No Mercy Read Online Free PDF Page B

Jonathan prodded as they approached the door that would take them to the parking lot.
    "Who is she?"
    He hated it when people answered questions with questions. "She's my big surprise for the night. We knew about the Patrone brothers and a third party. She was the third party."
    The door opened onto a beautiful spring day. The perfect blue sky made even the parking lot look vibrant. "Well, it's not exactly a unique name," Venice cautioned, "and the picture you sent was not of the best quality."
    "You're hedging."
    "I'm explaining that there aren't definitive data. But from what I could pull together, she was a committed cause-worker. Lots of symbolic arrests at various protests--mostly antiwar and antibusiness. Always anti, by the way."
    Jonathan chuckled. "Protesting others' decisions is always easier than making one of your own." Up ahead, the Monstrosity awaited them: the world's only blaze-orange Mazda Miata.
    tfit. Lots of tree-hugging, but no confirmed violence."
    The curious phrasing caught Jonathan's attention. " Confirmed violence?"
    "Wherever zealots gather, there's always the potential for violence. That's what's got the FBI sitting up and taking notice. There's some suspicion that they burned down a ski lodge under construction a few years ago, but no solid proof." She opened the trunk of her ugly-ass car and invited Jonathan to load his bags into it.
    "You couldn't have brought the Hummer?"
    "I hate that big thing. Talk about monstrosities. You're free to take a cab if you'd like." She walked toward the driver's side.
    Jonathan had to laugh. He always said he liked independent thinkers, and in Venice, he got that with plenty to spare. He filled the trunk with one duffel, and had to thread the other one into the space the Mazda people had the guts to call a backseat. He'd worn shirts that were bigger than the front seat.
    He'd just stuffed the second bag in when a familiar voice called from across the parking lot, "Jon!"
    A quick look across the lines of cars confirmed that he recognized the voice. He shot an annoyed glare at Venice.
    "Oh yeah," she said in a tone more suitable to seeing a pustule than a person. "Ellen called. She needs help from you. But I swear to God, Digger, is you fall for another of her--"
    Jonathan shut her down and turned to meet his ex-wife halfway as she navigated the last three rows of cars. He extended his arms for a hug. She allowed herself to be enfolded. "What a wonderful surprise," he said, his voice dripping irony. "You're finally coming back to me."
    "Oh, Jon, I'm so frightened."
    He broke the embrace and eased her away to arm's length. "Of what?"
    She scowled and glared past his shoulder at Venice. "She didn't tell you?"
    He followed her gaze. "Who? Venice? Tell me what?"
    "I've been trying nonstop to reach you since yesterday."
    Taking the mention of her name as an invitation to join, Venice stepped up.
    "Is that true?" Jonathan asked. "Has Ellen been trying to reach me?"
    Venice planted her fists on her hips. "Don't take that tone. You've been on the ground for all of five minutes."
    He turned back to Ellen. "What is it, then?"
    From the corner of his eye he saw Venice assume body language that said, "Wait till you hear this."
    "Tibor's missing," Ellen said.
    Jonathan smiled. "And you wanted to deliver the wonderful news in person. How thoughtful."
    Venice sniggered, earning a withering glare from the ex.
    "Must she stay?" Ellen snapped.
    "I already told her," Venice explained, "that we don't drop everything to search for someone who's been missing for only a day."
    Jonathan looked to Ellen for confirmation.
    Her shoulders sagged and her eyes pleaded. "Please, Jon. There are extenuating circumstances."
    Tibor Rothman was a certified prick, dedicated to making Jonathan's life as difficult as possible. It was'm just really, really scared."
    "About Tibor?"
    "I should have heard from him by now," she said. She sniffed to regain control of her voice. "He always calls when he goes