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“No, sir, but once he leaves it we’ll…wait, I think I’ve spotted him! Navy jacket. Looks like he could bench-press aVolkswagen?”
Remembering the punch he’d taken from a ham-sized fist, Ethan said, “Sounds about right.” He took the stairs to the main floor at a rapidpace.
“He’s speed-walking across the lobby, as we speak. Heading toward the west exit, which leads to SalemBoulevard.”
Shit. “Cameras on the outside of the building?” Ethan jumped down the remaining steps, the force of his landing singing up his spine. Yanking open the door, he burst into the lobby and ran toward the exit Phil hadmentioned.
“Yes, sir. Adjust that angle,” Phil muttered in an aside. “He’s heading north on the sidewalk adjacent to the hotel. Stepping into the street…might be hailing a cab, sir. There’s a line of them across thestreet.”
Dodging the clusters of people, Ethan ran for the doors and hit the street, looking for the man invain.
“He’s halfway down the block. Ducked down behind cab number three seventy-three as he’s getting in the backseat. I’m going to lose sight of him as soon as theymove.”
“You’ve done enough. Thanks.” The traffic had thinned a bit since Ethan had arrived at the hotel. He ran into the street, his action rewarded by a litany of horns. One vehicle braked to a violent stop inches from him. Banging a hand on its hood, he darted by, his focus trained on the cab holding the stranger as it pulled away from the curb. He had one last glimpse of his assailant as the man turned and shot his middle finger into the air before the taxi rounded thecorner.