Don't Blink by James Patterson, Howard Roughan Read Free Book Online Page A

“That said, I can assureyou of this: We’ll nail whoever committed those murders. And if it turns out that Pinero was connected, I’ll be swinging the hammer on him myself, and I’ll be swinging it hard.”
    Whoa. Easy there, Popeye …
    I could see the veins in Sorren’s neck pop through his skin as he finished that last sentence. It was more than mere conviction. It bordered on vengeance.
    It also brought the conversation to a screeching halt. All that remained were the obligatory parting pleasantries. So good to see you again … Yes, we really should try to get together sometime … Blah, blah, blah …
    And that was that.
    I was done talking to Brenda and her new boyfriend for the evening. At least, that’s what I thought.

Chapter 15
    “SO, WHAT WERE you and I saying before we were interrupted by Blond Ambition?” asked Courtney when we were alone again. “You were about to tell me something, no? So tell me, Nick.”
    Yes. Yes, I was. But timing is … um … uh … everything, and the moment for that heartfelt declaration had come and gone. Along with my having the guts to say the actual words to her.
    All the more reason why I suddenly didn’t feel like sticking around at the benefit.
    “I guess it’s jet lag,” I explained to Courtney. “I need to catch up on some sleep. You okay with that … boss?”
    She probably knew I was making an excuse to leave, but she also knew the only reason I had come in the first place was because she’d asked. Plus, I’d had a rough couple of days, right?
    “We’ll talk tomorrow,” she said, giving me a sweet kiss onthe cheek. “As soon as possible we’ve got to get you back together with Dwayne Robinson. We need that interview, Nick.”
    I couldn’t have agreed more. I definitely wanted this story as much as she did.
    A minute or so later I was on the steps outside the New York Public Library — smack between its two landmark lion sculptures, Patience and Fortitude — when I heard someone call out my name.
    I turned to see David Sorren catching up to me. He was jogging, actually.
    “You got a second?” he asked.
    “Sure,” I said.
    Sorren reached into his jacket, removing a pack of Marlboro Lights. I was surprised to see that he smoked, if only because of his widely known political ambition. Gallup poll: candidate + cigarettes = less trustworthy. Obama didn’t go on the patch just for health reasons.
    “You want one?” he offered. “No, thanks.”
    “Yeah, I know, bad habit. Don’t tell the press,” he said, lighting up. “Wait a minute, you are the press.”
    I smiled. “I’ll consider this off the record. Besides, I’m not much for petty crap.”
    “Good, because I actually have a favor to ask you.” Sorren slid the pack of Marlboro Lights back into his jacket. When I saw his hand again, he was holding something else.
    “Here,” he said. “Go ahead, take it.”
    It was his business card. I looked at it as if to ask, What’s this for?
    “Now’s not the time, but I was hoping the two of us could maybe talk on Monday about what you witnessed at Lombardo’s,” he said. “I shouldn’t be saying this to you, but I’m convinced Eddie Pinero was behind it. Now I have to figure out some way to prove it. Believe it or not, I am torn up about those two detectives.”
    “I understand,” I said, taking the card. “I’ll give you a call. Monday.”
    “Great — I appreciate it. Because if it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to bring that cocksucker Pinero down for good.”
    I nodded. I mean, I think I nodded. Tell you the truth, I was still pretty taken aback by the district attorney’s intensity. He wanted Pinero bad. Really bad.
    Sorren firmly shook my hand again and was halfway back up the steps when he turned around.
    “Hey, one other thing,” he said. “Brenda told me that the two of you used to be a couple.” He let go with a slight chuckle and shake of the head. “Small world, huh?”
    “Yeah,” I said. “Small