Part 12 (1/2)

So was his own fear clouding his judgment? Undoubtedly. But he didn't care. Taylor Stone wasn't G.o.d. He didn't have all the knowledge of the universe at his fingertips. Maybe Jason was right and this guy was wrong.

”What if the book is real? You can't know with one-hundred-percent certainty it isn't, can you? I have to at least try to find it.”

”That book will bring you nothing but death, Cameron.”

”How can a book that doesn't exist bring death?”

Taylor's next cast fell far short of the deep hole he'd aimed for. He cast three more times before answering.

”I see your pa.s.sion and can appreciate it. And I feel for you as you go on this quest. But I think we're done talking for the day.” Taylor set his rod down and stared at Cameron. ”Unless of course you're ready for that lesson.”

”Maybe later.”

Taylor nodded good-bye and Cameron turned away from the creek. He slogged through the underbrush arguing with himself. Believe Taylor. Believe Jason. Believe Taylor. Believe Jason.

He replayed the conversation with Taylor in his mind. Something was off. Not off exactly, but slivers of Taylor's speech didn't ring true. Was it a hint of concern in Taylor's eyes? Maybe it was Cameron's feeling Taylor was protecting somebody. And what about his line, ”That book will bring you nothing but death” ”That book will bring you nothing but death” Freudian slip? Freudian slip?

He stopped, turned, and hiked back up the trail the way he'd just come. He slowed as he approached the creek and watched the ground in front of his hiking boots to avoid snapping any twigs. As he got closer to the river bank he scrunched down and eased forward, taking only one step every few seconds.

A rock s.h.i.+fted under his weight and cracked against another stone. Cameron froze and didn't move for thirty seconds. He sank to his knees and crawled up to spot where he could see the creek.

A few more yards, yes, he spotted Taylor. He wasn't fis.h.i.+ng. He stood, hands on hips, looking toward the three peaks the town was named for.

Cameron was only slightly surprised when a few seconds later Taylor bent over a large boulder, arms extended to hold himself, and muttered something too quiet to hear. The next moment he straightened and kicked at the rocks in front of him. Then he picked up a stone the size of a cantaloupe and hurled it into the boulder in front of him. It shattered and Taylor turned and fell back against the boulder, arms folded, head looking up to the sky.

So Stone wasn't as self-a.s.sured as he liked to project. If Cameron's interpretation was right, he'd just ripped the door off a house that Stone wanted to keep hidden from everyone, maybe even himself.

The man deserved credit. Taylor Stone was quite an actor. The fisherman had almost convinced Cameron there was nothing to the legend.

Machiavellian? Probably not. But there was a very good chance he was the Book of Day's key master.

CHAPTER 14.

Cameron arrived at the Three Peaks Community Hall on Friday night a few minutes before six o'clock, ready to see a skirmish. It seemed like a third of the town or more had responded to Jason's open invitation to hear the new revelation he'd discovered about the Book of Days.

He suspected Taylor Stone would show up to promote his opinion of keeping a proverbial lid on the whole Book of Days nonsense. At the very least he'd be there to see what Jason would say and refute anything he didn't like.

Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, Three Peaks' style.

While waiting for the meeting to start, Cameron munched on the abundant hors d'oevres and surveyed the crowd.

As his gaze swept back and forth over the crowd, he spotted Kirk Gillum standing in a corner of the hall next to Arnold Peasley. Kirk's eyes locked on to Cameron's for a moment, he blinked, then looked away. The guy couldn't have been elected mayor on his charm.

Where was Stone? The man had to be here. Cameron spotted Taylor on his third scan. There. Over near the restrooms, leaning against the wall with a woman in her late fifties by his side-probably his wife. What was her name? The receptionist at the Post Post had told him, but he couldn't remember. had told him, but he couldn't remember.

Cameron eased through the crowd till he stood ten or eleven feet from Taylor. He caught Taylor's eye just as Jason stepped to the microphone. Taylor winked at him.

”Friends and neighbors, seekers of the truth, and those who are merely curious. Welcome! Thank you for coming.” Jason paused and looked over the throng, those with folded arms mixed in with those with adoration on their faces. ”We have a packed house tonight. I think even my worst enemies must be here!”

The crowd chuckled politely as Jason's eyes swept the room. When his gaze reached the far right side of the room, he stopped and raised his eyebrows.

”Well, this is interesting. It seems we have a distinguished individual here this evening from Portland-Ms. Ann Banister.”

Cameron closed his eyes and let his head flop to the side. Great. She wasn't supposed to arrive till tomorrow. Gear up. It would be fine. She might have grown a new personality since last time he saw her.

The crowd followed Jason's gesture toward Ann.

She waved and offered a half smile.

”Welcome!” Jason boomed as he led the crowd in light applause.

”Now, Ms. Banister, I don't mean to put you on the spot, but would you like to come up onstage and say a few words?”

What was Jason doing? Why would he want Ann up onstage? Did he expect her to uncover the location of the book on the spot? Sure, she used to do investigative reporting, but she wasn't Scully from the X-Files X-Files or Olivia from or Olivia from Fringe. Fringe.

The guy was rocking on a chair with no legs.

Ann waved Jason off. ”That's okay, thanks.”

”Come now, I think you have some fans here who would love to hear from you.”

The crowd laughed and broke out into a louder round of applause.

”See?”

As Ann made her way to the stage, Jason gave an impromptu introduction. ”If you don't know already, Ann hosts a very popular cable program that I believe is seen weekly across the country. Please welcome to our town, Ms. Ann Banister.”

Ann sprang up the stairs in jeans and a maroon polo s.h.i.+rt with an Adventure Northwest Adventure Northwest logo. She walked over to Jason, shook his hand, and turned to wave at the crowd. logo. She walked over to Jason, shook his hand, and turned to wave at the crowd.

”h.e.l.lo, Three Peaks!” A big smile creased her pretty face. ”I didn't dress tonight with the idea of being onstage. I hope this works for you.” She smiled again as the crowd applauded and nodded their approval.

A sudden movement to his left made Cameron pivot.

Taylor Stone stumbled forward and hunched over, as if he was choking on one of the mini crab cakes Jason had provided for the event. His wife steadied Taylor, and after a few seconds he stood erect again, apparently recovered. But his face wasn't red as it should be from choking; it was stark-white. His eyes narrowed and his lips parted, the look on his face was one of shock.

No question as to the source of his surprise. Stone stared directly at Ann Banister.

Taylor finally turned to his wife, who glanced rapidly back and forth between Ann and him. After sharing ten or fifteen seconds of intense whispers, Taylor and his wife eased out the back door.

The Taylor Stone saga had just added a fascinating new chapter.

Taylor Stone, you and I are going to get to know each other much, much better.

Cameron looked back at the stage and listened to Jason banter with Ann about life as a television-show host and his favorite episodes of Adventure Northwest. Adventure Northwest.

”Now friends, I want to bring up a subject dear to my heart and many of yours. Ann, I'd love to have you stay onstage and answer a few questions if you don't mind.” Jason turned, opened his palms, and tilted his head.