The Witness Read Online Free PDF Page B

“It’s not for another thirty minutes, Luke.”
    “It might be early today. Pancakes or waffles?”
    “One of each,” Jack replied, dumping his backpack by the door and coming to the table by way of the refrigerator.
    “Jessica, he’s going to take the last of the blueberry syrup. You’d better hurry.”
    “Don’t bother,” Jack said. “She’s curling her hair; it will be a while.”
    Luke looked over at Susan. “When did that start?”
    “This summer.”
    He tended to notice details, but he’d missed that one. “Getting everyone seated for this breakfast is not as easy as it used to be. Want more coffee?”
    “Please.”
    He topped off his sister’s coffee and then turned the stack of gifts beside her plate to hide the fact he’d flubbed the tape job on his gift. “Where’s Tom this morning?”
    “South of Australia. He’s calling from the boat at noon our time.”
    “The guy gets seasick; I bet this has been a great trip.”
    “A ten-million-plus investor, he’ll take Dramamine from an IV. One more backer and the lab starts building.”
    “Has this car been named yet?”
    “Hot Lightning, I think.”
    “I voted for that one,” Jack added.
    “It breaks every speed limit in the world—Hot Lightning sounds appropriate.” Luke pulled out a chair for his sister and, once she was seated, shook out a linen napkin to place in her lap.
    “Thank you, Luke.”
    “Why do you do that every year?” Jack asked.
    “Courtesy, young man, you’ll learn,” his mom replied.
    Jessica joined them in a flurry of hair bows and jacket choices.
    Luke caught the pile before it slid off her arm. “Go with the red—they make you look intimidating.”
    “Ignore your uncle. Blue jacket, red bow, and add that scarf you bought last weekend,” Susan suggested.
    “Okay.” Jessica leaned over and kissed her mom. “Happy birthday. One waffle, please.” She darted back for the stairs.
    Luke moved a waffle to safety on Jessica’s plate. “Where’s Tom taking you this year when you leave the kids with me?”
    “I’m pushing for a tour of the eastern US this time, no flying, just miles of roads and thousands of places to shop.”
    Luke laughed. “He’ll love it.” He cut into the stack of pancakes on his plate. The guy might have chosen to focus his talents on building rockets and fast cars, but for Susan he’d occasionally slow down. Luke liked his brother-in-law.
    His pager sounded as he ate. Luke offered a smile in apology to his sister and stepped away from the table to answer the summons. His quarry of the day had been spotted east of town. Luke didn’t know if he was sad or sorry to be missing the wrapped gifts. He closed his phone. “I’ve got to go.”
    “Don’t look so annoyed. I have another birthday breakfast next year.”
    “I know.” He hugged his sister and kissed her cheek. “Happy birthday, Sis.”
    “You too. Jack snuck your present into your car.”
    “Did he?” His nephew looked entirely too pleased with himself. Luke paused by the boy’s chair long enough to wrap him in a headlock. “Thanks, buddy. Study hard today. This weekend we’ll go try out those golf clubs again.”
    “You’re on.”
    Luke tried to break the twin birthday bond with Susan by the fact his birthday was minutes before midnight and hers minutes after, but she always snuck it in on him. She liked to celebrate hers, and he did his best to forget his. “Say hi to Tom for me. I’ll be back this evening sometime to put together what he’s going to tell you about at noon.”
    “Luke, you can’t leave me in suspense like that for hours,” Susan protested with a laugh.
    “Sure I can.” He hugged the returning Jessica. “Very sharp, young lady. You’re still not dating until you’re twenty.”
    “But I—”
    “He’s right,” Susan added. “Come eat.”
    Luke pulled out his keys. “I’ll see you all later.” He left the threesome laughing around the breakfast table and headed out, wondering just