Fair Game by Josh Lanyon Read Free Book Online Page B

he…discreet?”
    Discreet. Not the first word that came to mind with Tucker. Not that Tucker was in discreet. He wouldn’t have lasted long at the Bureau if that were the case. Elliot hedged, “He understands why publicity would not be in the best interests of the college and the students.”
    Charlotte said quickly, “It’s not as though we were trying to cover anything up. The university policy is to disseminate information regarding security issues to students as quickly as they arise. We all understand that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
    Elliot nodded, recognizing an official spiel when he heard one. And, in fairness to the university, there was an excellent information network in place with security issues addressed weekly via the campus newspaper. The Safety Committee and the Director of Security met regularly, and emergency alert/warning information could be communicated campus-wide instantly via an outdoor wide-area broadcast loud speaker system, cell phones, text messaging and email notifications. Horrific things happened and sometimes it was no one’s fault.
    No one but the perpetrator.
    Charlotte brightened. “Perhaps you could act as a liaison between the university and the, er, Bureau?”
    Elliot instantly opened his mouth to decline, but he hesitated. Really why not? He was already involved and it strengthened his position with Tucker and the Bureau just that bit more. Plus it gave him authority to question Gordie Lyle’s aunt. He said neutrally, “I can do that, if you feel it’ll help. It would probably simplify things.”
    Charlotte’s relief was tempered. “Obviously we want to keep the university out of the spotlight as much as possible. We’re very proud of our safety and security initiatives at PSU. Our crime rate is historically low compared to the rest of the city.”
    “Right,” Elliot soothed. “I realize that. The truth is, violence can happen anywhere.”
    “Exactly!” Charlotte exclaimed. She sounded quite pleased about it.

Chapter Six
    On his walk back to the Administration offices, Elliot phoned Tucker.
    “Lance,” Tucker answered crisply following the second ring.
    Like that, it was as though he stood in front of Elliot, all aggressive masculinity, and Elliot’s heart started to pound hard in that fight or flight reflex. It irritated the hell out of him, but there was no denying his physical response to Tucker.
    “It’s Elliot.”
    A pause. “Elliot.” Tucker’s tone was neutral. “What do you want?”
    “I have new information for you. Another student, a kid named Gordie Lyle, has apparently disappeared.”
    “Apparently?”
    “I haven’t had a chance to look into it, but his aunt reported him missing to Tacoma PD.”
    “What makes you think there’s a connection?”
    “Gut feeling mostly. It’s one hell of a coincidence.”
    Silence. Tucker said, “I don’t put a lot of stock in gut feelings.”
    “Do you put a lot of stock in coincidence? Because this is a big one.”
    Elliot’s daring to contradict him seemed to be the signal Tucker was waiting for. He said flatly, “Give me a break. It’s a college campus, for God’s sake. Don’t tell me you’re doing bed checks every night. I know better.”
    “The Lyle kid has been missing four days. According to his aunt, that’s not typical. And, as we both know, Terry Baker has yet to turn up after three weeks.”
    “That’s it? That’s your connection? Two boys from the same college campus don’t show up to class for a few days?”
    Elliot understood what Tucker was saying. And fair enough. Boys will be boys. Had Lyle been female, then sexist or not, the rules were different. Even so, given the lack of progress in the Baker case, was there a valid reason not to acknowledge a possible link?
    Elliot lowered his voice to avoid the attention of students sitting nearby on the grass, engrossed in their laptops. “Are you telling me you won’t even consider a connection?”
    “I