Collection by T.K. Lasser Read Free Book Online Page A

want to do with the girl?”
    The large man answered gruffly. “I want to throw her off the nearest overpass. But, it's up to Mr. Harris what we do with her. Iimagine she'll be useful leverage with Lucky. He knows her. He's not fooling me.”
    Steven spoke again, and Lucien had to strain to hear him.
    â€œI like her very much. I wonder if Mr. Harris would give her to me? I would clean up after I was done. Nobody would ever find any piece of her.”
    His companion sighed.
    â€œI'm sure he would give her to you. He doesn't care for pretty girls as much as he likes pretty paintings. But, as I said, it's up to him. We weren't anticipating her, so he'll be angry. Let me do the talking when we get there.”
    Hearing the names “Mr. Harris” confirmed Lucien's memory of the large man. He had seen him before when dealing with Raleigh Harris. As illicit art dealer “Lucky”, Lucien acquired and sold paintings to wealthy and unscrupulous clients. He had sold Harris three black market paintings a little over a year ago. At the time, Harris had called them the jewels of his collection, so Lucien was a little confused about being abducted by Harris's bodyguards. Buyer's remorse did happen in his line of work, but Harris had pursued these paintings for several years with Lucien's help. He had been ecstatic when Lucien made delivery of the paintings, and even given him a bonus. Lucien had to deal with many collectors in many guises, and Harris had been a very difficult customer to please. He had wanted a premium product with unquestionable provenance, but had the money to make such demands. If that product was in the hands of an unwilling seller, then Lucky worked his magic to get it for him.
    Of course, the paintings were actually fakes, but neither Harris nor any expert authenticator could ever figure that out. Why had Harris sent his people to get him? He thought furiously about what the angle was, but he came up empty. Lucien wondered if the girl was truly a surprise, but he was certain the men believed he was unconscious when they had discussed her fate. She was a surprise to them all. If she was up to something, Harris wasn't behind it. Lucien spied her bag underneath her. At the next abrupt lane change he was able to reach with his bound hands to pull it out from underneath her and get her wallet. On the next bump he opened it enough to see her driver's license. Lucien had to laugh, quietly, at the name:Jane Smith. Either it was an assumed name, or she was born to be anonymous. He didn't know any more about her than when he had first seen her in the museum several weeks ago.
    The large man turned to Steven.
    â€œHey, make sure nobody's choking on their own puke back there. We need to deliver them alive.”
    Steven unbelted himself and moved between the front seats towards the back. Lucien heard him speak to himself in his eerie voice.
    â€œIf you don't watch your driving, I might choke on my own puke before we get there.” The large man swerved again, and Steven had to grab the sides of the van to keep from toppling down on top of his prisoners. Steven grumbled under his breath and knelt down beside Lucien. Lucien lay up against Jane with the bag and wallet underneath his legs. Steven flipped him onto his back and felt for the pulse at his neck. Lucien slowed his pulse to an “unconscious” level so that Steven couldn't tell he was awake and listening.
    He called up to the large man, “Lucky's asleep.”
    Steven leaned over Lucien and felt Jane's carotid pulse as she lay on her side. He lingered over her and whispered, “You will be so much fun…”
    The large man called back, “Is she alive or not? You don't get to play with her until we figure out what she's worth.”
    â€œShe's perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
    â€œWhat?” The large man bellowed from the front. He was finding it hard to concentrate on driving and listening for Steven's hushed