James Patterson - The Quickie

He'd told me to look him up, and that's what I did. It wasn't like I had anywhere else to go. Besides, Mike was just about the only honest man I knew. And actually kind of cute, I was starting to notice.

"I saw your new shingle upstairs," Mike said. "Real nice. Except you do know this is a Spanish-speaking country, don't you? How much business do you think you're going to get with a sign in English?"

"As little as possible, dummy," I said, stealing the Style section. "What does a girl have to do to get a cup of joe around here?"

"Let me think about it," Mike said, "while I get you that coffee."

Then Mike added, apropos of nothing really, "You're doing real good, Lauren. You and Thomas."

I blushed down to my toes. I guess I'm just not used to compliments yet.

JAMES PATTERSONis one of the best-known and best-selling writers of all time. He is the author of the two top-selling new detective series of the past decade: the Alex Cross novels, including Cross, Mary, Mary, London Bridges, Kiss the Girls, and Along Came a Spider; and the Women's Murder Club series, including 1st to Die, 2nd Chance, 3rd Degree, 4th of July, The 5th Horseman, and The 6th Target. He has written many other #1 bestsellers, including Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas, Lifeguard, Honeymoon, Beach Road, and Judge amp; Jury. He lives in Florida.

MICHAEL LEDWIDGEis the author of The Narrowback, Bad Connection, and Before the Devil Knows You're Dead.