Free Ryan Lock 04.5: Lock & Load by Sean Black Page B

career on a carefully cultivated tough guy image. From what Lock had gathered, the bar for tough guy status in Hollywood wasn't that high. He also suspected the relationship was partly one of convenience. While Summer's career was in the ascendancy, Jason's was a little rocky. He'd had two recent stints in rehab, several arrests, and obviously had, what in modern parlance had come to be known as anger management issues. Lock thought of them more as asshole management issues.
       Summer's representatives had contacted Lock directly, making him a substantial offer for what amounted to a week's work. Not only did they want their young client protected, he also suspected they wanted him to offer a longer term solution by explaining to her ex, by whatever means he felt most appropriate, that the relationship had indeed ended. Saying yes had been a no-brainer.
       Lock and Ty could be highly persuasive in such situations, and they both could use the injection of cash. Plus, free first class travel and a pretty heavy stipend that included hotel accommodation and a separate place for Lock and Carrie (a beach house in Malibu owned by the actress) hadn't sounded too shabby either. More than that, if there was one thing that Lock didn't have any time for it was guys like Jason Durham. Over the years he had seen the havoc wreaked by men who abused their partners, and while he wasn't sure what the long term solution was, he was happy to make the world a little better one asshole at a time.
     
    As Ty went to collect their rental car, Lock waited with Carrie. She had a get-together planned with a former colleague who had relocated from New York to Los Angeles a few years ago to work for a rival TV network. That would leave Lock free to go meet Summer and get a better feel for what he was dealing with.
       He slipped a hand around his fiancee's waist. Their relationship hadn't been without its bumpy patches, most of which were related to his work, but he still felt like the luckiest man alive. Carrie was beautiful inside and out, a strong woman who knew her own mind, yet hadn't allowed her career to render her cynical about the rest of the human race. He couldn't wait to begin their life together. They already had the dog, who was busy trying to eat the end of the lead and now they could go for the rest of the package; the house with a white picket fence and, hopefully, kids. They'd both had a life spent on the move. Now they craved some quiet domesticity.
     
    Ty pulled up in the rental car, a black Range Rover while Lock helped a taxi driver with Carrie's luggage and kissed her goodbye. He waited until the cab was out of sight, put Angel in the back, and clambered in next to Ty who took off at speed as they headed for West Hollywood.

Three
    IT WAS ONE  in the afternoon and the pool of the Chateau Marmont was crowded with hip, young Hollywood player types and girls sporting bikinis that seemed to barely qualify as clothing. Down the years the Chateau had been the bolt hole of choice for Hollywood's elite when they wanted to escape without actually leaving town. It oozed class, discretion, and money. As the old saying went, if you had to ask what it cost to stay there, you probably couldn't afford it.
       Lock had Angel on the lead next to him and was wishing he'd brought a spare, complete with shock collar, for Ty.
       "Eyes front, Tyrone," said Lock as they skirted round a pair of sun loungers that appeared to come complete with their own Victoria's Secret model. "We're now officially on duty."
       Ty's neck swiveled round, and Lock saw himself reflected in the mirrored lenses.
       "How you know what I'm looking at? I'm wearing shades, dawg."
       "That's how I know. If a man doesn't want anyone to know what he's staring at, he wears shades. Now, can you focus? This is business."
       Ty gave a dismissive tut, clearly yet to be convinced that there was any gravity to this particular job. "This movie dude's like five four