Part 41 (1/2)
”Did he just talk to me?” Jack reached for her gun again.
”Brett,” Dario said quickly. ”I'm talking to you, Brett.” The whole situation was so comical Chase had to do her best not to laugh. G.o.d, how she'd missed Jack. ”You'll be fine,” she told Heather.
”You want her to babysit me.”
”I want her to make sure you're safe.”
”Are you implying I might hurt her?” Dario asked, trying to sound offended.
”Never, being the sweet soul you are,” Jack replied. ”We're just worried she might slip and fall in the shower.”
”Why does she get to talk to me?” Dario asked no one in particular.
* 310 *
The elevator opened on the fourth floor and they got out. Chase handed Jack one of the key cards. ”The three of us need to talk before we quit for the night. Your room.”
”What do you want to do about the creep on wheels?”
”He's coming with. I'm not leaving him alone in case Rozsa decides to call.”
”This late?” Heather asked.
”Crime knows no time.” Jack glanced at Dario as she unlocked the room. ”Right, creep? And don't talk, it was rhetorical.” They all entered the s.p.a.cious room, which had a pair of double beds, a table and two chairs, and a balcony. Though it was clean and modern and had the usual amenities of any four-star hotel, the room lacked the opulence of Dario's suite in Beijing.
”Mediocrity is the elephant in this room,” Dario said, looking around.
”Do you need to use the bathroom?” Chase asked as the others dropped their bags.
”No, why?”
”Because I'm about to cuff you to the radiator.”
”That's absurd.”
”So is your occupation.”
”I'm a cripple, isn't that handicap enough?” Dario asked. ”Why do you have to detain me?”
”Your disability hasn't been an obstacle as far as causing trouble is concerned. You seem to manage just fine.” Chase secured one handcuff to Dario's left wrist, the other to the st.u.r.dy steel radiator.
”I'm going to step out on the balcony. I'll be able to see your every move.”
Dario tested the cuffs. ”I'm not exactly in any position to escape.”
”Where's your cell?”
”Why?” he asked.
”Where is it?”
”I'm not comfortable with any of this.”
”I'm not concerned with your comfort level,” Chase said. ”Just tell me where the d.a.m.n thing is.”
* 311 *
”Want me to frisk him?” Jack asked. ”I'm very thorough.” Dario pulled it out of his pocket with his free hand. ”Here.” He gave it to Chase. ”What if Rozsa calls?”
”I'll hand you the phone.”
Heather frowned. ”Are you going to leave me in here with him?””We'll be just outside,” Chase said.
”Call me if Hot Wheels bothers you.” Jack gave Dario a menacing look, which he pretended not to see, staring instead at the ceiling.
Heather flipped on the television as Chase and Jack stepped out onto the balcony.
”Do you want to tell me why you seem so upbeat or should we skip to business?” Chase asked. ”Although, I have to admit, your bright att.i.tude is a bit disconcerting.”
”You go first,” Jack said. ”I can't wait to hear why the peanut gallery is here.”
Chase caught her up on Dario finding the wire and how he had Heather arrested for cocaine possession, and the deal she made with Dario to get to Rozsa.
”Of course, just because he said he'd play nice doesn't mean he will,” Jack said when she'd finished. ”He could still have his goons go after Rozsa and throw our hides in for good measure. I doubt his sister wants any witnesses.”
”I told him to call his men in France off, and as far as I heard he did, but you know how it works.”
”Yup. Say one thing to your men and mean another.”
”And that's why Heather is here,” Chase said. ”I don't want her back in the States before this is resolved. I'm going to have Pierce get the feds to relocate her and her brother after we give them Rozsa.”
”h.e.l.l, if we deliver Rozsa, the feds will do our laundry and windows.”
”That's right.”
”I'm gonna guess Heather didn't take it too well.”
”Well...” Chase sighed.
* 312 *
”Yeah. I didn't think so.”
”The money drop-off is tomorrow. Rozsa hasn't called yet, but I'm sure he's not going to make it easy.”