Bed of Lies Read Online Free PDF Page B

you’re involved here.”
    “Well, it’s obviously just a massive coincidence.”
    His silence and flat expression told her what he thought of that. “I can offer you a good price for your lease.”
    She blinked. He wanted her gone that badly he was willing to buy her out? “I don’t want to leave. I want my house.”
    The elevator doors opened then and he walked out without a word.
    Wow. Talk about shutting her down. She watched his long legs eat up the distance, taking him farther away with each stride until he paused and turned.
    “Coming?”
    His voice echoed in the great concrete cavern. A thousand different retorts, all considered then discarded, formed as she stalked toward him.
    Her phone rang then, but he suddenly grabbed her arm.
    She hissed, twisting in his warm grip. “What do you—”
    “Shh. Something’s not right.”
    “But—”
    “Move. Now.”
    Her eyes went in the direction of his nod, to the fire stairs nestled in a concrete alcove, then widened.
    And all hell broke loose.

Four
    L ike a deer caught in the headlights, she froze.
    A second too late.
    A handful of reporters surged forward from the stairwell, surrounding them like a fluid entity. Cameras flashed, microphones thrust forward as they yelled out questions and jostled for a better position.
    “How are you taking the suspension, Luke?”
    “Have you hired Gino’s lawyers to defend you?”
    “Any truth to the rumor you’ve been accused of insider trading?”
    The air buzzed, frantic and urgent. Luke fought against the sea of bodies, shielding his face as he grabbed Beth’s wrist just before a camera slammed into his shoulder. Sucking in a grunt and with Beth firmly in his grip, he turned and ran.
    Beth gulped in huge lungfuls of air and picked up the pace, her flat shoes slapping on the concrete as they raced toward their car.
    Luke glanced back before aiming his keys at the car. With a pop and flash of lights, the locks disengaged. “Get in!”
    She barely had time to close her door before he gunned the engine and took off.
    The car flew over a speed bump. Luke spun the steering wheel and the tires squealed, the smell of burned rubber hitting Beth seconds later as she slammed into his shoulder.
    “Slow down!” She righted herself from that wall of muscle quickly. “Are you trying to get us killed?”
    “Just trying to lose their tail and avoid any pedestrians with a death wish.”
    He followed that with an abrupt swerve, barely missing a jaywalking youth. Luke ignored the obscene comment and gesture left in their wake. He did, however, inch his foot off the accelerator.
    Beth glanced through the back window. A beat-up cream-colored car that had been following was stuck at the now-red light. “You’re losing them.”
    Luke barely managed two more yellow lights before their pursuers were lost in the steady flow of traffic.
    He matched the car’s speed to the signed limit and Beth finally loosened her grip on the door handle.
    “You okay?” He glanced at her.
    Her pulse pounded in her forehead, but she gave him a nod, grateful for the blasting air-conditioning. “How on earth did they know where we were?”
    “People noticed us at the mall. It only takes one phone call.” He glanced in the rearview then changed lanes.
    “Great.” Beth sighed and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear as her heart began to slow. “So what do we do now?”
    “We’re going to the airport.”
    “The what?”
    “Here, take the wheel.”
    She grabbed the steering wheel as Luke flipped open his phone. “This is Luke De Rossi. I need the plane ready for takeoff in around thirty minutes.” He paused, said, “Thanks,” then hung up.
    “We’re flying? ” She relinquished the wheel.
    “Yep.”
    Her throat tightened, suddenly dry, and she squeezed her eyes shut, the stony walls of frustration lying heavy on her shoulders for one brief second.
    It had been ten years. Ten long, full years of triumphs and achievements. She’d worked hard,