Read Online The Cyclops Conspiracy by David Perry - Free Book Online

smirking.
    They held each other’s gaze for a long time.
    “How’s your son, Michael?”
    “He’s great. He’s eleven.” Jason pulled out his cell phone and showed her several photographs. “Loves baseball, drums, and asking questions.”
    “Good lookin’ kid. He must get his looks from his mother.”
    Jason smiled and looked away.
    “So why did you ask me to dinner?”
    “Can’t a friend just take another friend out for a meal?”
    “So we’re friends now?” The effects of the liquor and his statement ignited her anger.
    Jason gave a shrug.
    “What happened to you saying what you had to say and then leaving me alone?”
    He moved fries around with his fork. “I can’t talk about it right now.”
    “Can’t or won’t?”
    “Chrissie—you’re drunk. We should wait.”
    She knew he was right. And that pissed her off. “You started all this. You asked me to come out so you could say what you had to say—” Christine spread her hands, palms up. “Here I am.”
    He sighed. “I’m not ready to deal with the—”
    “Feelings?”
    Jason averted his eyes and studied his food.
    Their volcanically painful past was now fully erupting. The words spewed from her like white-hot ash. “You think it was easy dealing with you leaving and not knowing why? All those years, and no answers!” Christine’s voice grew louder, her speech slower, more deliberate.
    Several diners looked in their direction.
    The waitress appeared, looking between them quickly, hoping to broker a truce. Jason asked for the check and handed over his credit card. She rushed away to process it.
    “Keep it down,” he said.
    “You keep it down,” she blasted.
    “Let’s not do this here.”
    The waitress returned with the credit slip.
    “I think we better go,” he said. He signed for the meal as Christine glared at him with red, glassy eyes.
    “Come on, let’s take a walk. We can talk outside.”
    Christine grabbed her purse and tried to stand. She stumbled. Jason caught her by the elbow, but she wrenched free and marched unsteadily to the door. Other diners cast glances their way.
    Jason followed her to the parking lot. “Nice car,” he said, admiring the Chrysler 300.
    Christine rummaged impatiently through her purse. “I bought it the night Daddy died. It was the last time I spoke to him. You know,he hung up on me.” She wiped tears away and in the process dropped her keys. Jason scooped them off the asphalt.
    “I need my keys,” she demanded.
    “I’m not letting you drive, Chrissie.”
    “I’m fine,” she slurred.
    He wrapped his arm around her waist and directed her to the passenger side. She resisted, pushing him away. Jason clutched her tighter, pressing her to him. Christine tried three times to free herself, each attempt weaker. She was no match for his strength. She relented, leaning on him as he opened the door. In two minutes, they were in traffic, headed to her house.
    “Why did he hang up on you? Were you two arguing?” he asked as they drove.
    “No, Daddy was preoccupied with something. Then all of a sudden he stopped talking and hung up. I finally got worried and went over there. Daddy was gone, and the place was a mess. I thought someone had broken in, but nothing was taken. I assumed Daddy was just being sloppy.”
    “Chrissie, there are too many strange things going on. Your father dies in an accident because he was drunk. His house is a mess and he ends up dead in Smithfield. It doesn’t make sense.”
    “He’s dead. What are we supposed to do about it now?”
    “Would you mind if I took a look around your father’s house? Just to ease my mind.”
    “I don’t see how that’ll help,” she said, her anger subsiding.
    “Humor me.”
    “Well, okay. I’m meeting the real estate agent at nine. I can show you Daddy’s obsession before that.”
    “The box of files?”
    “Yes. A box he’s been compiling for nearly thirteen years.” Her speech was slowing.
    “What’s in it?”
    “Files