THREE DAYS to DIE by John Avery Read Free Book Online

replaced his phone, then walked over and stood with Aaron at the window.
          "Aaron, I'm sorry," he said. "What's your mother's name?"
          Aaron rubbed his nose and spoke softly. "It's Ashley."
          "Don't worry, Aaron. I'd never do anything that could hurt Ashley."

Chapter 13
    The Aston
          Michael cast around for a way to change the subject. After a moment he said, "Do you like cars?"
           Aaron smiled and wiped his eyes with the backs of his fingers. "I love cars," he replied.
          "Follow me," Michael said. "I have something I want to show you." Then he led Aaron down to the underground parking garage.
    ---
          The garage floor glistened with moisture, and the sound of dripping water could be heard echoing in the distance. Michael and Aaron walked past two dozen vehicles of every class and description parked in neat rows. At the end of the garage, in a space tucked away from the others, they stopped next to a tungsten silver Aston Martin DBS.
          Aaron's jaw dropped. "Oh my gosh ... This is yours?"
          Michael held out his wrist to Aaron. "Touch your finger here," he said, indicating the little OPEN zone between eight and nine o'clock on his transponder chronograph wristwatch.
          Aaron stared at the exquisite marvel of miniaturization.
          "A light touch is all it takes," Michael said.
          Aaron touched his fingertip to the face of the titanium watch, and the Aston unlocked itself and its dazzling electronics sparkled to life.
          "Oh my gosh!" Aaron said. "That is crazy."
          "Hop in," Michael said.
          Aaron opened the passenger door then hesitated, knowing he was breaking another cardinal rule; then he slid into the low-slung seat.
          He looked around the interior, running his hands over the hand-stitched leather and carbon-fiber accents. "This car is unbelievable," he said. "Aren't these like 300 grand or something?"
          "'Saturday Night Crash' – Have you seen that?" Michael asked.
          "I loved that movie," Aaron replied.
          Michael gave the steering wheel a little pat. "I can thank that movie for this car."
          Aaron cocked his head, puzzled.
          "I wrote it – the book, I mean," Michael said. "My novel was adapted into the movie."
          "No way!" Aaron said. "That's very cool. You know, I'm thinking about becoming a writer, too."
          Michael smiled, but he had heard it a million times. It seemed that nearly everyone he talked to was either trying to become a writer or had thought about it.
          "That's a worthy goal," he said finally. "My advice would be to read every day and write every day – and write for the love of writing, or you'll never be able to do the necessary work."
          Aaron deflated a little.
          "Maybe you and I could talk more about it sometime," Michael said, looking at him.
          Aaron smiled. "That'd be great."
          Michael fired up the DBS's sweetly tuned engine. "But for now, let's get you home."
    ---
          From his seat behind the wheel of the white van, Needles saw the silver Aston Martin exit the underground garage and head west. It passed under a street lamp and he recognized the boy in the passenger seat. Then he pulled away from the curb to follow.
          Michael hit the gas for a few seconds to give Aaron a feel for the V-12's awesome power. Aaron giggled and held on. Needles struggled to keep pace, while at the same time trying to keep his distance.
          "Do you have any brothers and sisters?" Michael asked as they approached Aaron's neighborhood.
          "Nope, just me."
          "Pets?"
          Aaron laughed. "Yeah, like Tom would ever let me have a pet."
          "I take it Tom's your stepdad," Michael said.
          "Unfortunately," Aaron said, sorry for the reminder. "How ‘bout you? Any family?"
          Michael paused.