Symphony of Bones by L.T. Ryan (little bear else holmelund minarik .txt) 📕

met her. My publicist did a little digging on her when they started seeing each other. She seems like a good kid.”

“She is. Good grades, never got in trouble. I’m a little surprised she linked up with Connor. He seemed to be more interested in making headlines than she was.”

Grayson pressed his lips together in a thin line. “So it would seem.”

Davenport smiled. “She shared some interesting information with us today about your relationship with Connor. Guess what she told us?”

Grayson’s eyebrows came together, and he looked at Mannis as if to confirm that Davenport was telling the truth. When he turned back to the detective, his eyes were harder. “I’ve been quite open about my strained relationship with my son. The headlines haven’t kept it a secret. I have nothing to hide, Detective.”

“Are you sure about that, Senator?” Davenport was taking his time, toying with Grayson’s emotions. “Ms. Young tells us your son was afraid of you. He was biding his time. He wanted to watch you burn. Does this sound familiar?”

Something changed on Grayson’s face. Cassie could see him running calculations while he methodically opened his water bottle, took a sip, replaced the cap, and set it back down on the table.

“Yes, that does sound familiar.”

Davenport must not have expected that answer. He was silent for a moment. “Does it? Where have you heard that before?”

“Do me a favor,” Grayson said, “and don’t insult me. I won’t sit here and incriminate myself. If you have something to say, Detective, then just say it. We’re all big boys.”

Mannis hid a smile behind a cough while Davenport’s face turned red. He squared himself with Grayson. “We have credible evidence that you’ve been buying and trading stocks illegally, Senator Grayson. Is this true?”

“If my lawyer were here, he’d tell me not to say anything about that.”

“Why isn’t your lawyer here, Senator?” Mannis asked. “You seem like a smart guy. You knew we were going to have some tough questions for you when we asked you to come down here.”

“My lawyer doesn’t always have my best interests in mind. I’d rather talk to you by myself before I get him involved.”

“Sounds like you need a new lawyer,” Davenport said.

Grayson’s smile was tight. “It’s not that easy, Detective, trust me.”

“We have enough evidence to put you away for insider trading, Senator Grayson. We don’t need your confession.” Davenport leaned forward. He had a slimy, greasy smile on his face. “I’d rather talk to you about the reason you killed your own kid over it.”

Grayson looked like Davenport had slapped him across the face. It took him a few seconds to find his words again. “I didn’t kill my son.”

“He was threatening your career.” Davenport shrugged like it all made sense to him. “He was going to expose you for the criminal you are. No more White House. That’s more than enough motivation for most people to kill another person.”

“I did not kill my son.” Grayson looked to Mannis like he was the only sane one in the room. “I saw the email this morning. A couple of hours ago. I had no idea what he was planning to do until after he was already dead.”

“Why should we believe you?” Mannis’ tone was kinder than Davenport’s. It was a genuine question. Where Davenport was only interested in riling up their suspect, Mannis knew you could catch more flies with honey. “We can build a solid case against you. There’s plenty of motive here. Why should we believe you had nothing to do with it?”

Grayson searched the top of the table like he would find the answer etched into its surface. Cassie saw the second he found what he was looking for. When he looked up again, his eyes were wide. He was terrified, but determined.

“What if I can offer you a better alternative?”

“We’re not interested in making deals, Senator,” Davenport said.

“Not a deal.” Grayson looked directly at Mannis. “An alternative theory.”

Mannis leaned back in his chair. Crossed his arms. “I’m listening.”

“I admit someone has given me a heads-up once or twice for buying or selling certain stocks. I had little money growing up, and I’ve found it hard to resist since gaining a position where it was so readily available.”

“We’re not interested in your sob story,” Davenport interjected.

Grayson glared at him. “But I’m not a murderer. I didn’t have the best relationship with my son. Have I ever wished he’d learn a lesson he’d never forget? Yeah, of course. But you have to be alive to never forget it. I’d never kill my own kid.”

“Just because you didn’t pull the trigger doesn’t mean you didn’t kill him,” Mannis added.

Grayson wilted. It was clear the thought hadn’t occurred to him, and it was a devastating train of thought. “I’m not saying this isn’t my fault, one way or another. Maybe it is. Because of who I am. What I do. But I didn’t kill him. I never told anyone to kill him.”

“You said you had an alternative theory.” Mannis gestured for him to go ahead. “Let’s hear it.”

“Understand, there are many people who want to see me succeed. If I succeed, then they succeed.” There was sweat on his brow now. “If I don’t fall in line, then I’m out of the race. If my kid is in too many headlines, they find a way to control him. If they can’t control him, then they deal with the problem. I just didn’t think—I didn’t think they’d go this far.”

Mannis looked concerned now. “What are you trying to say? Someone’s pulling your strings?”

“Not just mine.” He looked manic. “Everyone. All the biggest politicians in North Carolina. In D.C. Maybe even the world. I don’t know how far their reach is. But they have the motivation and capability of killing Connor.”

“Who?” Mannis asked. He leaned forward. “Who would have that kind of reach? That kind of power?”

Grayson took a deep breath. For a second, it looked like he didn’t want to say the name out loud. When