To Love and to Perish Read Online Free PDF

time soon.”
    â€œDoes Cory know about the witnesses?”
    â€œI told him. I didn’t see any reason not to. It’ll be on the news soon enough.”
    â€œWhat did he say?”
    Ray rubbed his hand over his chin, making his five o’clock shadow rasp. “He clammed up. I can’t tell if he’s pissed or scared shitless.”
    If I knew Cory, probably a little of both. Or maybe a lot. Brennan had gotten himself into a pretty big mess.
    When we knocked on Cory’s door a few minutes later for dinner, he appeared in his usual casual dress: a clean striped dress shirt, untucked of course, and khakis. He climbed into the car without comment.
    The drive to the lodge was short and silent. Danny still had his headphones on and made no effort to remove them until Ray insisted he leave his iPod in the car.
    Inside the log cabin lodge, the smell of prime rib and baked potatoes wafted over to greet us at the entryway. Dozens of men surrounded the bar in the center of the room, many of them still wearing their flat-soled leather racing shoes. Although the place was packed, our table was ready, and the hostess seated us immediately. The din of chatter was incredible, and the flat screens in the restaurant corners provided closed captioning. Danny and I took the seats facing the television while Cory and Ray had their backs to it.
    Ordering proved difficult because we had to shout at the waitress, who asked us to repeat ourselves more than once. Conversation was impossible. Danny seemed engrossed by all the photos on the walls. I entertained myself by watching all the people, having seen all the photographs at least a dozen times before. Ray appeared to be enjoying his beer. Cory’s gaze never left his placemat. I hated seeing him like this, so unlike his usual carefree, light-hearted self.
    Just as the waitress delivered our sampling of appetizers—the only thing we could get Cory to agree to consider sharing—a breaking news story flashed onto the flat screen. Brennan’s photo appeared again, followed by photos of a car wreck, a young woman, and what appeared to be Brennan’s high school graduation picture. The closed captioning took longer than the live announcer and bled into the next story’s pictures. I had no trouble following the gist of the newscast.
    Thirteen years ago, Brennan Rowe had been driving a car that veered off the road into a tree, killing a passenger and leaving him in a coma. The two had just left their five-year high school reunion. The young woman who died in the crash was named Monica Gleason, sister of James Gleason, victim of today’s tragedy. Worse, thirteen years ago, investigators believed Brennan Rowe had been driving drunk.
    The gist: Brennan Rowe was already a convicted killer.

Four
    I didn’t share the news story with Cory and Ray when we left t he restaurant. The whole story had felt a little more Inside Edition than CNN , in line with the disturbing news trend toward sensationalism rather than fact. I hoped in the days ahead more information might come to light that would paint a different picture. This information wouldn’t help Cory get through the night alone.
    The news story hadn’t said Brennan ever served time for Monica Gleason’s death. In fact, the newscast said Brennan was not charged with Monica Gleason’s death. Apparently, the crash occurred on country roads, was not discovered for several hours, and, by the time investigators requested tests of Brennan’s alcohol levels, results inconclusive. But the news reporter allowed two of Brennan’s fellow reunion goers—although certainly not his friends—to appear on screen. The men hinted the district attorney’s reluctance to charge Brennan at the time might have had something to do with the significant campaign contributions Brennan’s wealthy father had made throughout the years, and they did their best to refuel the rumors Brennan may