“Nick, wasn’t it?”
“Nick, that’s right. ”
Somewhere on his end, I heard a faint retort: “You can call me whatever you want as long as you smile for the camera. ”
“I remember him,” I said. “But look, can’t you do this anywhere else? The front of the park, in front of the sign? At the visitors’ center? Someplace else?”
“He said that the station has a strict on-site policy. ”
“The visitors’ center is on-site. ”
“The visitors’ center isn’t as cool, though. He wanted to get as close to the scene of the murder as possible. ”
“And he let you stop at the Tower?”
“Yes. I’m sitting on one of the benches right now. ”
He was lying. I knew he was lying. “You’re not lying to me, are you?”
“No. Why would I?”
Because he needed the money, and three hundred dollars would probably cover the repairs his car so desperately needed, though he was too proud to admit it; or it would cover his rent and maybe the water bill too. He might go to greater lengths than he’d say—lengths that would get him bitched at by me.
“Shit, Jamie. You’d better not be lying. ”
Benny craned his neck around. “What’s he doing?”
“He’s on the battlefield,” I answered. “Lying. ”
“Why?”
“Long story. Jamie, get out of there. Bad things are afoot. Please? Do me a favor here. Tell him you’ve got to piss or something, and you need to go to the visitors’ center. ”
“I’m in the woods, darling. Pissing requires no plumbing. ”
“So you’re not at the Tower? The woods aren’t that close to the Tower, Jamie, you jackass. Leave. Get out. Now. ”
“No. What? What is it?” After the first word, he wasn’t talking to me. It was someone else, Nick or Becca.
“I don’t like it, Jamie. Look, would you do me a favor?”
“What?”
“Would you wait? Give us thirty minutes, and we’ll be out there. ”
“What?” Dana had heard me, and was objecting. She’d just burst free of the woods and was stepping across the trimmed grass.
“The battlefield,” I told her. “Jamie’s out there. ”
“He’s where?”
“The battlefield. Jamie, get out of there. Big things are coming your way. ”
“Big things?”
“Big things with glowing green eyes. At least I hope so. ”
I was distracted by the woods, but Dana pulled me out as she said, “Oh, great. Green Eyes isn’t dangerous, but you’re going to warn your friends about him. You’re all consistent. ”