Page 42 of Killer Confections

“What’s the plan?” My friend asks.

“Hide and seek,” I smile, my adrenaline thrumming.

He nods before standing and stashing his gun against his hip. “Can you dig into the hotel’s system and find what room Jane is staying in?”

“One second,” the tech says before a smaller window opens on the laptop. We watch as she hacks into the hotel’s guest list, rooting through the names and running a code that deciphers false identities. The system stops on a guest by the name of Joyce Beckett, signaling that the contact information and credit card used don’t match anyone in legal records.

“She’s staying in 203,” Alana confirms.

I hold my fist up to Dom. “On three.” He holds his up and I count. I keep my fist, showing a rock as he scissors his fingers.

“Fuck you,” he mutters.

“I’ll let you watch me kill her,” I wink.

“Did you guys really just play rock-paper-scissors to determine who kills Jane?” Alana’s amusement radiates through the phone.

“It’s effective,” I shrug. “Dom’s going to watch her from the parking garage and I’ll hide out in her room. We’re putting in our wires so you can communicate with us if there’s an unexpected variable.”

“Got it,” the tech chirps. “Good luck, guys.”

We all sign off before I shove the wire in my ear and we leave the room.

***

Sitting in the dark of a room that smells overly floral is disgusting. Whatever fucking perfume Jane uses has singed my nose hairs, and I don’t think I’ll ever get the smell off of me.

“Leaving the garage,” Dom calls over the wire. “Thalia is ahead of Jane, but I think she knows she’s being followed. She dropped gum on the floor.”

We all have our own telltale signs for each other—a way to alert others we’re being followed. Thalia’s has always been gum. She knows we’re lurking around, hiding in wait.

“Still nothing unexpected,” Alana calls in, sounding bored.

I press on the wire, “Tell Thalia the game is hide and seek and to lose Jane.”

“On it,” the tech clicks a few buttons. “She’s rerouted to the bar. She just walked up to a man and hugged him like she’s known him all her life. Poor guy looks so lost, but Jane is redirected to her room.”

“Perfect,” I smile.

It takes only two minutes before the lock of the room whirs, and the door is pushed open. The light from the hallway illuminates me and Jane stops in the doorway.

Her yellow dress hits mid-calf, giving her a soft, vulnerable look, but I know that’s so far from the truth it’s laughable.

Green eyes narrow on me as her hand falls to her side.

“Going for the Southern Belle trapped in the big city?” I ask. “Seems like a cliche.”

She takes in her smashed equipment and broken computer. I may have done a little redecorating while I waited.

“The Calaway hit is mine,” her thick southern drawl nearly makes me gag. “Either tell Thalia to back off or I’ll godownstairs and end this right now.”

I laugh, rolling my shoulders. “It’s funny you even think you’re gonna make it to the elevators.”

She bolts, heels clicking down the carpeted corridor as I get that tingling rush. The chase has begun and there’s three starved animals in this building, dying for a chance to maim.

I follow her, watching as she barrels through the fire exit doors and disappears down the stairs.

“She’s in the fire exit,” I call.