Hokus Pokus by Fern Michaels Read Free Book Online Page B

also see Jack, Harry, Lizzie and his girlfriend, at which point his reporter’s nosy instincts would go into overdrive.
    Play it cool, Robinson, he told himself. Just get the hell out of here but let the others know you’ve seen them. No conversation, just keep walking. He could figure it all out later, whatever it turned out to be.
    Since Jack Emery was number one on his personal shit list, he strode past his table with a scowl on his face. By the time he reached Maggie’s table he was in rare form, the scowl still intact. He shot himself in the foot and said, “I’d appreciate it if you move your shit out of my digs this afternoon. Find your own damn apartment.” Without another word, he stalked out of the restaurant. He had to take deep breaths to calm himself down. He kept walking even though he could hear Maggie calling his name. His feet picked up speed and then at the first break in traffic, crossed the road. He knew Maggie wouldn’t follow him because she was wearing high heels.
    He was piss-ass mad now. Breathe in, breathe out. He stopped at the first deli he came to and bought the Sunday paper and a cup of coffee to go. Outside he hailed a cab and told the driver to take him to Rock Creek Park. He needed to get himself under control. His cell phone rang continuously and was still ringing when he paid the driver. Paper under his arm, coffee in hand, Ted looked for a vacant picnic table. He finally found one but had to shoo three squirrels to another nearby location.
    Ted waited for his cell phone to stop ringing before he clicked it on and called a friend and fellow reporter on the Post . “It’s Ted, Espinosa. Look, how about doing me a favor? Yeah, I know it’s Sunday but I think I might be onto something. C’mon, Joe, the only thing you do on Sunday is drink beer and watch ball games. If it works out we share the byline. See what you can find out about Justice Pearl Barnes besides the obvious stuff. The first thing that’s going to jump out at you is her boyfriend of long-standing is the brother-in-law of the new director of the FBI. You might want to work on that, too. What do you mean what am I doing? I’m doing stuff. Important stuff. I’ll call you later this afternoon. Don’t drag your ass on this, Espinosa.”
    The moment he clicked off the call, Ted’s cell rang again. He looked down at the number, saw it was Maggie. He turned off his cell. “Screw you, Maggie Spritzer, and the horse you rode in on,” he mumbled to the three squirrels at the next table who were watching him with sharp-eyed interest.
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    Maggie walked back to the restaurant wringing her hands. At the door she backed out when she saw Lizzie, Jack and Harry about to walk through the revolving door. She waited to see who would speak first.
    â€œWhat the hell was that all about, Maggie?” Lizzie demanded.
    â€œTed’s in one of his moods. He gets like that from time to time. He wanted me to go to brunch with him today but because I’d committed to you guys, I had to say no. He’s no fool, he saw everyone in there. Right now he’s trying to figure out what’s going on. I called him fifty times but he isn’t answering his cell phone. He won’t answer it if he sees my name on the caller ID. Look, let me take on Tyler Hughes, you do the daughter. I can get stuff from the archives at the paper. Will that work for you?”
    â€œSure, no problem. Was Ted serious about kicking you out?” Lizzie asked. “That would be the day I’d let some guy dictate to me. Do you have a place to stay? I have a spare bedroom if you want to bunk in with me.”
    â€œI might have to take you up on that. I better get going. If any of you need me, call.” The others watched as Maggie hailed a cab and stepped into it.
    Jack walked the requisite twenty-five feet from the restaurant and fired up a cigarette. Out of the corner of his eye