Page 48

As soon as Coulter and his friend left the bar, Manny started to get up but stopped when Dominic grabbed his arm.

“Wait,” Dominic said.

“For what?”

“Let’s give him enough time to reach his room first.”

“I just want to get this done.”

“And you think I don’t?”

Dominic held Manny’s gaze until Manny grunted and settled back onto his chair.

When a full five minutes had passed, Dominic put two twenties on the bar and stood.

“That should be long enough.”

They took the elevator to Coulter’s floor and exited to find the waiting area unoccupied.

“Masks,” Dominic whispered.

“Guns, too, yeah?”

Dominic nodded.

“But only for intimidation. We don’t want to shoot him. If he’s dead, we’ll never get the money.”

Unsure how things would unfold with Coulter, they’d purchased black N95 masks that covered their mouths and noses.

Thankfully, they’d brought their guns with them when they’d left the Weathersby.

When they reached Coulter’s suite, Dominic motioned for Manny to stand against the wall beside the door.

Once Manny was in position, Dominic whispered, “Ready?”

“Ready.”

Dominic moved his gun behind his back and rapped on the door.

Stone found one of the two carry-on suitcases he and Jack had brought with them in the entryway of the suite when he walked in.

The other had been delivered to Jack’s room.

He set the bag on the couch and opened it.

Inside was a zippered case containing a SIG Sauer P226 9mm pistol and a full magazine.

Stone removed the gun and slipped the magazine into place.

If all went as planned, he wouldn’t have to pull the trigger, which he much preferred.

A few minutes later, his phone vibrated with a call from Jack.

Stone put an air pod in his ear and accepted the call.

“Someone just knocked on my door,” Jack said.

“That was quick.”

“I think they may be impatient. Are you set?”

Stone moved to the door.

“As I’ll ever be.”

“Putting you on speaker.”

The sound quality of the call changed, and Stone heard Jack walk away from the phone.

Stone quietly opened his door a few inches and was just able to make out the side of Dominic Estrada standing in front of Jack’s suite.

He couldn’t see Kroger, however.

Over the earpiece, he heard Jack ask, “Who is it?”

“Hotel maintenance, Mr. Coulter,” Estrada said.

“There’s a problem with the water in the room below yours, and we need to check that it’s not affecting your suite.”

“I haven’t noticed a problem.”

“I still need to check, sir. It should only take a moment.”

“Oh, very well.”

The latch on Jack’s door clicked.

The polite smile Dominic wore as the door started to swing open died at the sight of the pistol pointing at his chest.

“I didn’t realize you worked for the Conrad, Mr. Estrada,” Coulter said.

Dominic blinked, as shocked by the fact that Coulter knew who he was as by the gun in Coulter’s hand.

“Whatever it is you’re holding behind your back, I’d advise you to drop it on the floor,” Coulter said.

Manny swung out from the wall and pointed his gun at Coulter.

“The only one dropping anything is you, buddy. Now!”

“Ah, Mr. Kroger,” Coulter said, his gun still aimed at Dominic.

“I was wondering when you’d make an appearance.”

“I said drop it,” Manny demanded.

“Perhaps you should take a look down the hallway first.”

Manny’s brow furrowed.

“Huh?”

Coulter nodded his head to the side, in the direction of the elevators.

While Manny repositioned himself so he could see both Coulter and the hallway, Dominic flicked a quick glance that way and muttered, “Shit.”

Standing outside the door of the next suite was the guy with whom Coulter had arrived at the Conrad.

He was also holding a gun, pointed at them.

“Glad you understand your situation,” Coulter said.

“Drop your guns. Both of you. No need for anyone to get—”

“Fuck that!” Manny said as he dove against the wall, out of Coulter’s sight, and sent a bullet flying down the hall toward Coulter’s friend.

Or rather it would have flown down the hall if Dominic hadn’t twisted in surprise at Manny’s sudden movement and caught the bullet with his chest.

Stone had barely registered Kroger pulling his trigger before Estrada fell to the floor in a heap, and the bullet that had punched through him zinged into the ceiling a few feet in front of Stone.

Kroger stared for a moment at his downed friend before his gaze whipped back to Stone and he took aim again.

Stone dove to the floor as Kroger’s gun cracked.

He returned fire without aiming, pulling his trigger several times.

Kroger staggered backward, then slumped against the wall and slid to the floor.

“I’m coming out,” Jack shouted.

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t shoot me.”

Jack peeked out, then stepped into the hall and walked quickly to Stone, who was still lying on the floor.

“Did you get hit? Are you hurt?”

“No to both,” Stone said.

“Let me help you up.”

He grabbed Stone by an arm and helped him back to his feet.

Together, they walked down to Estrada and Kroger.

There was no need to check either man’s pulse.

They were both dead.

“I thought you said you weren’t a good shot with a pistol,” Jack said.

“I’m not,” Stone said.

He was much better with a long gun.

“Besides, I wasn’t even aiming.”

“Well, you hit Kroger at least three times. Maybe you should try not aiming more.”

Four people rushed into the hallway down near the elevators, wearing identical suits.

“Hotel security!” one of them shouted.

“Stay where you are and put your hands in the air.”

Stone and Jack complied.

“Gun!” another of the men barked.

Jack’s hands were empty.

Stone’s, however, was still wrapped around his pistol.

“Put your weapon on the floor.”

Stone did as he was ordered, then stood again.

The security team cautiously approached them.

“Hands against the wall and spread your legs,” said the man who seemed to be in charge.

After Stone and Jack assumed the position, each was patted down.

“You can turn around now. Please stay against the wall and keep your hands where we can see them.”

“In case you were wondering, we’re guests here,” Jack said.

He nodded at Estrada and Kroger.

“They came to cause trouble.”

“The police can sort it out when they arrive.”

“Good,” Stone said.

“You‘ve already called them. You might want to tell them to inform Commissioner Bacchetti. He’ll want to know about this.”

The man in charge pulled a vibrating phone out of his pocket.

“Yes?” he answered.

He listened for a few seconds, then hung up and said to Stone, “You can tell them yourself. They’re on the way up.”