‘You’ve got that right. I really lucked into it.’
‘There’s a dead man in the next car and we’re stranded in the Everglades. You call that “luck”?’
‘But look who the dead man is. And who I’m stranded with. I hear people bond for life over experiences like this. You can ask them for favors years later and they’ll come through.’
‘You remind me of my son,’ I said, lying through my teeth. Eric was five years younger and an actual human being.
‘Oh, yeah?’ Danny said. ‘Does he write?’
‘No, but he texts regularly.’ I smiled. ‘Now tell me about your book – or is it called a manuscript at this stage?’
‘Getting closer to becoming a book with every minute we’re here.’ He lowered his voice confidingly. ‘I’ve snagged an agent.’
‘Congratulatons!’ I said. ‘Who is it?’
‘Carson – that guy who doesn’t shake hands. Audra introduced us.’
How accommodating of the widow. And the agent. Maybe my speculation about Carson wasn’t as farfetched as Pavlik seemed to think. ‘But isn’t that a little awkward?’
‘Awkward? Why?’
‘I understand your book is very much like Mr Potter and Ms Edmonds’ projected novel.’
‘Projected, maybe. But it’s not going to happen.’ The kid might be sitting down, but there was a definite swagger in his voice.
‘Really?’ I asked innocently. ‘Have you and Ms Edmonds decided to collaborate on your book, instead?’
‘My book?’ He seemed genuinely shocked.
‘Yes, of course. Since Audra introduced you to her agent, I thought she might have a new partnership in mind. Assuming,’ a thought had struck me, ‘this all happened after her husband was dead.’
The young man’s eyes narrowed. ‘What do you mean by that?’
I shrugged. ‘Seems clear to me. Did Audra introduce you to Carson before or after the sheriff and I returned to the train with Potter’s body?’
I could see the wheels turning in the young man’s head. ‘After, definitely after. I remember because I figured Audra agreed to introduce me because she was grateful for my help.’
‘Your help?’
‘Sure. We bonded when I took her to the club car after she nearly shot that guy.’
Boyce, standing guard over Potter’s already cold body.
On the other hand, sweat was beading on Danny’s upper lip. ‘Shit. I hope she didn’t get that idea. I mean, Audra’s awfully old and this is a sex book.’
I opened my mouth to inform the little twerp that even a woman of Audra’s advanced age, which I judged to be early forties, still had sex.
And then I remembered she apparently didn’t. At least, not with her husband.
Back in the sleeping car, I unfolded the stool and situated it across from the door of the roomette where Potter’s body lay. Sitting down, I tried to figure out what to do with the pistol. On the floor, it was too far away from me to easily reach. Maybe I’d just sit on the floor next to it.
Though I’d wasted ten minutes of my life going back to get the stool, at least my conversation with Danny had been enlightening. If the kid was to be believed, he’d achieved everything he’d wanted when he’d set foot on the bus: not only was there no book forthcoming from Potter and Edmonds, but he’d secured a literary agent.
According to Danny, the initial contact with Carson had been via email – almost certainly the accusatory message Carson had mentioned. Then, in gratitude for Danny’s aid during this so-called bonding opportunity he had ‘lucked into,’ Audra had introduced aspiring writer to agent.
Carson hadn’t yet been approached by Danny when Pavlik and I met with the literary agent in the dining car but, given his suspicions of the kid, wouldn’t it have made sense to inform us of this new development?
Maybe the germaphobe’s hands weren’t quite as clean as he’d like people to believe.
I shivered, suddenly very glad Pavlik had suggested I camp out in the sleeping car, even if its only other occupant was a corpse. Or maybe because of that.
Moving the stool out of the way, I decided the best place to sit was with my back against the wall of the roomette across the narrow corridor from Potter’s – this despite the nasty smells not quite contained inside. But this way, at least, I could comfortably keep a peripheral eye on that door as well as the outside exit and the doors leading to the passenger car.
But first …
Gun ready in my hand, I slid open the door across from Potter’s, clearing that roomette as Pavlik and Boyce had.