Now You See Me Read Online Free Page A

know it’s hard for you and my father to believe this, but I really can take care of myself. Just because this note has me uneasy doesn’t mean I need to be coddled or comforted. And I’m not going to let you take this story away from me!” Her voice rose several decibels.
    Red suffused Aaron’s face and his stone-cold gaze finally whipped back to hers. “Hold on there a second. I still call the shots here. You don’t let me do a damn thing.”
    She smacked the top of his desk so hard his stapler jittered. “You’re right. This is your decision, but it’s my decision what paper I choose to work for.”
    His eyes narrowed. “Are you threatening me?” He breathed through his nostrils like a taunted bull.
    Gaze clashing with his, she stared him down. “What do you think?”
    He released a huff of air and sank back against his chair. “Dammit, Kate. Why do you have to be so difficult?” Searching through the top desk drawer, he mumbled until he located a lighter and, with a glare, lit his cigar.
    Kate relaxed a little, knowing she’d played the ace and won. “Because I’m good at what I do and I’ve never backed down from a story.”
    “The last threat you got wasn’t from a serial killer.”
    “True, but I have gotten death threats before. I handled them.” But it was true none had left her so shaken. So she’d be a little extra careful until the story was over.
    A plume of smoke spiraled into the air. “Okay. You stay on the story on one condition.”
    She folded her arms, silently preparing to continue the battle. Aaron’s conditions were usually as difficult as the man. “Which is?”
    “You notify the warden about this little gift. If there’s anyone who can find out if those flowers really came from Ramsey, it’s him. If they did, he needs to keep a better eye on his prisoners. Can’t do that unless he knows there’s a problem.”
    “If I tell the warden, there’s no way he’s going to budge on the second interview.”
    “Then you’ll have to make the story work with what you got.”
    “What happened to all the encouragement you were giving me yesterday? I believe you were the one asking if I’d told the warden to go to hell.”
    “That was before this morning’s delivery, and that bastard of a warden might just know a thing or two about John Ramsey you can use to prevent future unwelcome sentiments.”
    “I don’t have enough for a solid outline, Aaron, much less any kind of publishable piece. Ramsey tells me death isn’t going to take him and I’m supposed to write a story without any facts to substantiate it? Come on. You and I both know you’re not going to approve a story that’s just John Ramsey blowing wind.”
    He scratched his cheek, tipped his chair back a bit farther. “True.”
    Kate waited, hoping he’d change his mind.
    When he fixed her with his bullheaded gaze, he dashed her hopes. “Then I guess you’d better figure out a way to sweet-talk the warden because he needs to know this.”
    She cursed under her breath. Sweet-talking wasn’t in her arsenal of weapons, but she always thought fast on her feet. She’d come up with something. “I’ll have Jessie make the call.” At least she wasn’t off the story. Relief surging through her, she sailed toward the door.
    “Kate?”
    “Yeah?”
    “I believe I said you notify him.”
    She stopped. “What difference does it make who tells him?”
    “If the guy has questions, Jessie won’t be able to answer them. It’s not up for discussion.”
    Another look at Aaron’s face told her he wouldn’t back down from this one. Her ace was played, and she’d have to give in. “Fine. I’ll take care of it.”
    On her way out of the door, she smiled. Aaron hadn’t given her a deadline to make the call to Mr. Jericho. So she’d just slip that on her to-do list for tomorrow.
    “Kate!” Aaron bellowed from his office.
    She stopped, wincing without responding.
    “That call had better be within the next ten