BRAINRUSH, a Thriller Read Online Free Page B

asked. “Why the MRI?”
    “I’m fine.”
    “Don’t tell me you’re fine.”
    “Forget about it. It was just a test.”
    “Cut the crap, pal. How you doin’?” Tony’s New York accent slipped out as it usually did when he got agitated. His large-knuckled right hand grabbed Jake’s forearm across the table as if to squeeze the truth out of him.
    Jake jerked his arm back. 
    Tony sank back in the cushioned booth, studying his friend. “Just tell me one thing. You gonna be okay?”
    Jake relented. “Yeah, sure.” Hoping to end the discussion about his health, he added, “Every now and then, I get lightheaded, like catching a buzz, but only for a few seconds, and it seems to be happening less and less. A few more beers and I won’t even notice it.”
    As if on cue, Lacey returned with their drinks, her smile brightening the smooth features of her tan face. “Longboard Lager for you, Jake. That’s number forty-three on the ladder. A Stella for you, Marshall. Number twenty-five. And a Budweiser for you, Tony. Still on number one.”
    Tony grabbed his beer. “And I ain’t ever gonna switch, darlin’. I’m a Bud man.”
    Marshall glanced up from the screen. “Number forty-three, Jake? Weren’t we dead even just a week or so ago?”
    Jake shrugged off the question. “Nah, I don’t think so. Hey, Lacey, how about some chips and salsa? And, by the way, what’s with all the camera equipment stacked up over there?”
    “There’s a TV crew setting up to do a local-interest piece on Sammy’s tonight during halftime. My boss says it’s going to be great publicity.” She turned to walk away, paused, and looked back at Marshall. “Who knows? Maybe someone will finally notice that I’m a natural born star.”
    Marshall feigned dramatized surprise at the snub, but followed it with a full smile that brought a flush to Lacey’s face. She headed for the bar, this time with a spring in her step.
    Three beers later—four for Jake—it was halftime. Usually by this stage of the evening, the packed crowd, sports action, and animated conversations swirling around him would wear a little thin on Jake. But not tonight. He felt like a sponge absorbing all the disjointed data coming in from around him. 
    A few minutes into halftime, a voice over the PA announced that the trivia match was about to begin. The TV crew moved through the crowd on the other side of the bar, pausing to interview patrons. Groups along the likely path of the camera were trying to act cool, but most failed to disguise their longing for TV fame. 
    Looking for Lacey in order to ask her for a refill on salsa, Jake saw her smoothing her hair near the crew, nowhere near her assigned tables. He had to smile at the superficial image she so successfully presented when the bar was full like tonight. He knew better. He’d gotten to know her pretty well in the past two weeks when he came in on his own during the day. Tony was right. She definitely had it going on. It would serve Marshall well to pay a little closer attention to her.
    Marshall tapped Jake’s shoulder and swiveled the computer screen so that all three of them could see it. “The trivia contest is about to start. Let’s win some free beer and T-shirts.”
    Tony used his beer mug to angle the screen away from him. “Why bother? We’ve never even made it to the finals.”
    “Well, if you’d pay less attention to the pretty girls, Mister Married Man, and more to the game, maybe we’d have a chance.” Marshall slid the keyboard over toward Jake. “Here, brain man, give it your best shot.” 
    Jake shrugged. Why not? All the trivia questions dealt with the game they were watching and he could pretty much rewind the entire first half in his mind. He took a swig of beer. The first question scrolled across the screen, and before Tony or Marshall said a word, Jake punched in the answer on the keyboard. The second question appeared, and Jake answered it just as fast, grinning.
    “Do you