Familiar Strangers Read Online Free PDF Page A

the rest of Elliot’s friends, was aware of the history between Elliot and his beautiful wife. Theirs had been a romance for the history books. Elliot, a successful writer in popular suspense spy novels, had met his future bride while researching his next novel on the Internet in a chat room.
    Neither one had known anything about the other and would never have met except for the Galen’s well-meaning intervention. A fateful night and one phone call had led to Elliot flying down to meet Tatum in person. They married within six months.
    What had they gotten themselves into that would have led Elliot to make this desperate call? “No, no, it’s not us, or at least it’s not something Tatum’s dragged us into,” Elliot assured him.
    Galen heard Tatum in the background. “Elliot is that him? What did he say? Do I need to talk to him?” she asked. There was the muffled sound of the receiver being covered, then Elliot said,
    “Tatum’s a bit anxious as you can imagine,” he explained.
    “No, I can’t imagine, since you haven’t told me what’s going on other than it’s personal.”
    “All right, let me explain, and then you can tell me what you need from me,” he continued. “It’s Tatum’s friend. You’ve heard us mention her once or twice, Regin Neff. She’s one of my wife’s favorite authors and friend. She needs help.” He paused. “It really is a matter of life or death. Galen, someone’s going to try to kill her.”
    As he hung up the phone, he knew this was by far the worst idea he’d ever had. He kept telling himself he would look the material over as nothing more than a favor to an old friend. He was still repeating the mantra to himself as he downloaded the files Elliot sent him.
    The answer was still a firm but solid no when the files were completed and he began reading about the life of Regin Neff. The final choice was taken from him when he finished downloading her picture and recognized her as the woman from the bar. The same woman he’d spent days fantasizing about and nights waking up in a hot sweat reaching for, but never finding her there.
    Damn it, he was going to say yes.
    ****
    “Damon, it’s Tatum,” her voice quiet. “We have to talk.”
    He was surprised to hear from her. It had been more than a year since Tatum broke off their engagement to marry Elliot Renoir. He probably would still be sulking over the breakup except Regin had asked him directly what he was so upset about. The fact she didn’t love him or that she had dumped him. He concluded Regin was right, and only stubborn pride that kept him from wishing Tatum well. Now here on the phone was the woman he’d thought he would spend the rest of his life with calling to tell him they had to talk.
    “Tatum. How are you?” He was truly surprised to find it didn’t hurt to talk with her. In fact, he was finding out he’d missed the friendship they had shared once upon a time.
    “I’m sorry if this is a bad time for you,” she began gently, “but it’s important. Wrong, I’m not sorry and I don’t care if you’re pissed off at me or not. Regin needs your help,” she paused. “The bastard’s out, Damon. Shawn Townsend is out. Someone helped the Bow Tie Strangler escape, and we both know who he’s coming after. If he finds Regin, he’s going to kill her.”
    It took him the better part of twenty minutes to get the whole story from her. By the time she finished, his blood was running cold with fear. “When is she leaving? How did she react when you told her? Why hasn’t she called me? Is there a safe house where the government can stash her?” His mind reeled, sorting through and discarding ideas for her safety.
    He’d missed Tatum’s reply. “What? Sorry, I’m trying to rearrange my schedule.”
    “I said, I haven’t told her he’s out yet.”
    “What the hell do you mean you haven’t told her?” he yelled. “Are you insane?”
    “Damn it, Damon, stop yelling at me,” she yelled back. “Just