Unlucky Break Read Online Free Page B

else that reminded her of them.
    Andie pulled on her Doc Martens and ran down the stairs two at a time. She opened the front door and walked outside, looking around for the garage. She stopped, shading her eyes against the sunlight. There were ivy-covered brick walls on either side of the house, but no garage. She slowly did a lap of the whole house, and then walked back inside, looking for Marta.
    ‘Marta, where’s the garage?’ she asked, feeling stupid and hoping Marta didn’t think she was an idiot.
    Marta looked up from the table she was polishing. ‘Outside.’ She nodded brightly at Andie.
    ‘Thanks,’ said Andie. Could you be more specific? she added silently. She went upstairs and found the note with Rene’s number in the pocket of her robe.
    ‘Hello, Andie,’ said Rene as soon as he picked up.
    ‘How did you know it was me?’
    ‘Cece gave me this number,’ he said.
    ‘Of course,’ said Andie, feeling silly. ‘Um, I’m sorry to bother you but Cece said something about a car, and … Well, I can’t find the garage,’ she finished, laughing a little at how ridiculous it sounded.
    ‘Sure, meet me out the front,’ Rene said breezily.
    Andie went outside and sat on the step, looking towards the front gates. She wondered how long it would take Rene to get to Cece’s.
    ‘Good morning.’
    Andie turned with a jump at the sound of Rene’s voice. He was standing behind her.
    ‘Where did you come from?’ she asked, heart racing with adrenaline.
    ‘I live above the garage,’ he said. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.’
    ‘You live here?’ she asked.
    ‘That’s right,’ said Rene.
    Andie didn’t probe, even though she wanted to. Why did he live here? Was that normal for drivers in LA? Didn’t Rene have a family of his own? Did Marta live here too?
    Rene pressed a button on the wall and one of the ivy-clad walls moved sideways. It was like something out of a James Bond film. Behind the wall were four cars.
    ‘It’s a false wall,’ said Rene, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. ‘The ivy on this side is fake.’
    Of course it is , thought Andie, wondering if she’d ever get used to LA’s extravagance.
    Rene walked over to a small black BMW. ‘This is yours,’ he said, glancing at Andie to see her reaction.
    ‘You can’t be serious?’ she said, frowning.
    ‘You don’t like it? It’s a very good car,’ assured Rene.
    ‘It just seems so … expensive,’ said Andie, reddening. She’d never even been in a BMW, let alone driven one.
    ‘Cece wanted to make sure you had a very safe car,’ he said. ‘She went on and on about how it had to be safe. This has a five-star safety rating. But it also drives beautifully.’ He winked at Andie.
    Andie was speechless.
    ‘Want me to back it out for you?’ asked Rene.
    ‘Thanks,’ said Andie, standing back. She watched as Rene expertly reversed the car into the driveway.
    Andie suddenly realised the driver’s wheel was on the other side. Her mouth went dry. ‘I’ve never driven on the right,’ she said.
    ‘That’s okay,’ said Rene. ‘You just need to get used to it. I’ll go with you until you’re comfortable.’
    He handed her the keys and walked across to the passenger’s side. ‘Come on, don’t look so worried. What’s the worst that can happen?’
    I could die. I could kill someone. I could look like an idiot, she thought as she slipped behind the wheel and adjusted the seat. Then she remembered the documentary on gang life in LA.
    ‘What about drive-by shootings?’ she blurted out.
    ‘Excuse me?’ asked Rene as he put on his seatbelt.
    ‘Drive-by shootings,’ repeated Andie in a small voice. She knew she sounded paranoid.
    ‘Are you planning on performing some?’ asked Rene with a smile. ‘It’s not something I’d advise.’
    Andie blushed. ‘I’ve just heard you have to be careful in LA.’
    Rene chuckled. ‘You need to be careful anywhere, Andie. But since we’re in the Hollywood