Part 35 (1/2)

”That's that vending machine,” said Vicks. ”You know, the one they have at Brewer's supermarket? You rent DVDs from it for, like, a buck a night.”

”Oh, yeah,” said Insley. ”I've seen it. Never used it. Looks too complicated.”

”h.e.l.l, I've even kicked it,” said Knoll. ”The thing ate my dollar one night.”

”What were you trying to rent?” asked Vicks.

”Speed Racer, I think.”

”Trust me, the machine was doing you a favor.”

The two chuckled. Even Insley cracked a slight smile. That is, he smiled until he noticed Sarah still staring at the receipt. ”So what is it?” he asked her again. ”What are you thinking?”

”Today's the twenty-fourth, right?” she asked.

Insley nodded. ”Yep. My daughter's birthday, actually. Why?”

”Because this receipt is from today.”

He bent down to take a look. ”That's a little weird, isn't it? If that's the right word.”

”Yeah, I think that's the right word,” she said. ”Now look again. There's something even weirder.”

Chapter 54

DEFINITELY WEIRDER.

Sarah had polished off her southwest-style burger and sweet-potato shoestring fries and was below the label on her second bottle of Bud. She was thinking about this killer she was closing in on.

To her left and right, the rest of the packed bar at Canteena's was living up to its reputation as Candle Lake's epicenter of nightlife. This according to Sheriff Insley, who had recommended the joint. And make no mistake: with its low ceiling, fifteen-watt lighting, and sawdust-covered floor, Canteena's was definitely a ”joint.”

Had Sarah been eavesdropping, she would've heard the shocked chatter from the locals around her about the murder of John O'Hara. What was Sheriff Insley saying? Are there any suspects? Do we have a murderer among us?

But Sarah wasn't eavesdropping. The only thing she could hear was her own thoughts, loud and echoing in her head, and all centered around one single question: What was the killer trying to tell her with this latest clue?

Printed on the receipt from the Movie Hut was the t.i.tle of the movie. It was You've Got Mail, the Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan romantic comedy. A chick flick. In other words, not exactly the DVD that a drinkin' and fis.h.i.+n' kind of guy like John O'Hara would be renting.

Still, there was always the chance he was renting it for his wife, Marsha. Or so Sarah thought-right up until she and Insley made the drive across town to O'Hara's white s.h.i.+ngle ranch-style home to break the horrible news.

Turned out the O'Haras didn't even own a DVD player.

The receipt was a clue, all right. Of that much Sarah was certain. As to what it actually meant, she had no idea.

Keep thinking, Brubaker. Keep your focus. The answer's out there somewhere...this b.a.s.t.a.r.d just likes his mind games.