Read Online Cause For Alarm by Erica Spindler - Free Book Online Page B

and Richard’s annual New Year’s Eve party, along with a chatty, happy-sounding letter from Kate.
    Both had affected him like salt ground into an open wound. Even though he could now probably buy and sell Richard Ryan several times over. Even though he had proved to Kate and the rest of the world that his faith in himself and his talent hadn’t been self-indulgent foolishness.
    He supposed that was what really grated. That they were happy. That maybe she had done the right thing for her. That he had been a lovestruck, naive fool.
    As he did every year, he responded to their invitation by making sure his publicist sent the couple his most recent promotional materials, news of his successes, updates on signings, personal appearances and so forth.
    It was the only contact he’d had with them in years, and only because he took such perverse pleasure in rubbing their noses in his success. He understood Richard well enough to know that his onetime buddy’s phenomenal success drove him crazy. As far as Richard was concerned, there could only ever be one king of the hill—and it had to be Richard Patrick Ryan.
    Luke gave himself a shake. Kate and Richard were a part of his past. He was over his anger, his disillusionment. He was. The Ryans and their happiness had lost their power to hurt him.
    â€œLuke Dallas?”
    Luke swung back around. A man stood just behind him, hands stuffed into the pockets of his corduroy jacket, gaze intently on Luke’s. “That’s me.”
    â€œTom Morris sent me.”
    Condor. Luke motioned to the seat across from him. “I’m glad you could make it.”
    The man sat, his gaze still assessing Luke. Luke allowed him his scrutiny, using the time to do his own study. Condor looked nothing like Luke’s fictional assassin. He possessed a kind of everyman face, with no visually outstanding features. He resembled a dozen other guys out there, medium brown hair and brown eyes, medium height, square jaw.
    A nice face. Pleasant. Innocuous. He could be anybody’s neighbor. Brother. Son.
    Luke cocked his head. He found something almost disarming about the man. He had a lazy way about him, an easiness that suggested inattention.
    That impression ended the moment you looked Condor directly in the eyes. The man was keen. Intelligent. He missed nothing, no detail, no matter how small or seemingly inconsequential. Of that Luke was certain.
    â€œI like your books,” the man said finally. “ Last Dance kept me on the edge of my seat.”
    â€œThank you.”
    â€œLet’s take a walk.”
    Luke paid for his beer and the two men exited the bar. The night was cold; the neighborhood dicey. Luke figured he didn’t have to be too concerned about thugs, considering the company he was keeping.
    Luke hunched deeper into his bomber jacket. “Are you armed?”
    His lips lifted. “Would your character be?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWith what?”
    â€œA .22 caliber semiautomatic. Secondhand.”
    â€œThere are many ways for a man to be armed.” He looked at Luke, then away. “A gun’s not always the best way. Depends on the situation.”
    â€œOr the job.”
    â€œI’m not on the job tonight.”
    Luke inclined his head. “Morris told you I wanted to talk? That I wanted to interview you?”
    â€œYour new character’s a guy like me.”
    â€œYes.” They turned onto the block behind the bar.
    â€œHero or villain?”
    â€œBoth. An antihero. This book is the first of a series like the Alex Lawson books.”
    â€œSo, I’m not going to get whacked at the end?”
    Luke laughed. “Nope. And you might even get the girl.”
    Condor smiled. “I like that. What exactly are you hoping to get from our interview?”
    â€œI want to get into your head. Learn what makes you, guys in your profession, tick. I want to understand the way you think, how you view your