Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben Read Free Book Online Page B

few weeks. He started calling me all the time when previously we’d only talked maybe three times a year, sounding a little teary. It was like he was play-acting the part of perfect Daddy with renewed vigor. I couldn’t tell if it was a serious change or just a phase.”
    Myron nodded, looking off again. He said nothing. Jessica almost thought he’d completely drifted off when he finally spoke, his voice almost inaudibly soft. “What do you think happened to Kathy?” he asked.
    “I don’t know.”
    “Do you think she’s dead?”
    “I—” She stopped. “I miss her. It’s … I don’t want to think she’s dead.”
    He nodded again. “So what do you want me to do?”
    “Look into it. Find out what’s going on.”
    “Assuming something is going on.”
    “Right.”
    “Why me?”
    She thought about it a moment. “I’m not sure,” she said. “I thought you’d believe me. I thought you’d help.”
    “I’ll help,” he said. “But understand one thing: I have an important business interest in settling this whole thing.”
    “Christian?”
    “I’m his agent,” he continued. “I’m responsible for his well-being.”
    “He still misses my sister,” she said.
    “Yes.”
    “Is he okay?”
    Myron’s face remained set. “He’s fine.”
    “He’s a good kid. I like him.”
    Myron nodded.
    Jessica rose and stepped toward the window. Myron averted his eyes. He did not like to look at her for too long at one time. She understood. It hurt her too. She looked down at Park Avenue, twelve stories below. A taxi driver with a turban was shaking his fist at an old woman with a cane. The old woman whacked him and ran. The driver fell. The turban did not even shift.
    “Hiding your feelings from me has never been your forte,” she said, still staring out the window. “What don’t you want to tell me?”
    He did not reply.
    “Myron …”
    Esperanza saved him, bursting through the door without knocking. “Larry Hanson is out of the office,” she said.
    Win came in behind her. “I got something for us on that magazine. …” His voice died out when he saw Jessica.
    “Hi, Win,” she said.
    “Hello, Jessica Culver.” They embraced. “My goodness, you look utterly fantastic. I read an article on you the other day, calling you the Literary Sex Symbol.”
    “You shouldn’t read such trash.”
    “It was in my dentist’s waiting room. Honest.”
    An uncomfortable pause followed. Esperanza broke it by pointing at Jessica, making a gagging motion by sticking her finger in her mouth, and then storming out.
    “Ever the enchantress,” Jessica muttered.
    Myron stood. “Where are you staying?”
    “At my mom’s.”
    “Same number?”
    “Yes.”
    “I’ll call you later. Right now I’ve got to go with Win.”
    Jessica looked toward Win. He grinned at her. Hisface, as always, gave away nothing. “I have a meeting with my editor this afternoon,” she said. “But I’ll be home all night.”
    “Fine. I’ll call you then.”
    An awkward impasse. No one knew exactly how to say good-bye. A wave? A handshake? A kiss?
    “We’ve got to go,” Myron said. He sprinted past her, never getting too close. Win shrugged at her in a what-can-you-do fashion and followed. She watched them disappear around the corner. Batman and Robin heading to the Bat-poles.
    She left then. She had seen Myron twice now, and they had not yet touched—not even brushed up against one another.
    It was an odd thing to wonder about.

Chapter 6
    “What did you find out?” Myron asked.
    Win whipped the wheel to the right. The Jag XJR responded with nary a squeal. They had been driving without speaking for the past ten minutes, Win’s CD player the only sound. Win favored show tunes.
Man of La Mancha
was on now. Don Quixote serenaded his beloved Dulcinea.
    “
Nips
magazine is published by HDP,” Win answered.
    “HDP?”
    “Hot Desire Press.” Another Bat-turn. The Jag accelerated past eighty.
    “Speed limits,” Myron said.