Read Online 1st Case by James Patterson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: James Patterson
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that, he had what looked like a Samsung phone. Those were the things I really wanted to get to.
“Didyou bring a change of clothes?” he asked. “Most girls like some options.”
“Oh, I didn’t want to do the portrait today,” I said. “I just wanted to ask some questions, and maybe see some of yourwork.” I pointed to the laptop on the desk. “Do you have any kind of website or online gallery I can look at?”
“Well, the thing is, you asked for a portrait,” he told me. “I already booked an hour of studiotime, so you might want to just go ahead and do it today.”
“I don’t think so,” I said. “I’m just here for the consult. I’m not ready to do the rest.”
He stopped and screwed up his face like he was considering something, even though I’m pretty sure he knew exactly what he was about to say.
“I don’t think you understand,” he told me. “I already cleared the hour, and the rate is a hundred andforty-five. We can take the pictures or not, but I’m going to need to be paid either way.”
So he was a sleaze
and
a crook, I realized. Amazing. But was he also a killer? I was starting to get more creeped out than I wanted to be. In fact, I was starting to wonder what I’d been thinking, coming here alone like this. The mistake of it all was becoming real clear, real fast.
“I’m sorry for themisunderstanding,” I said. “But you didn’t say anything about that on the phone. So, I’m just going to go and not waste any more of your time.”
“Hang on,” he said. Already his tone had softened, but he was also moving around me to block the way. “Listen, I’m not unreasonable. I’m sure we can work something out.”
My throat tightened. I wasn’t 100 percent sure that this had risen to any kind ofemergency yet, but I did know that I wanted to get out of there ASAP.
“Excuse me,” I said. I tried to step past, but he matched my move, keeping himself in the way.
“I’ll take a kiss instead,” he said. I think the look on his face was meant to be playful. “Then we’ll call it even.”
“Did you really just say that?” I asked. I was pissed for sure, but terrified now, too. And working hard not toshow it.
“Come on,” he said, pushing in closer. “That’s a pretty good deal for a hundred and forty-five bucks. You might even like it. Win-win, right?”
When he ran a finger down my arm, I thought I was going to puke.
“Get the hell out of my way,” I said and tried to push past him, but it was like pushing into a brick wall.
Everything changed fast—too fast. With another big step, he plowedme right into the bathroom door. His hips ground into me. Two strong hands were on my arms. His breath smelled like cherry candy, and my scream got swallowed up with his mouth on mine.
What had I done? What the hell had I done?
CHAPTER 23
IT WAS A claustrophobic nightmare. His grip kept my arms pinned at my sides, and even though it couldn’t have been more than a few seconds, it seemed to go on forever.
“I’ll pay you,” I got out. “Okay? Just get off me—”
“Don’t worry about that,” he said. “God, you’re beautiful. You know that?”
“Just let me pay you and I’ll go,” I said.
“I’d rather have another kiss,” he said asI wormed a hand into my jacket pocket. My fingers closed around the small metal canister in there, but I still didn’t have the leeway to pull it out.
I started to scream again, and he pressed his disgusting mouth into mine—for maybe half a second. That’s how long it took me to wrench my arm free. I flipped the cap with my thumb, pulled the can out of my pocket, and hit him in the eyes with afull shot of bear spray. I’d been carrying the stuff around for a long time and always hoped I’d never have to use it. Just like any insurance policy.
He screamed and staggered back two steps, but then lurched at me, swinging wildly. Before I could avoid it, the back of his hand caught me in the nose. I felt a warm gush of
“Didyou bring a change of clothes?” he asked. “Most girls like some options.”
“Oh, I didn’t want to do the portrait today,” I said. “I just wanted to ask some questions, and maybe see some of yourwork.” I pointed to the laptop on the desk. “Do you have any kind of website or online gallery I can look at?”
“Well, the thing is, you asked for a portrait,” he told me. “I already booked an hour of studiotime, so you might want to just go ahead and do it today.”
“I don’t think so,” I said. “I’m just here for the consult. I’m not ready to do the rest.”
He stopped and screwed up his face like he was considering something, even though I’m pretty sure he knew exactly what he was about to say.
“I don’t think you understand,” he told me. “I already cleared the hour, and the rate is a hundred andforty-five. We can take the pictures or not, but I’m going to need to be paid either way.”
So he was a sleaze
and
a crook, I realized. Amazing. But was he also a killer? I was starting to get more creeped out than I wanted to be. In fact, I was starting to wonder what I’d been thinking, coming here alone like this. The mistake of it all was becoming real clear, real fast.
“I’m sorry for themisunderstanding,” I said. “But you didn’t say anything about that on the phone. So, I’m just going to go and not waste any more of your time.”
“Hang on,” he said. Already his tone had softened, but he was also moving around me to block the way. “Listen, I’m not unreasonable. I’m sure we can work something out.”
My throat tightened. I wasn’t 100 percent sure that this had risen to any kind ofemergency yet, but I did know that I wanted to get out of there ASAP.
“Excuse me,” I said. I tried to step past, but he matched my move, keeping himself in the way.
“I’ll take a kiss instead,” he said. I think the look on his face was meant to be playful. “Then we’ll call it even.”
“Did you really just say that?” I asked. I was pissed for sure, but terrified now, too. And working hard not toshow it.
“Come on,” he said, pushing in closer. “That’s a pretty good deal for a hundred and forty-five bucks. You might even like it. Win-win, right?”
When he ran a finger down my arm, I thought I was going to puke.
“Get the hell out of my way,” I said and tried to push past him, but it was like pushing into a brick wall.
Everything changed fast—too fast. With another big step, he plowedme right into the bathroom door. His hips ground into me. Two strong hands were on my arms. His breath smelled like cherry candy, and my scream got swallowed up with his mouth on mine.
What had I done? What the hell had I done?
CHAPTER 23
IT WAS A claustrophobic nightmare. His grip kept my arms pinned at my sides, and even though it couldn’t have been more than a few seconds, it seemed to go on forever.
“I’ll pay you,” I got out. “Okay? Just get off me—”
“Don’t worry about that,” he said. “God, you’re beautiful. You know that?”
“Just let me pay you and I’ll go,” I said.
“I’d rather have another kiss,” he said asI wormed a hand into my jacket pocket. My fingers closed around the small metal canister in there, but I still didn’t have the leeway to pull it out.
I started to scream again, and he pressed his disgusting mouth into mine—for maybe half a second. That’s how long it took me to wrench my arm free. I flipped the cap with my thumb, pulled the can out of my pocket, and hit him in the eyes with afull shot of bear spray. I’d been carrying the stuff around for a long time and always hoped I’d never have to use it. Just like any insurance policy.
He screamed and staggered back two steps, but then lurched at me, swinging wildly. Before I could avoid it, the back of his hand caught me in the nose. I felt a warm gush of
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