Berlin (Leo & Allissa International Thrillers Book 3) by Luke Richardson (my reading book txt) 📕

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New York - Chapter 1

There are moments in life when the present leaves the past behind. It’s as though the sharp knife of a surgeon cuts one from the other. Things divide neatly at these moments. They reinvent themselves in a wave of paradigm-shifting realisations. The world turns on a different axis and the old you stands there, motionless and watching, as the new you walks on into the unknown.

He turned his face to the sky. Light rain peppered his skin. The wet swish of tyres on tarmac sounded distant here. The city was quiet. He tightened his grip and the flow of blood slowed. It had pounded over his fingers. Now, it barely even dribbled.

He gazed down at the woman. At her eyes, still, and like marbles. Her skin, smooth as satin. Her mouth, an expressionless circle. The gash in her neck was the only thing that proved to him she was not simply resting.

The knife had also separated him from his past self. He was now a killer. A murderer. Her murderer.

The blade felt cold between his fingers. He lifted it to his face. Although the dripping blood was barely visible in the shadows, he could smell it. It was nourishing and fresh, like rain in the jungle.

His tongue flicked out between wet lips.

He longed to consume her. To make her a part of him. As he had now, and would always be, a part of her. She’d made a sacrifice for him. Now, in death, he would honour that. She was his first.

He was suddenly alert. Voices echoed down the passageway.

No, not like this.

He couldn’t be discovered now. He needed time. He must have time to finish the job.

A group of people passed the passage’s entrance on the road ahead. He watched them. He felt exposed. It was as though the world, once again, was trying to take away what was his.

The intruders’ coats glistened beneath streetlights. None looked into the darkened passage. Why would they? Margins of the city like this held no interest. People were predictable.

They wouldn’t even notice the narrow alley nestled beside the bright lights of the building next door.

It was the perfect location. Mansel Buck M.D. was the city’s most prominent cosmetic surgeon. Those with fame and fortune passed through a set of brightly-lit doors daily for a nip, tuck, or whatever else was in vogue right now. No one would see down here. Not tonight.

The voices faded away into the whisper of the city. He drew a breath. No one had seen him. That was good. Yet, he didn’t have much time. Time was the enemy here. Time had almost prevented his great-grandfather from fulfilling his artistic desires. That would not happen to him.

He pulled up his left sleeve. His great-grandfather’s gold chain glinted beneath some distant light.

“This is for you,” he whispered, placing the chain against his lips. It tasted like blood. “It’s all for you.”

Then he dropped to his knees and unbuttoned her coat.

New York - Chapter 2

The St Lucian sun crept towards the Caribbean Sea. The day had been calm but hot. It was precisely the sort of day the locals in the markets of Castries hated. Making their way home for dinner or a swift drink at the rum shop, they fanned the heat away with menus, newspapers or even their fingers.

The pool at St James’ Bay, which an hour before had been filled with the shouts and splashes of children, grew quiet with the dying day. The calm water rippled gently, reflecting the surrounding palm trees.

“This looks alright,” Leo said, walking to the pool’s edge. He dropped his bag and glanced around. His reflection glittered on the surface of the pool. His baggy green t-shirt was creased and sweat-mottled from their journey across this island, and he desperately needed a haircut.

“It’ll do,” Allissa said, her reflection joining Leo’s in the pool. She stared out at the gently rippling ocean. She wore a bright blue strappy top and baggy, yellow Alibaba pants.

“Get ready for your first swimming lesson.” Allissa turned to face Leo.

“Not tonight,” Leo whined. “We’ve only just got here. Let’s just go to the bar and relax.”

“No,” Allissa asserted, “it’s not like we’ve had a strenuous day. And you said last week that when we’d finished the case, you’d practise swimming every day.”

“Yeah, so we’ll start tomorrow.”

“No.” Allissa forced Leo’s key card into his hands. “We’ll start now. Go drop off your bag, get your shorts and meet me back here in ten.” Allissa stepped towards the block which housed their adjacent rooms. “I’m not saving your arse every time there’s water involved.” Allissa walked away, a smile threatening to break across her face.

Leo cursed quietly and smiled too. He would be in the water within ten minutes — there was no point arguing with Allissa once she’d made her mind up.

Leo let himself into his room, dropped his bag and changed quickly.

Staying on in St Lucia was a good idea. They’d arrived ten days ago to gather information about a man who lived in a mansion on the island’s northern coast. The man’s wife had hired them after she’d become suspicious of the time he was spending on the island.

Leo and Allissa had watched the millionaire for a while, and noticed a glamourous woman visiting him every day. They reported this back to the wife, and she called the whole thing off. Perhaps she had enough information, or maybe she realised she didn’t want to know exactly what her husband was doing. Either way, Leo and Allissa had been paid handsomely to come to the island. Now they wanted to make the most of it. They’d found this resort with two available rooms and