl’s ghost experienced.”
“Before she died? Like a premonition?”
Simon grimaced. “Not exactly. It didn’t foretell her death. More like a private horror movie designed to produce fear and dread. I’m wondering if something supernatural might be behind it.”
“A witch? But that’s too long ago for the fanboy who’s sending the cursed objects, isn’t it?”
Simon shook his head. “I think we might have another player on the board—some kind of supernatural entity. Not human.”
Vic groaned. “Like we need another loose end? What do you mean—entity?”
“Don’t know yet. I need to look into it and tap what Teag and Travis know. I could be wrong.”
Vic sat bolt upright, eyes wide. “Maybe not. When Ross and I read over the files from the eighties disappearances, nightmares got mentioned a couple of times. I didn’t pay attention to it because with people disappearing, who wouldn’t have bad dreams? But that’s something to ask the retired detective about.”
Simon nodded. “I can mention it to the reporter too. And it’s something I’ll ask the ghosts if I can find more of them—and our contact at the hotel. It might be nothing—or it could be important.”
“If something caused nightmares back in the eighties, why did it hang around until now?” Vic asked.
“I’m not sure,” Simon replied, voice fading as he appeared lost in thought about the question. “It could be a person, as you suggested. If it’s an entity…creature…it might be immortal or near enough. And the dreams might be what feeds it.”
Vic gave Simon a long look. “Please swear you aren’t pulling my leg.”
“Wish I were, but I’m dead serious—no pun intended.”
