Ryan Lock 04.5: Lock & Load Read Online Free PDF Page B

consisted of a couple of lines of cocaine and a couple of beers to settle his stomach.
       Jason stuck out his hand. "Listen, mate, I really am sorry about last night. Dunno what got into me. Are we good?"
       Lock stared at him with dead eyes until the actor dropped his hand back down by his side. "Okay, mate, I don't blame you for not wanting to shake. No worries."
      He skulked back to his seat as Summer came back into the room and took her position. Jason smiled broadly at her. "You look great."
       He reached over to touch her knee and from the corner of the room Ty made a noise that sounded to Lock distinctly like a growl.
       "Touch her anywhere, little man, and I'll chop your goddamn hand off and feed it to you," said the six foot four former Marine.
       The respective PR people started to look flustered. "We have Deadline Hollywood next, so if everyone could settle down," said Jason's PR person.
       Jason open-palmed another apology. "Relax, folks, we're all good. I was just being friendly."
       "Let's just get this done," said Summer, some of her previous poise evaporating.
     
    The remains of the afternoon dragged for everyone besides Jason who took a bathroom break after an hour, returning even more manic than before. He had presumably refreshed himself with some more Bolivian marching powder. Twice, Lock had to speak to him out of earshot of reporters. Both times Jason apologized. He was clearly testing the boundaries, a toddler trapped in a man's body.
       Around five thirty in the afternoon, the final reporter was escorted in. A hyperactive Jason shifted in his chair, animated and cracking jokes. Summer did her best to match his mood but Lock could see her wilting from the stress of the situation. It had been a long day.
       Having waxed lyrical about the movie, the reporter asked his final question. "So when are we going to see you two back on screen together?"
       Summer was first to answer. "Well, I really enjoyed working with such a talented actor. I guess it all depends on the right project coming up."
       The reporter nodded. It had already been explained that questions about their relationship were off-limits and the one or two journalists who had edged in that direction had been very firmly guided back to the movie by the PR handlers. 
       Jason smiled broadly when it came his turn. He dug into his pocket for his cell phone, and fiddled with the display as he answered the question.
       "I don't know, Bob," he said to the reporter. "Summer is a very exciting performer. The public just might be surprised. The world may be seeing us together on screen sooner than everyone thinks."
       At this, Summer was up and out of her chair with a hurried, "Sorry, I don't feel well. I think it's the lights," to the reporter as she hightailed it from the room. Lock nodded for Ty to go with her.
       Jason looked over at Lock and grinned. Lock stayed in neutral. He knew that Jason wanted a reaction for two reasons. For one, if Lock did hit him, the level of violence would be constrained by the presence of the camera and the other people present. Second, any reaction by Lock would have negative implications for Summer.
       What they had now was a grade-A Hollywood asshole conforming to type. It was hardly news and containable. The reporter would be spoken to, that section of the footage, which was being shot on the distributor's dime, would be scrubbed. There would be no story.
       "Nice try," Lock said to Jason whose grin had faded as everyone in the room stared at him.

Eleven
    LOCK AND TY  sat together in the living area of Summer's bungalow. Through the closed bedroom door they could hear her choked sobs. It had taken the best part of an hour for them to work out precisely why the young actress had reacted so violently to Jason's comments.
       Ty held up a smartphone, tilting the screen so Lock could see it. It was full-screened to the video player. On the screen was a close up of