One False Move by Alex Kava Read Free Book Online Page A

rattle of the chain, then she opened the door. “Come on in.”
    Max stepped in slowly, but the apartment wasn’t bad. If he hadn’t had to endure the hot, smelly, fly-infested climb, he might have called it cozy.
    She offered him a seat in what had to be her favorite chair. It faced the TV set and had a small fan blowing directly on it. He declined, insisting she sit, letting her think that he was being polite when he simply liked the feeling of control standing gave him.
    “I checked all the charges, Ms. Comstock. With the crack cocaine charge alone you’re in some pretty serious trouble.”
    Her head went down as though she was ready to be punished. He tried to determine how old she was. Sometimes with crack whores it was difficult to tell. If the crack didn’t whither their skin, their horrendous nutritional habits did. He decided she might actually be pretty if she cleaned up and put on ten pounds. As for her age, he guessed that Carrie Ann was maybe twenty-five or twenty-six. Her rap sheet had only estimated it. He wondered if Carrie Ann even remembered how old she was.
    “I can help you, but we need something you can bargain with. You understand what I’m saying?”
    He knew if she was a friend of Heather’s she would understand. She looked up at him, and yes, there was already a look of recognition and relief in her bloodshot eyes. That was one thing he liked about his clientele. They could be very grateful to anyone who offered help. They were so used to everyone giving up on them—family, friends, even the justice system.
    “When the time comes you’ll need to listen and pay close attention to what I tell you. And you’ll need to stay clean through the end of the week. If you want to stay out of jail, you’ll need to do exactly as I say. Do you understand?”
    She nodded, sitting on the edge of the chair as if ready to do whatever was necessary right now. “I know I’m in big trouble. If I just could have one more chance. That’s all I need.”
    “I know. That’s why I’m going to help you.” Max wiped his forehead again. God! It was hot in the small apartment and yet Carrie Ann didn’t seem at all affected by the heat. She didn’t even have any of the windows opened. He wondered again why the hell he bothered to come to his clients’ homes. This was ridiculous.
    “I really appreciate this, Mr. Kramer. I don’t know what I’d do if you couldn’t help me. I really can’t go to jail.”
    “And you shouldn’t have to. But like I said you’ll have to be able to do and say what I tell you. Okay?”
    Another nod.
    “I know you’ll want partial payment today,” she said as she slid off the chair onto her knees. “Right?” Without looking up at him she reached up and began pulling down his zipper.
    In a matter of seconds Max Kramer remembered exactly why he came to his clients’ homes.
     
CHAPTER 9
     
    10:45 a.m.
     
    Melanie watched the waitress’s frustration grow. It wasn’t her fault the cook kept getting Jared’s order wrong. But the woman shouldn’t be taking it out on Jared, either. How could she expect him to eat runny eggs when he’d ordered them fried and well done? Okay, maybe not the first time. Melanie thought she had heard him say sunny side up, too, although she didn’t dare say so. Besides, Jared insisted he hadn’t, and Charlie backed him up, saying Jared should know how he ordered his own eggs. Here they were, arguing with the waitress for the third time, the entire Cracker Barrel dining room watching them.
    Melanie wanted to squirm her way out of the booth. Instead she looked out the window, wishing they weren’t the center of attention. She had spent a lifetime trying to blend in, trying to be like everyone else. That’s how she had survived her childhood, and as an adult that’s how she had become so good at lifting the things she did. She strived to be seen as ordinary as she possibly could, never drawing unnecessary attention to herself. It allowed her