Grab (Letty Dobesh #3) by Blake Crouch Read Free Book Online Page A

Kneeling in a blue and white uniform in front of a goal, holding a soccer ball.
    "She's beautiful. And Charlie is short for..."
    "Charlene."
    "That's lovely. " Letty reached into her purse, took out a photo of her son—his kindergarten photo.
    " Jacob?" Christian asked.
    "Yeah, I don't think I ever showed you his picture."
    Christian leane d over the table to get a better look.
    "Good-looking kid ."
    Christian collected his photographs and returned them to his wallet with the care and focus of a ritual.
    Letty said, "Do n't you have family or friends back in Charleston who can help you?"
    "They certainly think so."
    "But you don't."
    "When my girls died, all I got was a bunch of platitudes. Cards that said things like, 'She is just away.' People lining up to tell me they knew what I was going through. I'm never going back."
    "Then what will you do?"
    "Kill myself. That was the deal I made. I shouldn't be telling you this. I'm a terrible therapist."
    "What deal?"
    "If I doubled my money, I'd see it as a good omen. I'd try to push on. If I lost, that was it. I was done."
    " And there's nothing at this point that might change your mind?"
    "Let's be clear. You really don't know me. Don't really know anything about me. You don't love me. You're trying to help me and in the sense that I'm not alone in this moment, you are. And it means more to me than I could ever tell you. But don't try to convince me that my life has value. How there's an end to this pain. There isn't. And I know it."
    "You told me my life had value."
    "You shouldn't see me like this," he said. "I don't want it to undo all the progress we made, j ust because I'm weak."
    " You're in this bad spot now. You will feel different one day."
    "M y girls were my life, and it was over the moment that truck came over into their lane. I'm just trying to pin down my exit strategy."
    "How did I miss this?" she asked. "Every week for months, I came to see you. And you were hurting—badly hurting—and I completely missed it. Am I that self-obsessed?"
    "No." He smiled. "Let's just say I was that dedicated."
    "But you didn't leave town until I did."
    "You were my last patient."
    "So I was the only thing keeping you from this insanity?"
    "No, my loyalty to you as a patient was. This isn't your fault, Letty. You know that, right?"
    # # #
    The food came, but Letty's appetite was shot.
    They ate in silence, and when she'd finished her sandwich, she threw her napkin down and fixed her stare on Christian.
    He said, "T rying to figure out how to change my mind?"
    She shook her head. "It's your call. Your choice. I respect that."
    "Thank you."
    Letty felt her phone vibrate.
    A text from Isaiah: the wynn in 30...we go tonight
    Christian must have caught the sudden intensity in her eyes.
    He said, "What's wrong?"
    "Nothing."
    C hristian smiled. "So what are you doing in Vegas, Letty? I thought you were headed west to see your son."
    The waitress brought the check.
    Letty waited until she walked away.
    " A slight detour. I love Vegas."
    " Just here for the shows and the slots, huh?"
    She rolled her eyes.
    "Let me guess. You're a huge Neil Diamond fan."
    Letty said, "How did you know?"
    "Wouldn't happen to be running with your old associates? Back to your old tricks? This is a dangerous city for someone with your triggers."
    She pulled out enough cash to cover the bill and a twenty-five percent tip.
    Said, "Speaking of, I almost used last night. I did have a drink, but I was on my way to score."
    "What happened?"
    "Long story short, I went to a meeting instead."
    "Good for you. That's great, Letty."
    She reached across the table and took hold of his hand.
    "Christian, I have to go."
    "Thanks for lunch. Thanks for stopping in the lobby when you saw me. You could've walked right on past. I'd never have known."
    " This isn't goodbye. You're having dinner with me tonight," she said.
    "That m eans I have to be alive tonight."
    She smiled. "Yes, it does."

 
     
     
     
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