Shadows to Light (Shadows of Justice 5) Read Online Free PDF

that's where you decide to go."
    She twisted around, following Micky's gaze to the doorway behind her where the bouncer-receptionist loomed. Turning back, she reached for the bag and key. "And if I decide otherwise?"
    Micky spread his hands wide, palms open. "I wish you all the best, wherever you land."
    Mira studied him a long moment. He seemed sincere. She had to fight the urge to judge him according to rumor. There was a knowing glint in his eye, and while she didn't doubt he could be a lethal enemy, her gut instinct was to trust him.
    "Who negotiated my release?"
    "That's a conversation for another day," he said with a cryptic smile.
    "Is it true you deal in chocolate?"
    "Possibly. Do you have a craving?"
    Mira shook her head. She didn't want to like him. "My mother loves truffles. If a box fell off a truck..."
    "A surprisingly frequent occurrence." His charming smile was nearly as blinding as a surgical lamp. "Give me the address."
    She keyed it into the electronic notepad he offered but when she tried to give the device back, he stopped her, his expression serious.
    "If I do this, you will owe me."
    "I understand."
    "Let's hope that's true." He stared at her long enough to have doubts creeping into her head.
    Owing Chicago's top smuggler wasn't something to take lightly and yet... "She needs to know I'm safe." And she was looking for confirmation that her mother had been the one to arrange her escape, but Micky wasn't letting anything show.
    He'd be hell at a poker table.
    She stuffed the shopping bag into the black tote, along with the contacts and key. Walking out of the office without another word, she followed a stoic and silent Jim through the building and down to a garage of sorts.
    A big yellow car, reminiscent of an outdated taxi cab, idled with the back door open.
    "Am I getting another sedative?"
    "No," he replied, sounding unhappy about it. "You've been cleared."
    She wasn't sure what he meant, but she was increasingly certain she didn't want to stick around. The door opened behind them and another man entered. With a big smile, he shrugged into a battered leather bomber jacket as he approached them.
    "I'm Cleveland," he extended his hand. "I'll be your driver, young lady." He jerked his chin at Jim. "Is this guy bothering you?"
    Mira wondered just what sort of rabbit hole she'd fallen into. "He's fine."
    "That can't be true, though there's no accounting for taste," he added in a stage whisper. "I'll assume he's just being his normal imposing self. Don't worry. Micky doesn't let him bite. Where are we headed?" He waved her toward the car.
    Mira aimed toward the open back door, but Cleveland pushed it shut. "You'll ride up front with me. Better view." She followed, sliding into the offered passenger seat. With the black bag on her lap, she waited until the doors were closed before she quietly told Cleveland where to take her.
    He laughed out loud. "Nothing like a visit to the warehouse to instill a bit of paranoia. Don't worry, he doesn't really know everything."
    "But you'll tell him where you dropped me."
    "Won't have to."
    An industrial sized garage door opened and Cleveland eased the car forward into a long tunnel.
    Mira sputtered. "You just said he didn't know everything."
    "He doesn't. He may know where you go, but not why you made the choice."
    Mira wasn't sure that was a valid distinction. Micky couldn't possibly stay at the top in his game if he didn't know how to read people. She wasn't even sure which part of that equation bothered her most. "Thanks for driving."
    "No problem. I was headed that way."
    "You're not a tax-"
    "Do not finish that question," Cleveland said, sliding a glare at her. "This is a classic 1957 Chevrolet. Not an old cab. I've sweated over every inch of the restoration and made her compliant with current emissions regs. This paint job happened to be very popular in the mid-twentieth century and -"
    Mira's burst of laughter interrupted his tirade. "So-s-so you must get this a