Part 35 (2/2)

Dario shook his head, disgust on his face. ”Take that junk away.

I can't bear to look at her.”

”He's lying,” she yelled as the cops dragged her out the door.

They pulled her through the lobby as everyone stared. Once outside, she spotted Landis standing a few feet from the entrance, and the image gave her hope she might still get out of this. But though Landis looked straight at her, she made no effort to intercede.

She just turned and walked away.

* 272 *

ChaPter twenty-nine.

Beijing, China Chase walked slowly away, seemingly disinterested in what had just happened. Dario's man had been watching as Heather was forced into the police car. If Chase had reacted, they would have thrown her in beside her, and getting justice in China was impossible. The judicial system here had a throw-in-jail-and-never-ask-questions policy. Heather was in a lot of trouble.

Chase negotiated her next move as she walked around the block.The crooked Supreme Court justice-Zhang-could get Heather out in a heartbeat. Chase had enough on him to blackmail him, but she'd have to get him alone, which was problematic. If she confronted him at work, he'd have her arrested or shot on sight, and if she waited until tonight to ambush him, she'd lose precious time. Besides, even if she did scare him enough to release Heather, he could have border control all over them. He wouldn't let either of them get away, knowing what they did about his connection to the organ trade.

That left her only one option.

She returned to the hotel and snuck past reception between tourists. They'd already seen her check out and she wanted it to stay that way.

Feeling for her gun the moment the elevator door shut, she looked around, and when she didn't spot any cameras, she removed * 273 *

the silencer from her jacket pocket and screwed it on to the Glock, then secured the weapon back in its holster. She knocked on Dario's door and his bodyguard answered.

”Hi. Remember me from yesterday?” She wanted to shoot him right there, but two other guests farther down the hallway were exiting their rooms.

The goon nodded.

”I can't find my wallet, and I was wondering if I could look to see if it fell from my jacket.” The big man nodded again and was about to shut the door when Chase stopped him. ”I want to take a look for myself. Maybe say hi to Heather and Dario.”

”Heather isn't here.”

”Then Dario.” She smiled. ”I won't be long.”

”Let me ask if he desires visitors,” the bodyguard said, and she let him shut the door. He came back a minute later. ”Your wallet isn't here and Dario's busy. Maybe another time.” She looked down the hallway and, seeing it was empty, pulled her gun and pointed it at his crotch. ”There's no time like the present, if you ask me. Oh, if you had any intention of reaching for your gun, I suggest you abort the idea. Unless of course you want to spend the remains of your existence p.i.s.sing through a tube.” The man slowly took a step back into the suite and she followed, never taking the gun from his junk. She shut the door behind her and reached in his jacket to remove his firearm, then led him at gunpoint into the main living area and motioned toward an armchair. ”Take a seat. Where is he?”

When the man looked toward Dario's bedroom, she slammed the b.u.t.t of her gun against the back of his head and he fell limp.

Then she went to Dario's room and opened the door. He was alone, looking out the window. His other goons must have still been in their own suites or off conducting some business for him.

”Jules, since when do you enter-” He turned and spotted her.

”Jules is in the other room.” She walked over to Dario. ”Why don't we join him?” She wheeled him into the living room and * 274 *

positioned him where she could keep an eye on the goon. Dario didn't appear afraid or even moved.

”How can I help you?” he asked in a bored tone.

”You can start by telling me what happened to Heather.”

”Ah, yes. Beautiful Heather. What a waste, don't you think?”

”A waste?”

”The poor girl has so many afflictions,” he replied. ”Prost.i.tution, drugs, bad company.”

”Which of the three did you use to get her arrested?”

”I have no tolerance for junkies.”

”I see. So, what prompted you to plant drugs on her?”

”I don't know what you're talking about. I was shocked to find out about her abuse.”

She took a seat on the couch across from him. ”You don't mind, do you?”

”Please, where are my manners? Make yourself comfortable.”

”Now, this bad company you mentioned...I'm guessing you weren't referring to yourself.”

”I have been nothing but a gentleman to Heather.” He straightened his tie. ”I was referring to you. For whatever reason I can't fathom, she decided to work for you.”

”How have you concluded this?”

Dario wheeled himself to the table and brought back a small plastic bag, which he placed on the coffee table. She picked it up and saw Heather's wire and the bugs she'd planted in the suite the night before.

”Jules found the wire in her bag last night, and after she was arrested, he scanned all the rooms for more devices. You imagine my lack of surprise when he found more. Heather's background is hardly one to make me suspect she did this alone or of her own initiative. But you...” He looked at her with narrowed eyes. ”I am certain you hired or blackmailed the poor girl to do your dirty work. But why? I don't see how I can be of any interest to you. Let me take a moment here to congratulate you on last night's stellar performance. I don't think I have ever seen Heather that...excited. You were both a pleasure to watch. Too bad you had to leave before the grand finale.”

* 275 *

When she smiled, Dario frowned. If he thought he was the only one who could play it calm and indifferent he was wrong, because he was facing the master of aloofness. ”I'm flattered. Although credit must be given where it's due, and the show was all Heather. It's not difficult to perform with such an amazing woman.” The goon groaned and started to move, so she got up. ”But that's beside the point,” she said as she hit him again on the back of the head.

Dario cringed. ”What is the point?”

She sat. ”I know your furniture business is a cover for buying and selling organs. I know you use Chinese prisoners and have an agreement with Zhang to sign and expedite orders. And I also know you-or should I say your people-are not above killing innocent people to get organs. Like, for example, prost.i.tutes back home.” Dario's eyes widened. ”Who are you?” he said loudly, visibly reacting for the first time.

”If I were interested in your disgusting trade, I could have had you arrested weeks ago, but I'm not.”

”I save lives. That's hardly disgusting. Lives that matter.”

”Those who can afford you, you mean.”

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