Dead Wrong (A Cal Murphy Thriller Book 7) Jack Patterson (good beach reads .txt) 📖

“What is it, Kelly?” he whispered.

“Was it me or were there two different pilots giving announcements? It didn’t sound like the same pilot both times.”

Cal nodded. “Something sounded off, for sure. Could’ve been.” He watched as the ambulance sped away while Captain Wilson stepped away from the hive of activity to place a phone call.

He bobbed his head in the direction of Wilson. “What do you suppose he’s up to?”

“Hopefully finding us a way out of here.”

Kelly smiled. “At least this story won’t be boring. Writing about oversized seats and a wing buffet isn’t exactly going to attract many readers. But an emergency landing in the Arizona desert? That ought to do the trick.”

“As long as I title the story with a headline that goes something like, ‘NBA team makes unexpected stop in the desert—and you won’t guess what happened next.’ ”

“Classic click bait, dear.”

Cal rolled his eyes. “So what. Nothing else gets people to read these days.”

“What about a compelling story?”

“True, yet we have to find it since I think we both feel like something else is up. But before we do, I need to post this picture to Twitter and Instagram. It ought to be enough to keep Hale off my back for a little while.”

Cal tapped on his keyboard for a few moments before one of the paramedics approached him.

“Are you Cal Murphy?” the man asked.

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

“I need you to come with me,” he said as he firmly pressed Cal toward a hangar about twenty yards away.

Kelly went along with him.

“What’s this all about?” Cal asked.

The man said nothing until they were near the edge of the hangar. “I saw you taking a picture of the pilot and I must ask that you delete those pictures and respect the privacy of the individual here.”

“I’m a reporter and this is a public place. I can do whatever—”

“Actually, you can’t. There are laws about this sort of thing. I need to delete those pictures from your phone.”

“Dream on, man,” he said as he started to walk away.

The paramedic lunged for Cal’s phone and snatched it from him.

“What the—” Cal said as he spun around. “Who do you think you are?”

The man tapped furiously on Cal’s phone and dashed toward the corner of the hangar. Cal tried to keep up with him but the man managed to exceed his pace every time he edged closer. Once the man rounded the corner, he stopped. Cal almost ran into him, pulling up just short. Kelly staggered only a few strides behind.

The paramedic launched the phone into an unlit desert area behind the hanger.

“What is wrong with you?” Cal said as he shoved the man.

The man moved to receive only a glancing blow. He slid past Cal without responding and sauntered back toward the plane.

“What was his deal?” Kelly asked, her mouth agape as she shook her head.

“No idea. But this isn’t cool.”

“Did you see where it went?” Kelly asked.

“I think so. Have you got your phone? We’re going to need some light.”

Kelly pulled out her phone and activated the camera light to illuminate the prickly path in front of them. Stray tumbleweeds and cacti provided a delicate minefield for the pair to navigate.

“Do you see it?” Kelly asked.

“Not yet. Keep going.”

Several moments later, Kelly’s light fell upon what appeared to be a shadowy figure of a man.

“Looking for this?” a man asked as he held up Cal’s phone, now glowing.

“Yes, but, what the—”

It was the last thing Cal said before two vicious blows to the back of his and Kelly’s head sent them crashing to the ground.

CHAPTER 22

SCOTT PERRY FINISHED getting a full recap from his eldest daughter about her basketball game earlier that evening. It was a game he missed—one of many. He watched a video of his daughter’s steal and layup. But it wasn’t the same as being there. He hoped his daughter would one day realize that it was for the good of their family, that the provision he gave them would put them ahead in life. That is, if everything worked out and he managed to hold his agency together, as tenuous as it might be at the moment. If he was honest with himself, it was vaporizing in front of him. Everything he’d worked for could be gone. Even his family.

Perry headed toward his library and poured himself a scotch before slumping onto the leather sofa. He closed his eyes and for a moment tried to find a happy place to visit in his mind, a place to escape to—for good if necessary.

Aruba. It’s nice there. Great beaches. Awesome weather. Plenty of sun.

Then he stopped. Any island in the Caribbean was useless for his purposes. He needed a place to truly escape, a place nobody would think to look for him.

Cape Verde.

He always wanted to go there. He knew enough Portuguese to get by thanks to several trips to Brazil scouting NBA prospects to sign to his agency. Great weather all year round. Hardly any rain. Beautiful beaches. Interesting geography. No one would ever look for him there.

Before he had much time to indulge his new fantasy, Scarlett barged into the room.

“Scott, we need to talk.”

He sat up and rolled his eyes. “What is it now?”

She stamped her foot. “Look at me when I’m talking to you.”

Perry slowly looked up to meet her gaze. With her eyes narrowed, he knew it was going to be a conversation he didn’t want to have.

“Is this better?” he asked with a smirk. He then glanced back down at his drink before draining it.

“I’ve never been more embarrassed in my life than I was today. I finished checking out at Whole Foods today and every one of our credit cards was declined. I had to go to the ATM and pull money out of savings just to pay for groceries.”

He sighed. “Money doesn’t grow on trees.”

“Maybe not, but it should be in my bank account when I need it.