Death Through the Looking Glass Read Free Page A

been great at sports. We traveled a lot, and my skills are …”
    Giles snapped his fingers. “Lacrosse. We’ve got a great lacrosse team at Greenfield.”
    â€œI’ve never even seen it played.”
    â€œThat’s the great part. No one else has either, until they come here. You ever seen guys playing sandlot lacrosse, playing lacrosse in their backyards?”
    â€œWell, no.” Lyon thought a moment. “Then everybody starts off even. Who do I see about it?”
    â€œMe. I’m JV captain.”
    Lyon’s memories of the beginnings of their relationship immediately faded when he saw a plume of black smoke curling back from the front of Tom’s craft. He tensed. His hands gripped the edge of the basket as he fixed his attention on the plane’s plight. The smoke continued to roll as the plane went into a dive.
    As the aircraft neared the water, its angle of descent seemed to increase, and yet it flew under control as the power dive continued. Why didn’t Tom pull the nose up, cut the power—any number of things that might save him from destruction?
    He would hit the water in moments.
    The balloon was directly over the restaurant near the town pier. Lyon glanced quickly at his compass and reached for the CB radio. He switched to channel 9, the emergency channel.
    â€œThis is an emergency from Wobbly Two over Lantern City. There is a light plane in distress. Does anyone read me?” He flipped to receive.
    â€œI read you, Wobbly Two. This is Red Ball on the Conn Pike. I am proceeding south. What do you need?”
    Lyon switched to transmit. “Thank you, Red Ball. Get word to the Coast Guard.” As he watched, the plane hit the water and immediately disappeared. “Get word to the Coast Guard that a small aircraft has gone down in the sound. A heading of 170 from the restaurant at the Lantern City town pier.”
    â€œI got you; 170 from the pier. I’m near the State Police barracks, and I’ll have them talk to you. Out.”
    Lyon switched the radio over to channel 24, where Rocco would be monitoring. “Rocco. Rocco. Do you hear me? Do you read me?”
    â€œI’m talking, mister,” a high-pitched and astringent voice said in anger.
    â€œThis is an emergency.”
    â€œUse the emergency channel.”
    â€œI’m in the pickup going toward the football field.” Rocco’s voice overrode the woman’s.
    Lyon looked down from the balloon. “I’m over the Lantern City town beach. Get over here fast.”
    â€œI can see you. Be right there.”
    Lyon flipped back to the emergency channel with one hand while the other pulled the red rope of the ripping panel. “Sergeant Raskin here. Who wants the Coast Guard?”
    â€œA plane has gone down at a bearing of 170 from the town pier. I estimate about six thousand yards out.”
    The open panel spilled gusts of hot air from the envelope of the balloon, and Lyon had to replace the radio and attend to the rapid descent of the balloon. He flipped the propane burner for very short burns and looked down at the onrushing beach.
    The balloon’s rate of descent was alarming, and he could only hope he would hit the slim sandy beach rather than the water, that he would not fall onto some of the large rocks spotted along the shore.
    Rocco pulled the pickup truck into the adjacent parking lot as the balloon landed with a heavy bounce on the beach.
    Lyon was thrown against the side of the basket, then flipped over the edge to land unharmed in the sand. He rolled over and onto his feet and ran at full speed toward the truck. Rocco had the door open and the pickup rolling as Lyon threw himself into the cab and gasped for breath.
    â€œWhere to?”
    â€œBack to Snow’s house. He’s got a speedboat tied to his dock. Hurry, Rocco. Tom Giles just went down in the drink.”

2
    Damon Snow stood at the helm of the motorboat as it bucked through the