Night Mask by William W. Johnstone Read Free Book Online Page A

am.”
    â€œGo to sleep. I’ll wake you up when we get to the motel. Go on. I’m not a bit tired.”
    Leo was asleep in moments. Lani glanced over at him and smiled. Good, solid, prodding Leo. A cop’s cop. Methodical, slow to anger. A bulldog on any case. Devoted family man. Everything about Leo was average. Average height, average build, neither handsome nor unattractive. He could go unnoticed in a crowd of three. But his courage was limitless. Lani and Leo made a good team, right from the beginning.
    She shook him awake at the motel, and he staggered off to his room. Lani took a bath and went to bed. She had nightmares about drapes that came alive, monsters lurking in the carpets of the Longwood mansion, and ropes and cords that turned into writhing snakes. She awakened tired. She took an ice-cold shower and that woke her up.
    Lani was reading the newspaper and working on her second cup of coffee in the dining room, when a story stopped her cold and caused her hand to tremble so badly she had to carefully put down the coffee cup. She read the story twice.
    â€œHey, kid!” Leo said, sitting down and picking up the menu. “What’s up?”
    White-faced, she handed him the paper. Leo read, THE BODY OF ALBANY POLICE DEPARTMENT DET. BILL ZANETIS WAS FOUND LAST EVENING IN THE EMPTY SWIMMING POOL OF THE OLD LONGWOOD ESTATE, JUST OUTSIDE OF TOWN. A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE DETECTIVE’S FOOT BECAME ENTANGLED IN AN OLD ROPE AND HE TRIPPED, FALLING ONTO THE CONCRETE FLOOR OF THE POOL, BREAKING HIS NECK ON IMPACT. THE ROPE WAS TWISTED SO INTRICATELY AROUND HIS ANKLES IT HAD TO BE CUT AWAY.
    Leo’s face was impassive as he laid the paper aside and thanked the waitress for the freshly poured cup of coffee. He ordered breakfast. When the waitress had left, he said, “Accidents happen, Lani.”
    â€œWhat rope, Leo? There was no rope by the pool.”
    â€œThat we saw. It was dark.”
    â€œThe moon was out, Leo! We both commented on how much light it was affording us.”
    â€œNow, you just settle down, Lani,” he whispered. “We’re dealing with some kooks here, not the devil.”
    â€œHe was so tangled up in the rope it had to be cut away from his ankles, Leo.”
    â€œI read it. So? He panicked, and that made matters worse. You ever try to kick a garden hose from around your feet or ankles? I have. It’s a mess.”
    â€œWe’re in over our heads, Leo.”
    â€œNo, we’re not. Now you listen to me, Lani. I’ve never seen you so spooked. You know as well as me that everything has a logical explanation. We’ve worked too many murders together, kid. Get your cool back. We’ll solve this one.”
    The waitress brought their food, and Leo dug in. Lani picked at her breakfast. “Eat, eat!” Leo urged her. “We’ve got a long day ahead of us.”
    â€œI got a bad feeling, Leo.”
    â€œYou constipated or something?”
    Lani laughed at the expression on his face and started eating. Leo could always make her feel better.

Chapter 6
    They met back at the motel restaurant for lunch, and Lani’s mood had lifted considerably. Leo was in his usual good mood.
    â€œKarl Muller has a history of mental problems, Leo. He had a major breakdown just before the murders. Anna was confined for more than six months due to mental problems. Both of them were treated for hallucinations.”
    â€œSo much for flying knives and drapes that come alive, and ropes that turn into snakes.”
    â€œRight. What’d you find out?”
    â€œThe Longwood mansion is as old as the Mullers claim it to be. The original plans are on exhibit at a local museum. No hidden chambers or secret rooms to be found.”
    â€œAre we through here?”
    â€œI think so. For the time being. Let’s check out and head for Boston. I have an address for the half brother and sister.”
    * * *
    The same late