Part 17 (2/2)
Ann planted her hands on her hips. ”What do you want?”
”Are you this abrupt with all your interviewees?” Jason tapped his cigar, too early for any ash to come off; it seemed to be a part of his act. ”All I want is a little chat.”
”Why not talk to me in town? Why here?”
”Fewer distractions.”
Ann watched the last of the dust settle that had been kicked up by Jason's Expedition. She looked at his hands. No keys. There were twenty, maybe twenty-five feet between the SUV and him. She was fast, but she'd spent her energy on the five-mile run getting up here. She wouldn't be quick enough to make it around him and to the driver's side of the car before he got in the pa.s.senger door.
”I think you can help me.”
”I doubt it.”
”I knew it from the moment we met.” Three steps forward. ”We'd make a good team.”
”I disagree.”
”Why are you afraid of me?”
Afraid? No. Terrified. She'd seen a madness in his eyes when she'd teased him onstage during his town meeting. Out here it had ramped up to maximum intensity. ”You're wasting your time.”
”I don't think so.” One more step. ”I wonder how many people have taken the time to figure out you're the foster sister of Cameron's late wife.”
She shuddered. He'd been researching her? She hugged herself as if she'd be s.h.i.+elded from his gaze. ”So what.”
”From what Google and Facebook tell me, the two of you were close. Not only foster sisters, but best friends. I believe it highly probable Jessie talked to you about the book. I think you know more than you're telling. Maybe even more than you've told Cameron.”
Ann backed up and stumbled over a pine branch.
”Relax; I'm not your enemy. I'm not anyone's enemy.”
”Fine. What do you want?” Ann repeated for the third time. Keep sounding confident; keep your eyes locked on his. Keep sounding confident; keep your eyes locked on his.
”I want you to tell me everything Jessie told you.” Jason took a long drag on the cigar, blew out a perfect smoke ring, and watched it melt into the sky. ”I've come to believe her and Cameron's father. The book is real.”
”How do you know?”
The trees on both sides of the clearing hemmed her in. The cliff in back of her formed the third wall. And the fourth, a steadily advancing Jason lessoned her options with every one of his steps.
”I admit I'd never seriously considered there was a book in physical form till Cameron showed up with the story of his dad and wife. I mean, who are we kidding? A real book of G.o.d here on earth? Now mind you, I had hoped and prayed and dreamed of it, but did I truly believe it possible? No. But after Cameron and I talked, I did a little digging. And I've discovered something very interesting. Would you like to know what it is?”
Ann shrugged. ”Sure.”
”There are six other spots in the world with a similar legend to the Book of Days. The Middle East, South America, China, Scotland, Turkey, Egypt, and of course the seventh location is in the United States, right here in Oregon.”
”How did you find this out?”
Jason took three more steps forward. ”Every one of the legends talks about a book with recordings of days in it. They don't use that exact language, but that's the general description. And they're not describing an idea, but a physical book.”
”A book that tells the future.” Keep him talking. Find a way to get out of here. Keep him talking. Find a way to get out of here.
”Yes. That has recorded every event of every man and woman's life. Those that have been, and those that are to come.”
”So what? Multiple stories about a book that tells the future doesn't make it real. You can find stories of a ma.s.sive flood in nearly every culture. It doesn't mean a man named Noah really floated above it all with a boat full of all the animals in the world for forty days.”
”That's amusing. I know you're a Christian. Which means odds are you believe the Noah story.”
”Fine. I believe the flood story.” Ann glanced to her left then her right, as if she could find an escape route she missed earlier. ”If it's in the Bible I believe it, but I'm not p.r.o.ne to fantastical meanderings and chasing way-out legends like this book nonsense.”
”This is the story of the century, Ann. Pulitzer-prize material.” Jason tapped his cigar again. This time a spot of ash floated down. ”Consider what this would do for your career. You wouldn't be limited to doing little featurettes on thrill seekers around the Northwest. If we find an authentic book, you'll want to be the one who reveals it to the world.”
Jason waited for Ann to respond. She didn't. Reveal it to the world? For what purpose? Fame? Notoriety? No thanks. If there was a genuine Book of Days, she'd let someone else announce it and she'd keep her sanity.
She'd watched too many people in television grab for the bra.s.s ring of stardom only to find out it was really a bra.s.s handcuff. One that dangled a person's self-worth over a fickle fan base that loved you one moment and despised you the next.
”Cameron has to be getting some useful information with all the people he's talked to, especially Taylor Stone. Has Cameron told you everything? Find out all he knows, we'll add to what I know, and let's dig this thing up. Even if it turns out to be nothing, what have you lost?”
Jason was right. If a Book of Days was found, even if it was written by the hand of man, it would be an intriguing story. Worst case, it would be comic relief to tell Drew and her other friends; best case it would be Raiders of the Lost Ark Raiders of the Lost Ark come to life. come to life.
”I'll think about it.”
”Excellent. That's all I'm asking.” Jason walked around the Expedition and opened the driver's side door. ”Very, very good, Ann Banister.” He paused before getting in. ”Would you like a ride back to town?”
”No thanks.”
”You're probably right.” He tilted his head and eyed her slowly up and down. ”You could use the workout.”
Ann smashed her tongue against her teeth to stop from seething out something she'd instantly regret. Her heartbeat didn't slow till the dust from Jason's SUV settled on the road two minutes later. What was wrong with her? Relax. He hadn't threatened her.
She squatted and held her head between her legs. Yes, he most certainly had.
What had she gotten herself into?
CHAPTER 21.
Cameron glanced at his watch late Tuesday morning as he sat in front of his laptop, studied climbing routes on , and waited for Scotty's call. A few more moments and he'd know if his hunch about the stone was right. Scotty prided himself on being on time-precisely on time, which meant the phone would ring in thirty more seconds.
It didn't.
After Scotty pressed in on being two minutes late, Cameron reached for his iPhone at the instant it lit up with Scotty's caller ID. ”Hey.”
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