Free Gridlock: A Ryan Lock Novel by Sean Black Page B

off on the terror and uncertainty that he was leaving in his wake. The torso and the dress were clear demonstrations that he could and would do what he wanted, when he wanted. More than anything, he was focused on demonstrating that he was in control, that all anyone else could do was react.
    A pencil-thin middle-aged man had got out of the locksmith’s van and was opening the rear of the vehicle. He took out a tool box, then walked over to where they were standing. ‘So, what do you want changed out?’ he asked.
    Lock glanced back towards the house. ‘Everything.’

13
     
    It took three of them to move the panic-room door up the stairs and into Raven’s bedroom. Composed of a solid core with internal steel framing and non-removable hinge pins, it must have weighed close to two hundred pounds. By the time Lock, Ty and the locksmith had wrestled it to the landing they were soaked with sweat.
    Lock walked back downstairs. Kevin was on the couch watching cartoons. Raven was on her cell phone, pacing the length of the house.
    ‘What do you mean your insurance won’t cover me?… Then let me speak to Jimmy… Okay, well, tell him to call me back.’
    She terminated the call with a jab of her thumb. ‘Assholes.’
    Lock waited for her to finish her tantrum. He didn’t ask what the call was about. If she wanted to share, he figured, she would. ‘I guess this isn’t a good time to give you this,’ he said, handing her the invoice for the newly delivered panic-room door.
    She took the piece of paper and scanned it. ‘Three thousand bucks? For a door?’
    ‘That’s actually pretty cheap. I negotiated a fairly hefty discount. These things can go for as much as twenty grand. Short notice like this, I was kind of amazed that the guy negotiated at all. We got lucky.’
    Raven went back into the living room and slumped into a chair, the invoice still in her hand. She rubbed at her temples with her thumbs. ‘The phone call. It was the club I was supposed to dance at later this week, pulling the plug.’ She had lowered her voice. Between the hammering from upstairs and the blaring television, Lock doubted that Kevin could hear what they were saying, but Raven wasn’t taking any chances.
    She leaned forward in the chair, visibly stressed. ‘Will they take a credit card?’
    Lock perched next to her. ‘Listen, I’ll get it out of my ten. You can pay me when this guy’s caught and you start working again.’
    Raven turned her head towards him, her violet eyes hard and dark. ‘I can pay my own way,’ she said, getting up and stalking out of the room.
    Lock sighed. He’d broken one of his own rules by assuming too much familiarity. That was a bad idea with any client. It was an extra-bad idea with someone like Raven, who fought so hard to retain control and keep people at a distance.
    In less than a minute she was back. ‘I’ll cover the invoice. It’s not a problem. I don’t need your charity.’
    ‘It wasn’t charity. Someone who charges the kind of money I do doesn’t have much interest in charity.’
    ‘Me either,’ she said, her voice softer and more placatory. ‘Now, seeing as I’m paying you so much, can you give me a ride to pick up mail? Plus I need to get some groceries. All I managed to eat earlier was some cereal and I’m starving.’
    Lock smiled. It seemed she had forgiven him. ‘Give me a second. I need to check on the locksmith and the guys fitting the panic-room door before we leave.’
    ‘Sure,’ Raven said. ‘I have to get changed anyway. I won’t be long.’
    He walked into the living room where Ty was now watching Kevin, who in turn was watching TV. ‘Can you keep an eye on things while I’m gone? I have to run a few errands.’
    Ty barely looked up. ‘Okay, brother. We’ll hold the fort here. Won’t we, Kev?’
    Kevin glanced round. ‘Yeah,’ he said, and went back to his show.
    ‘Kev’s been telling me about this little hottie he’s been seeing.’
    Kevin’s face broke