Serial Separation by Dick C. Waters Read Free Book Online Page B

see you tomorrow. By the way, the AG and the press will be at the kickoff session tomorrow.”
    “Okay, and thanks again, Mike. I know you must have really worked on Paddy for me.”
    I thought about the call after we said our good-byes. The good news was that I could help, but what was with the interview?
     
    * * *
     
    The school material could wait. I decided to dial Lisa at her dorm before she called me.
    After telling someone who I was and asking for Lisa, I could hear the phone clank against the wall, and the sound of someone pounding up the stairs. “LISA . . . Scott’s on the phone for you.”
    It wasn’t long. “Hello, Scott.”
    “Hi, Lisa, how are you?”
    “I’m doing okay, thanks, and you?” I could feel the coolness of her voice.
    “I’m good . . . look . . . I want to explain about the other night, and I’m sorry about not calling you on time.”
    “You never know around here if someone took your call and just didn’t give me the message you called.”
    “No, Lisa, I hadn’t called until I talked to you. But that’s what I want to explain. I went to the new task force office investigating the Torso killings to see if Paddy O’Brien would let me help again.”
    “Not again, Scott.”
    “Lisa, I had to get on that task force and—”
    Lisa interrupted. “NO, I’m not going to be done in a minute. You’ll just have to wait until we’re finished. I’m sorry, Scott, someone wanted to use the phone.”
    “Well, I had to get on the task force, and they just let me know that I made it. There are a couple of meetings tomorrow that I need to attend. Lisa, you heard about the murdered guys that were recently identified . . . well, I knew them.”
    “Oh my God, Scott. How did you know them?”
    “I played in a hockey league a few years back. They were part of that league. But, that’s why I was late calling you the other night. When I told the task team that I knew the murdered guys, they questioned me and I couldn’t get away in time to call you.”
    Lisa was quiet on the line, but I could hear voices in the background. “You say they are now letting you on the task force? But, it’s winter vacation. Will we be able to see each other? What about Christmas and New Year’s? We were going to go skiing.”
    “We’ll be able to see each other for Christmas, but I’m not sure about going away over New Year’s.”
    “Well, Judy is already making those reservations, so, are you telling me to cancel them?”
    “I can’t say for sure, but can you hold off until I know something more about my participation on the task force?”
    “Sure, Scott. The last time you were connected to the task force . . . I almost lost my life. Now you’re connected with this new one, and you say people you knew are turning up dead. Is it going to be your turn?”
    “Lisa, please. It’s not like that at all.”
    “How do you know? YES, you can have the phone now!” There was a click in my ear.

Chapter 15
     
    The unique fragrance the old building exuded reminded her of her grandfather’s sailboat. She enjoyed the weekends away with him and her sister. It was an escape she looked forward to.
    The memories of her grandfather were all she had left. His dream was for her to follow in his footsteps. When she told him she had applied to Harvard, she witnessed the joy and relief in his eyes. He died two days later in his sleep.
    She wondered many times if she hadn’t told him about Harvard would he still be alive. She should have been more sensitive to his condition. She would have easily traded her grandfather’s brief joy for his continued presence.
    She turned on the second floor display case lights and studied the contents—their ‘trophies.’ Bob was the latest addition. She walked past the other two and then examined his display. She couldn’t help the mixed feelings. She was responsible for his actions against her. She remembered titillating him by leaving her bedroom shades up so he could observe her