One Wrong Move Read Online Free PDF Page B

herself. “Is it a verbal tic?” she asked tartly. “Something you say automatically? To put anyone who speaks to you on the defensive? Very slick, Aaro. I bet that wins you lots of friends and admirers.”
    There was a shocked pause. He cleared his throat. “I’m not interviewing for friends,” he said. “And I don’t need admiration.”
    “Damn lucky for you, considering,” she retorted.
    He harrumphed. “Had a tough morning, lady?”
    Her spine prickled up, like an affronted cat. Smart-assed son of a bitch . “You could say that,” she said, enunciating very carefully. “Bruno briefed you about my tough morning, am I right?”
    “Yeah.” His voice was cautious. “Hell of a thing.”
    “Good. Then you know already that I have no time for bullshit. Have you listened to the recording yet?”
    “No,” he said.
    The flatness of his “no” was disconcerting. “I wish you would hurry up with that. Shall I call you back after you—”
    “No,” he said again.
    She floundered. “What . . . but . . . did you not get the message with the audio file? Should I resend? I urgently need to know what—”
    “I can’t translate for you right now. I’m on the Belt Parkway right now, heading to Brighton Beach. There’s something I need to do out there before I can help you. It’s urgent.”
    Urgent? “But I . . . but this drug . . . my doctor needs to know if—”
    “Contact the Ukrainian embassy. Ask someone there to help.
    You’ll find the number online. Come to think of it, there are probably residents right at the hospital who are Ukrainian. Ask around. You’ll find someone. I’ve got something to do, and it’s time sensitive.”
    “More time sensitive than this?” Her voice cracked.
    “Yes,” he said, with all the flatness of utter finality.
    Yes? Her head wagged, in mute denial. How dare he? How could he? Of course, she had no reason to assume this guy would feel obligated to help her, except that Lily and Bruno had assured her that he would. Warring impulses locked swords. She wanted to beg him to just listen to the file. She wanted to plead, to babble, to implore.
    She also wanted to tell him to fuck off and die.
    She tried again. “But . . . but Lily and Bruno said you could—”
    “I don’t know what Lily and Bruno told you, lady.”
    “They told me you could translate that file.” It burst out with explosive force. “What they didn’t tell me was that you are an asshole!”
    “I’m sorry,” he said, sounding anything but. “When I’m done, I’ll call you back, and if you still need me to—”
    “Don’t trouble yourself. Really. And with all my heart, fuck you, too. Have a nice afternoon.” She hung up on him, and burst into tears.
    Oh, God, how she hated crying. She hated Aaro even more, for driving her to it. As soon as the weeping had died down, she grabbed the phone and clicked around in the menu until she puzzled out how to block the jerk’s number. She’d never bothered learning that function before, but it was the only spiteful, petulant thing she could think of to do. Nyah, nyah. As if he’d ever call her now, after her snit fit.
    “Ms. Christie?”
    She jumped at the voice. “What?”
    A tall, balding, red-faced man in a white doctor’s coat peered into the examining room. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
    “Um, do you need the room? I’m sorry,” Nina said shakily. “I . . .
    I got distracted. But I was just leaving.”
    “Don’t worry. I was looking for you, Ms. Christie. I’m glad I caught you. I’m Dr. Granger. This is Dr. Woodrow, my associate.” He walked in. He was tall, huge shoulders. Grinning so his gums showed. He had a disfiguring burn scar that covered his neck. A beautiful blonde followed him in, giving Nina a dazzling smile. All that manic smiling. It was eerie.
    She couldn’t smile back if she wanted to. “Um, yes?” Her voice felt thin and wobbly.
    “We need you to come with us to the lab upstairs.”