Long Lost by Harlan Coben

Author:Harlan Coben [Coben, Harlan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3, pdf
Tags: Crime Fiction, Hard-Boiled, Literature & Fiction, Mystery, Mystery; Thriller & Suspense
ISBN: 9780451229328
Amazon: 1423327594
Publisher: Signet
Published: 2009-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

WE got back to the Claridge's at two in the morning. Win immediately left for some Mee Time. I took a long hot shower. When I checked the room 's minibar, a small smile crossed my face. Stocked with chocolate Yoo-hoos. That Win.

I chugged down a cold one and waited for the sugar buzz. I put on the TV and continuously flipped stations because that's what real men do. American shows from last season. Terese 's door was closed, but I doubted that she was sleeping. I sat by myself and took deep breaths.

The clock read two AM. Eight PM back in New York. Five PM in Scottsdale, Arizona.

I looked down at my phone. I thought about Ali and Erin and Jack in Arizona. I didn't know much about Arizona. It was the desert, right? Who wants to live in the desert?

I dialed Ali's cell phone. It rang three times before she answered with a wary Hello?

Hey, I said.

Your number didn't pop up on the caller ID, Ali said.

I have a different phone but it's the same number.

Silence.

Ali asked, Where are you?

I'm in London.

As in England?

Yep.

I heard a noise. Sounded like Jack. Ali said, One second, honey, I'm on the phone. I noticed that she didn 't say who she was on the phone with. Normally she would have.

I didn't realize you were overseas, Ali said.

I got a call from a friend in trouble. She was

She?

I stopped. Yes.

Wow, that didn't take long.

I was about to say, It's not like that, but I stopped myself. I've known her for ten years.

I see. Just a sudden visit to London to see an old friend then?

Silence. Then I heard Jack's voice again, asking who was on the phone, the sound traveling from some desert across most of the continental United States and across the Atlantic Ocean and making me cringe.

I have to go, Myron. Was there something you wanted?

Good question. There probably was, but now was not the time. I guess not, I said.

She hung up without another word. I looked at the phone, felt the weight, then thought, wait a second Ali had ended it, hadn 't she? Hadn 't she made it crystal clear just, what, two days ago? And what had I really wanted to accomplish with this damn phone call?

Why had I called?

Because I hate loose threads? Because I wanted to do the right thing here, whatever the heck that meant?

The pain from the fight was starting to come back. I rose, stretched, tried to keep my muscles loose. I looked at Terese's door. It was closed. I tiptoed over and peeked in her room. The light was out. I listened for her breathing. No sound. I started to close the door.

Please don't go, Terese said.

I stopped and said, Try to get some sleep.

Please.

I have always treaded so carefully when it comes to matters of the heart. I did the right thing always. I never just acted. Except for that one time on an island ten years ago, I worried about feelings and repercussions and what came next.

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