After a while, Cal figured it was time to give up the ghost.He got to his feet.“Thanks, Mr.Everly.It was real nice seeing you again.”
“You know, I bet the high school would love to have you stop by, Cal.Maybe talk to one of the classes.About law.About college.Just some inspiration that there can be more out there if they’re interested.I’m retired, of course, but I still get involved in the board every now and again.You won’t mind if I mention you around?”
Cal tried not to outwardly react.He didn’t mind giving a speech or two, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to haunt the halls of Marietta High ever again.
Still, Mr.Everly seemed so hopeful.“Sure, I’d consider it if someone wants to have me.Let me give you my phone number.I think I still have some old business cards in here.”He pulled one out of his wallet.“The one at the bottom.”
“All right.”He pointed the card at Cal.“You make sure you answer now if someone calls.”
Cal reached over and shook Mr.Everly’s hand.Then Jake did the same.As he turned for the door, he noticed that behind them was a series of frames hanging on the wall with drawings in them.
“You an artist, Mr.Everly?”Cal asked casually.
But his heart had leapt to his throat and lodged there, beating painfully.These drawings made him think of the two threatening ones that had been addressed to him.Something about the usage of pen, the harsh strokes.Cal was no expert on art or anything.
Maybe he was reaching.
“Oh, no.That’s my nephew’s work.You remember Andrew Swenson?He would have been a few years older than you in school.”
“I knew Andrew,” Jake said, studying the drawings himself.
Cal couldn’t tell if he saw the same thing Cal did or not.
“Wrestler, right?”
“Yes, that’s him.”Mr.Everly practically beamed.“He runs a wrestling school up in Kalispell.Very successful and gives back to his community.He has this great artistic talent.Always a bit jealous of our Andy—athleticandartistic is quite the combo, but he’s a good man.”
Cal tried to think if he’d known an Andrew Swenson.Sounded familiar, but he couldn’t picture anyone, and he was pretty good at remembering faces and names.
Except when you’re not.
Cal tried not to grimace as he turned away from the art and moved for the door.“Hope to see you again, Mr.Everly.”
“You, too, Cal.And Jake.Take care of yourselves, boys.”
Boys.Cal shoved his hands into his pockets and walked over to Jake’s truck.Mr.Everly nearly made him feel like aboyagain, but those pictures…
Jake turned the key in the ignition, backed out of the driveway.They were quiet for a while, but Jake was the first one to break the silence.“So, did you notice?”
Cal glanced at Jake.He figured he knew what Hayes was asking, but he was still… worried he was overreacting.
Maybe it was about Mr.Everly’s unreliable memory around the accident, not… “Notice what?”
“The drawings.”
Cal sighed, looking out the windshield.“Yeah, I noticed.Be a hell of a thing, driving over five hours to drop off a threat at my door.Especially since I don’t remember him in school.”
“It would be a hell of a thing.”Jake let that sit between them for a few minutes.“But you’re going to Kalispell, aren’t you?”
Cal laughed despite the fact it wasn’t funny.At all.“I don’t really see what choice I’ve got.”
Jake tapped his fingers against the wheel.“If you can wait until Friday, I’ll go with you.”
“Why would I want that?”
Jake sent him a down-the-nose look.“Because I’m acop, Bennet.”
“You really think I’m going to need one of those?”
