Page 36 of Some Like It Hot

The stark, hollow look on his face, the widening eyes were the only warning before the hard, cold tip of a gun pressed to the back of her skull.

“Don’t even breathe, or I’ll shoot you both.”

Six

“Darryl, I’m just here to help Alicia,” Larke said, her voice incredibly calm, considering the Glock held to the base of her skull.

It wasn’t Darryl standing behind her—at least not from the description she’d given Riley. Red hair, overweight.Thatman Riley had seen on the fire line, sweaty and overwhelmed. That man took off the first chance he could with the rest of the fugitives. That man could be captured or dead right now.

This man looked like he’d stepped off a tour bus, a lawyer on vacation from the Lower 48 for a high-end fly fishing trip on some remote Alaskan river. He wore a windbreaker, a pair of jeans, a blueLife is GoodT-shirt.

But the way he glanced at Riley turned him cold.

They were in a movie with an assassin. At least that was the first thought that came to mind as Riley raised his hands, his shoulder limiting movement and sort of cutting short his immediate options, although he would take out his body if it meant saving Larke.

“I’m not Darryl,” Mr. Assassin said, stating what Riley had already concluded. “Where is he?”

“Clearly we don’t know,” Riley said. “We’re here for Alicia. Where is she?” And he kept his voice even despite the images his brain conjured as an answer.

“She’s at the hospital,” the man said. “At least that’s what the note on the door said.”

Riley couldn’t even guess at what happened. “Who are you?”

“A business associate.” He pushed Larke forward, his grip still on her neck, and she winced.

“Hey, man, go easy there,” Riley snapped.

“Really?” Assassin Man said and threw her down on the sofa.

She glared up at him, but the man stepped back and motioned with his weapon for Riley to join her.

Riley gauged the man’s distance, decided against lunging at him—mostly because he still pointed his weapon at Larke and Riley couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t get a shot off before he hit the floor—and joined Larke on the sofa, his leg purposely tight against hers.It’ll be okay.

“We’ll just wait until he gets here,” the man said.

Something about the man niggled in the back of Riley’s mind. He looked familiar, but Riley couldn’t place him.

“What makes you think Darryl is coming here?”

Assassin Man shrugged. “He will. He’ll do anything for his wife—and apparently that includes a prison break.”

Next to him, Larke stilled. And Riley nodded. So itwasDarryl on the hand crew. And maybe he was on his way here, right now.

Right into an ambush.

Not that Riley particularly cared what went down between these two, but his gut told him that he and Larke did not want to be caught in the middle of it. Witnesses to murder never fared well.

“Listen, man. Just let us go. We don’t know you or why you’re here—and we don’t care.”

The man’s eyes narrowed. He licked his lips, as if considering his words. “You’re probably right.”

Riley caught his breath. Nodded.

“Get up.”

Larke started to rise, but the man gestured at Riley. “Just you.”

He swallowed, stood up.