A Taste For Danger Read Online Free Page A

None of the paperwork said what position Jerry held while he worked at the firm. He wanted to contact Jerry. Jack hoped Jerry would be in a talking mood.
    Around time to go home he had a visitor. Cindy popped her head in. Why? To check up on me? He had almost forgotten about her case. It wasn’t even related to why he’d been hired.
    “Do you have them in your briefcase?” she asked, referring to the files she’d given him.
    “Yes, but I don’t know how much help I’m going to be.”
    “I’m sure you will,” she said. “Just read the files.” Then she was gone.
    In over his head, Jack missed having someone to bounce ideas around with. Carolyn leaving created a void in more ways than one.
    As he gathered his jacket up to go, another visitor stopped by. At the door stood Cheryl Wong. “Hola. Habla usted español u otros idiomas?” Cheryl was a petite woman with pale skin and dark hair that hung loosely around her shoulders. Attractive, now that he saw her up close.
    Jack stared at her, perplexed.
    She came in and closed the door. Then she took a seat at his desk. She seemed comfortable, like she had done this before. “Sorry,” she said now in English. That’s just my way with new people. I like to find out if there are any other bilinguals here and Spanish is the most common.”
    “Ah,” said Jack. “Well, I speak a little football and baseball, but that’s about it.”
    Cheryl laughed. She was prettier when she smiled. But then most women were.
    “You are on your way out?” she asked. “I was wondering if you could do me a favor? My car is in the shop and I took the subway here this morning, but I don’t want to take it back after dark. Would you be able to give me a lift home?”
    Jack was nothing if not gallant. “Sure, I could do that.”
    Then she threw a twist in. “You know, there’s a bar on the way. We could stop and have a drink.”
    Jack studied her. What was she up to? He’d have to go through with it to figure her out.
    “If you’re up to it,” she added.
    “Okay, sure. But I can’t stay too late.”
    “You have a wife or partner?”
    Blunt, this one. “No, I just have some work I have to get to.”
    “Your first day, and they’re already piling it on? That hardly seems fair.” She pouted her lips in sympathy.
    What was that song? Maneater ? He had a feeling it was an apt description of Cheryl Wong.
    Jack made sure to get his parking pass from the secretary for tomorrow. He wasn’t made of money, and today was gonna cost him twenty bucks. Cheryl followed him out, and they took the elevator down together. Jack thought this little get-together might be a good chance to interview her. What was she head of again? He couldn’t remember. He’d have to ask her. His instincts told him to wait until the bar.
    Jack made sure to put his briefcase in the trunk. Cheryl brought a satchel with her and sat up front. She directed him out. Apparently she lived not too far away from him, although in the city, even a block of traffic could turn a short drive into an hour. Stuck in rush hour, Cheryl made small-talk.
    “So you dined with the big cheese today?” She opened.
    “Word gets around fast.”
    “Yes, anytime someone from HQ comes, everyone knows it. Knows to be on their toes.”
    “I see.”
    “What they can’t figure out is whether to be on their toes around you.”
    Now he got it. She was on a scouting mission for the office. He wondered if they drew straws. “I’m just a nobody,” he said.
    “I doubt that,” said Cheryl, “or the Deputy VP wouldn’t have taken such an interest in you. So what are you here to do?”
    She said it smiling and casual, but underneath he could feel the shark in her.
    “I’m not allowed to discuss the details,” he said.
    “Oh my,” said Cheryl and raised her hands as if she was being held up. “Never mind. I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
    “Thanks,” he said, then stayed quiet. She didn’t try to pry anymore. He wondered if