Ben Ryder - Side Line
Page 14
Jackie let out a short piercing squeal and began bobbing up and down on her chair. “Jay, there’s an event in Daytona Beach next month. Let’s do that!”
“Again?”
Jackie didn’t answer.
“Jacks, I would prefer to go anywhere other than Florida. Isn’t there anywhere in Vegas? Or maybe Canada?” Jackie finally answered me. “Jay, if we do this trip, I can get the plane tickets for our return adjusted. That way we can have a week of vacation in Florida and only have to pay for the hotel. We can drive down to Miami or the Keys or even spend the time looking for a villa for you to buy.”
“But, Jacks….” “Jay, we need a break and this is perfect.” She furiously tapped away at her keyboard before her head returned from around the side of her screen. “It’s too late to argue. I just booked it.”
THE distributor finally accepted that his pursuit of Jackie was crashing faster than any car on the track could have done. Jackie’s face and body language couldn’t have read any more negative if she tried. On top of that, she seemed to be looking everywhere other than at the man pursuing her.
I glanced at my watch. Only another hour before we were done for the day, and I could head back to the hotel. I looked back over to check on Jackie and saw her face break into a wide smile. She excused herself and walked in my direction, just as a salt-and-pepper, suede-headed man passed me. She threw her arms up and launched herself into his arms. On the second twirl, I recognized the man was Peter.
His appearance jolted so many emotions in me that all I could do was stand and stare. I was furious at Jackie for not telling me she was meeting him. At the same time, I was jealous as all hell that she was in his arms and nervous that if I asked about Damon, I might get bad news. But I was also excited that he might know where Damon was and how I could find him.
I walked over to them, giving Jackie enough time to break away. I extended my hand to shake his, but didn’t bother with the usual pleasantries. “Peter, how’s Damon?”
Peter looked me up and down and half smiled. “He’s good. He had a bit of trouble in Tehran and suffered some shrapnel in his leg. Spent some time in Walter Reed Hospital in DC, but he’s all mended now.”
I couldn’t hide it. The relief on my face and the way I let out my breath showed that I was more concerned than I should have been about a man I only knew briefly in Bahrain. Peter didn’t look surprised at my reaction. I suspected he was aware of our story now. Smiling wide again, he winked at Jackie. “That’s kind of how Jackie found me.”
“What do you mean?” I turned to Jackie. I couldn’t help but show the hurt and anger on my face. “You mean you know where Damon is?”
“Jay, we were looking for the wrong person. The Sword of Damocles!” “Jackie, what are you talking about?” I said, feeling my heart beating fast and faster with anger that she had kept this from me.
“Damo-cles,” Jackie said again, waving her hand as though indicating that I should have caught on by now. She took hold of the tops of my arms and shook them. “Damocles. Dammo-cles! Dammo!”
I slapped a palm to my head in realization.
“I searched for ‘Dammo’ and found an interview he had given to a newspaper when he was injured. I e-mailed the interviewer, who forwarded it on to him.”
I felt a hand run across my shoulder blade. I froze. The hand tugged a little. I so desperately wanted it to be him. “Hey, buddy.”
About the Author
BEN RYDERwas born and raised in England. Though he’s
proud of his British heritage and homeland, he spends as much time as possible in the American southwest, seeking sunshine, warmth, and cheap tequila. Ben enjoys mud runs, scuba diving, and unabashedly self-effacing mockery. He can be reached at benryderbooks@gmail.com or on Twitter, @benryderbooks.
Also by Ben Ryder from DREAMSPINNER PRESS
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Copyright
Side Line ©Copyright Ben Ryder, 2013 Published by
Dreamspinner Press
5032 Capital Circle SW
Ste 2, PMB# 279
Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover Photograph by Scott Henrichsen Cover Design by Paul Richmond This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the Publisher. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press at: 5032 Capital Circle SW Ste 2, PMB# 279 Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886
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Released in the United States of America June 2013
eBook Edition
eBook ISBN: 978-1-62380-314-8