The Fixes by Owen Matthews Read Free Book Online Page A

searching his mind for any memory of the person behind the video.
    But he can’t remember much.
    (Eric was really drunk.)
    â€œI don’t know how they got that painting out of there, though,” he says. “Wouldn’t somebody have noticed a million-dollar painting leaving a party?”
    Another round of meaningful looks.
    â€œNot necessarily,” Paige says. “And it’s a six-million-dollar painting, actually.”
    Jordan scoffs. “If it was real.”
    â€œWhich it totally wasn’t,” Haley says. “Callum Fulchrest’s dad can’t even afford waterfront property. You think he can pay for a Basquiat?”
    â€œWhy do you think there hasn’t been any news about it?” Paige says. “Callum’s dad is too freaking embarrassed to report it.”
    â€œAnd anyway, his son’s a wannabe date-rapist,” Haley says. “He knows if he calls the police, it’s his own ass that gets nailed.”
    â€œSo how do you guys know all this stuff?” Eric asks them. “I mean, you all left the party early, right? Did you, like, see who took the painting or something?”
    Jordan looks at Haley. Something passes between them. Then Jordan turns back to Eric. Smiles.
    â€œWe saw something,” he says. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”

68.
    (Let’s cut to the chase. I’m just going to tell you now:
    Jordan and Haley and Paige stole that painting.
    But you already knew that, right?)

69.
    It’s almost full dark by the time they’re back in Capilano. Jordan brings the boat into the marina, and they tie it to the dock and walk up to the parking lot to Jordan’s BMW. Eric gets there first, and when he looks back, he sees Paige and Jordan and Haley huddled together. They’re talking about something. Haley’s shaking her head. It looks like Jordan’s trying to convince her.
    Finally, Haley just holds up her hands like she’s disgusted. Turns and walks away from the others. She doesn’t look at Eric as she approaches the BMW.
    â€œDo you mind giving me a ride back to the law office?” Eric asks Jordan when he and Paige are within earshot. “I left my mom’s ride when I bailed on my internship.”
    Jordan unlocks the Bimmer. “Heading home, huh?” he says. “Big day tomorrow?”
    â€œThose files aren’t going to enter themselves.”
    â€œRight,” Jordan says. “It takes a man with integrity.”
    â€œOr something.”
    It all suddenly sounds so boring. It all sounds so unfair.
    Paige and Haley climb into the BMW’s backseat. Jordan circles around to the driver’s side. Studies Eric over the roof of the car.
    â€œI can take you back to your mom’s Benz if you really want,” Jordan says. There’s a wicked glint in his eye. “Or we could all have some real fun.”
    The way he says it gives Eric a shiver. He flashes back to the boat, Jordan’s tanned skin, his six-pack.
    Real fun.
    (Yes, please.)
    But Eric forces himself to hold his poker face. “What do you have in mind?”
    Jordan’s grin gets wider. He gestures to his car.
    â€œGet in,” he tells Eric. “It’s easier if we show you.”

70.
    â€œWhere are we going, exactly?”
    They’ve been driving for ten minutes now into an industrial park on the outskirts of Capilano. The streets are quiet; all business is done for the day, and this is a sleepy town after dark anyway, even on a Friday. Most of the real action is in the clubs across the bridge, in the city itself.
    Nobody is speaking. Nobody’s on the roads. Even the radio is turned off. It’s like driving through a post-apocalyptic dead zone with the volume on mute. Eric plays along until he can’t take it anymore.
    â€œUm, guys?”
    His voice seems intrusively loud in the silence. Nobody replies. Jordan keeps driving. He reaches an intersection and turns