Part 27 (2/2)

'They have to catch us before they can kill us,' Diane said.

'How could they have found us this time? We got rid of Kingsley's business cards, and we have nothing else that they-'

They looked at each other, then looked at their cell phones.

Kelly said wonderingly, 'But how could they have found out our phone numbers?'

'Don't ask. Anyway, this is probably the safest place in New York. We can stay on the subway until-' Diane glanced across the aisle and her face paled. 'We're getting out of here,' she said urgently. 'Next stop.'

'What? You just said-?'

Kelly followed Diane's eyes. On the advertising strip that ran above the windows was a photograph of a smiling Kelly, holding up a beautiful ladies' watch.

'Oh, my G.o.d!'

They rose and hurried to the door, waiting for the next stop. Two uniformed marines, seated nearby, were ogling them.

Kelly smiled at the men as she took Diane's cell phone and her own and handed one to each marine. 'We'll call you.'

And the women were gone.

In penthouse A, the telephone rang. Flint s.n.a.t.c.hed it up.

Tanner said, 'It's been over an hour. What's going on, Mr. Flint?'

'They never showed up.'

'What?'

'I've been here all the time, waiting.'

'Get back to the office.' Tanner slammed the receiver down.

In the beginning, this had been a routine bit of business that Tanner had to dispose of. Now it had become personal. Tanner picked up his cell phone and dialled Diane's cell number.

One of the marines to whom Kelly had given their cell phones answered. 'There you are, baby. How would you two like to have a big treat tonight?'

The b.i.t.c.hes have gotten rid of their phones. Tanner fumed.

It was a cheap-looking boarding house on a small street on the West Side. When the taxi started to pa.s.s it and Diane and Kelly saw the sign vacancy, Diane said, 'You can stop here, driver.'

The women got out and walked up to the front door of the house.

The landlady, who opened the door, was a pleasant, middle-aged woman named Alexandra Upshaw. 'I can give you a very nice room for forty dollars a night, with breakfast.'

Diane said, 'That will be fine.' She looked at Kelly's expression. 'What's the matter?'

'Nothing.' Kelly closed her eyes for an instant. This boarding-house had nothing to do with the boarding house she had been brought up in, cleaning toilets and cooking for strangers and listening to the sounds of her drunken stepfather beating her mother. She managed a smile. 'It's okay.'

The next morning, Tanner was in a meeting with Flint and Carballo. 'They've disposed of my business cards,' Tanner said, 'and they've gotten rid of their phones.'

Flint said, 'So, we've lost them.'

Tanner said, 'No, Mr. Flint, not while I'm alive. We're not going after them. They're coming to us.'

The two men looked at each other, then back at Tanner.

'What?'

'Diane Stevens and Kelly Harris will be here at KIG Monday morning at eleven-fifteen.'

CHAPTER 31.Kelly and Diane awakened at the same time. Kelly sat up in bed and looked over at Diane. 'Good morning. How did you sleep?'

'I had some crazy dreams.'

'So did I.' Diane hesitated. 'Kelly-when you got off the elevator at the hotel, just as I started to knock at the door of the penthouse-do you think that was a coincidence?'

'Of course. And lucky for both of us that-' Kelly looked at Diane's face. 'What do you mean?'

Diane said carefully, 'We've been very lucky so far. I mean, very lucky. It's as though-as though someone, or something, is helping us, guiding us.'

Kelly's eyes were fastened on her. 'You mean-like a guardian angel?'

'Yes.'

Kelly said patiently, 'Diane, I know that you believe in those things, but I don't. I know I don't have an angel on my shoulder.'

Diane said, 'You just don't see it yet.'

Kelly rolled her eyes. 'Right.'

'Let's get some breakfast,' Diane suggested. 'It's safe here. I think we're out of danger.'

Kelly grunted. 'If you think we're out of danger, you don't know anything about boarding house breakfasts. Let's get dressed and eat out. I think I saw a diner at the corner.'

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