Deadline by James Anderson Read Free Book Online Page A

on the artistic social
circuit.
    Ashley, always was self-absorbed, gave
Andrew his walking papers. Andrew knew it was for the better – they
were like oil and water. The sex was great when it happened, but
they had little else in common.
    Now this call from her came out of the
blue.
    What could she want? And how could it
affect his future?
    The only way to find out
was to meet her for lunch at Antonio’s. It was a little bistro on
the harbor front that used be one of their favorite
places.
    Chase reached for the
telephone.

Chapter 16
    Braden Young’s Apartment
8:45 AM
    YOUNG SHOWERED and changed into a
crisp new white shirt, blue striped tie and navy pants. He checked
himself in the bedroom mirror before reaching for his
jacket.
    As he emerged from the room, he spied
Megan sprawled on his couch nibbling at some toast, sipping her
coffee and reading this morning’s Daily Express that had been
delivered to Young’s door.
    “ Hi, sweetie. It’s time I
was off to the office. We have another paper to get out. Do I look
OK?”
    “ You look great, Dad. Will
you be late tonight?”
    “ That’s very likely. I
have to stay until the presses roll around midnight, but I’ll come
straight back home after work. Are you sure you will be all right
on your own here?”
    “ I’ll be fine. I may go
out to look at the stores later. It’s been a while since I’ve seen
Toronto. You have a great day!”
    Young took one last gulp of coffee,
picked up his briefcase and headed out the door.
    Megan continued with her breakfast,
scanning the paper when suddenly the phone rang. She picked it up
thinking it was a call for her Dad.
    “ Hi honey,” said a very
familiar voice. “I figured you would crash at your Dad’s
place.”
    “ What do you want,
Dennis?” Megan snapped. “And don’t call me ‘honey’, I really don’t
feel like talking to you right now.”
    “ What I want, darling is
you. I know I have really screwed up here and you’re right to be
mad at me. I need to talk you.”
    “ No, Dennis I need some
time to be alone and to think things over. You’ve seriously hurt
me. I’m not coming home just yet. I want to stay here with Dad and
sort things out in my mind. I don’t know if I can ever get over
this betrayal. You really are one big shit-heel.”
    “ Darling, I’m here in
Toronto. I took a late flight after you left and I’m staying at the
Westin. Why not meet me for lunch and we can talk things over. I
want try and make things right again between us.”
    Megan paused for a few seconds to
think his suggestion over. “I don’t know, Dennis. I just got here
and I need some time alone.”
    “ Look, Megan having lunch
won’t hurt you,” insisted Dennis. “I just want a chance to meet
with you and talk. If you need some more time up here alone, that’s
okay with me. I completely understand how you feel. But I want a
chance to explain what happened. You at least owe me that,
Megan.”
    “ I guess having lunch
together can’t hurt. It’s wonderful you thought so much of our
relationship you would fly right up here after I left. What time
and where shall we meet?”
    “ Why not meet me here at
the hotel. I’ll make a reservation for 12:30 p.m. at The Mizzen
restaurant in the lobby. See you then, honey!”
    The phone clicked off.
    Megan slowly replaced the receiver.
She wondered whether she was doing the right thing. Dennis was
always so glib. He could sell ice to the Eskimos. He always had
been an outrageous flirt, with an eye for the ladies.
    But Megan loved it that she was his
when he captivated so many other women in conversation.
    She always believed that it was
nothing more than flirting – until now. But had he cheated on her
with others?
    She began to wonder.

Chapter 17
    Toronto Daily Express 8:55
AM
    THE SUN glinted off the tall glass
doors as Katie Cannon strode through the doorway into the lobby of
the Daily Express Building.
    “ Good morning, Miss
Cannon,” said a man in uniform seated behind