Final Breath by Kevin O'Brien Read Free Book Online Page A

segment of Movers & Shakers , Sydney Jordan tells us how Jared and Leah fought the bad guys, fought the odds, and survived--thanks to a little teamwork."
    The picture on the TV screen switched to a pretty, thirty-nine-year-old, swaddled in a trench coat. Her wavy, tawny-brown hair blowing in the wind, Sydney Jordan stood under the red awning of Thai Paradise, and spoke into a handheld mike. Her breath was visible that night back in December when they'd originally filmed the segment.
    "Jared McGinty and Leah Dvorak are 'regulars' here at Thai Paradise in Portland's charming Hawthorne District," she announced.
    The picture switched to Jared and Leah, sitting in front of a fireplace in twin chairs. Except for Jared's black eye, already starting to fade, neither of them showed much sign of the trauma they'd endured just three nights before. "Well, we almost always order the same thing when we go there," Leah said with a timid smile. "Creatures of habit, I guess. The garlic chicken with broccoli and wide noodles is my favorite."
    "I usually order the Pad Thai," Jared said, giving Leah a goofy grin. "But Leah always ends up eating most of it."
    She laughed, and slapped his arm. "Oh, I guess that's true!"
    "Thai Paradise is a family business," Sydney Jordan announced. The cozy image of Leah and Jared together dissolved into a still photo of the owners proudly posing in front of the restaurant on its opening day. "It was started by Som and Suchin Wongpoom, who immigrated to the United States with their nephew and niece, Nuran and Sumalee, just five years ago. Som and Suchin do most of the cooking--old family recipes. Nuran and Sumalee are on the waitstaff..."
    A lullaby with an Asian lilt provided the soundtrack for a brief montage of old family photos and video clips of the Wongpooms interacting with customers at birthday parties and other special occasions in the restaurant.
    "It didn't take long for Portlanders like Leah and Jared to discover the wonderful food and warm atmosphere in this family-run restaurant." The camera returned to Leah and Jared sitting together, zooming in for a close-up of Leah's hand as she caressed his arm. It was hard to miss the diamond ring that sparkled on her finger.
    "Leah and Jared were engaged three weeks ago," Sydney Jordan chimed in--over this image. "They still haven't set a date yet..."
    The picture changed back to Sydney in front of the restaurant again. "The couple were discussing their wedding plans when they stopped in here at Thai Paradise for dinner late last Tuesday night." The brunette reporter gave a nod over her shoulder. "Jared and Leah had no idea that just down the street, parked in a stolen car, two men were hatching a plan of their own..."
    It was jarring to see the TV screen suddenly filled with side-by-side police mug shots of the skinny, long-haired man and his stocky friend. "Dwight Powell and Harvey Ray Loach were both convicted felons--career criminals--who met while serving jail time at California's Folsom State Prison," Sydney Jordan explained in voice-over. "Police were already searching for the duo in connection to a Portland convenience store robbery in which a twenty-three-year-old clerk was murdered."
    There was grainy footage--obviously recorded by the store's security cameras--of the robbery in progress. The two gunmen approached the counter with their guns drawn while a young, gangly clerk raised his hands and backed away from the register. Even at a distance, and even with the poor quality of the videotape, the boy looked scared. On the Edge or their Movers & Shakers correspondent, Sydney Jordan, had the good taste not to show the terrified young clerk casually--and mercilessly--gunned down.
    Sydney Jordan gave an account of what had happened at Thai Paradise that night. She briefly interviewed the busboy, Nuran, his face still bruised, and his sister, Sumalee. They still seemed traumatized. At one point--in the bottom corner of the screen--the camera caught a