Dark in Different Ways by J.D. Patterson

Author:J.D. Patterson [Patterson, J.D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-19T00:00:00+00:00

A few days later, Thom and Lars were on campus, after a seminar, trying to decide what to do about lunch.

“I need to go to the toilet,” Lars announced when they were outside the library. “Back in a minute.”

He disappeared inside and Thom waited at the bottom of the steps. Glancing around him, he noticed how busy the campus was this afternoon. The library lawn was fully occupied by groups of students eating, chatting, and lolling around in the sun. Dozens more people darted past in all directions.

Behind him, Thom heard someone whistle for his attention. Assuming it was Lars, he turned around. He was shocked to find a grinning Rob Morton standing in front of him. The detective was wearing his work suit and carrying the bag with Thom’s new trainers.

Thom stared at him in askance. “What are you doing here?”

“Looking for you, babe,” Morton replied. “I thought you’d want your flashy new trainers back.”

He handed the bag over.

“Erm…thanks,” said Thom dubiously. “Where did you find them?”

He’d almost come to believe that he had been mugged for the trainers.

“Let’s just say that I managed to recover them,” Morton told him. “Anything to make you happy.”

Thom decided not to probe this any further. “Well, thank you for that.”.

He was pleased to have his trainers back. But the detective’s sudden appearance on campus was disconcerting. How had he even known where to find him?

“You’re so welcome, babe.” Morton winked at Thom. “I have to say I almost didn’t recognise you with your clothes on.

He said this very loudly and chortled, earning them an inquisitive look from a girl passing by. Thom felt himself going slightly red.

“Thank you, Detective Sergeant,” he said stiffly.

Surely, he’d take the hint and go.

“Well, it’s been nice, babe.” The detective gave one of his exaggeratedly benevolent smiles. “But I gotta run. Stay lucky.’

He turned and swaggered away as Thom watched his departing back, hoping he wouldn’t be seeing him again. He seemed to have powers that were almost supernatural. By now, Thom had plenty of reason to be wary.

He wondered where Lars had got to and turned back towards the library only to see him standing a few steps above looking on. His face was ashen white.

Thom sensed something was wrong.

“Is everything alright, Lars?”, he called as he walked up the steps towards him.

Lars stared, as if he’d been visited by a ghostly apparition. “That man you were talking to…” he murmured.

“That’s Detective Sergeant Rob Morton,” Thom said uneasily. “He’s the cop I’ve been talking to.”

“Fucking hell, Thom. He’s fucking dangerous.”

Thom’s eyes widened. “You know him?”

“Yeah, I know him alright.” Lars was shaking now. “It was him who killed Ben.”

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