Play Dead by Harlan Coben Read Free Book Online

small holding cell was in the left-hand corner.
    'Not much really,' the sheriff began. 'David Baskin left a note for his wife saying he was going swimming, and he hasn't been seen since. I questioned the lifeguard at the hotel. He remembers seeing Baskin shooting baskets by himself at around three in the afternoon. Two hours later, he saw Baskin walking up the beach heading north.'
    'Then David didn't go for a swim?'
    Graham shrugged. 'He might have. There are swimming areas all over the place but there's no supervision where he was walking and the current is mighty powerful.'
    'David's a great swimmer.'
    'So his missus tells me, but I've lived here all my life and I can tell you when one of those damn currents wants to drag you down, there's not much a man can do but drown.'
    'Have you begun a search for the body?'
    Graham nodded his head. 'Sure have, but not a trace of the lad so far.'
    'If he had drowned, should the body have shown up by now?'
    'Normally, yes, but mate, this is northern Australia. More things could happen to a man in that ocean than on your subways. He could have washed up on one of the small unmanned islands or gotten snared on jagged coral in the Barrier Reef or been eaten by Lord-knows-what. Any one of a million things could have happened to him.'
    'What's your theory, Graham?'
    The large Aussie stood and crossed the room. 'Coffee?' 'No, thanks.'
    'In this heat, I don't blame you. How about a Coke?'
    'Sounds good.'
    Graham reached into a small refrigerator behind his desk and took out two bottles, handing one to T.C.
    'You say you're mates with this Baskin, right?'
    'For many years.'
    'Do you think you can be objective?'
    'I think so.'
    The sheriff sat back down with a long sigh. 'T.C., I'm just a sheriff of a small, friendly community. That's the way I like it. Nice, quiet, peaceful. You know what I mean?'
    T.C. nodded.
    'I'm not looking to be a big hero. I don't want no glory and I don't like complicated cases like you mates in Boston handle. You know what I'm saying?'
    'Sure.'
    'Now, being a simple man, let me tell you how I see it. I don't think Baskin drowned.'
    'You don't?'
    Graham shook his head. 'I may have made a nice speech about all the possibilities for a corpse in the Pacific but the truth is almost always much simpler. If he had drowned, his body should have been here by now. Not one hundred percent of the time, mind you, but almost.'
    'What then?'
    The large man took a swig of Coke. 'Could he have developed a classic case of cold feet? It wouldn't be the first time a mate has run away on his honeymoon. Almost did it myself once.'
    T.C.' s answer was a grin. 'Have you taken a good look at his wife?'
    Graham whistled his appreciation. 'Never seen anything like that in my life, mate. My eyes almost popped out of the sockets.' He took another sip of his Coke, lowered the bottle, wiped his mouth with a forearm the size of an oak tree. 'I guess we can assume he's not on the run. But let me ask you something else, T.C. I've been doing some research on this Baskin -- part of the job, you know -- and he seems to be quite the joker. Any chance he's just out for a last kick or something?'
    'And worry her like this? It wouldn't be like him, Graham.'
    'Well, I've radioed all the nearby towns and the coast guard. None of them wants a lot of press around either so they'll keep mum. Other than that, I'm not sure there's much we can do.'
    'I'd like to ask a favor, Graham.'
    'Name it.'
    'I know I'm out of my jurisdiction, but I'd like to help out with the investigation if I can. David Baskin is my best friend and I know him better -- '
    'Whoa, whoa, slow down there,' Graham interrupted. The sheriff stood. His gaze traveled north to south, from T.C.' s face to his scuffed-up Thom McCann loafers. He took out a handkerchief and dabbed the sweat on his forehead. 'I'm undermanned as it is,' he continued slowly, 'and I guess it wouldn't hurt any to deputize you for this case.' He pulled out a sheet of paper and