* * *

Tanner called Rennell on the way back to the safe house. “I need you to go to Walker’s ASAP. Don’t be seen. There’s a back fire escape you can take to the second floor. The room is Twelve-G.”

“I thought you were on your way there this morning.” He paused. “Did you kill him?”

“No, but there’s a cleanup to be done. He had visitors when we got there. Gangster affiliations. The Albanians. Walker is dead and the two men who did it are still there. One dead, the other tied up and gagged awaiting your services. Lara and I might have been seen so we need them all to be removed as discreetly as possible from the premises to another location. Preferably somewhere on the Strip so that you can use Walker as the victim he was and frame the other two goons so that the police or their bosses, the Albanians, will think they fouled up the job.”

“You have it all thought out,” Rennell said sarcastically. “Am I allowed to change it to suit myself?”

“By all means, use your ingenuity. Only a suggestion.” He asked quietly, “Do you need any help?”

“They’d only get in my way. You didn’t get to talk to Walker?”

“No, but I’ll make sure it won’t matter. I did find another piece of the puzzle that the Albanians stole from him.”

“Yes, you will, if you’re going to make me take on the Albanians.”

“As I said, use your ingenuity. If you need help, call me.”

“You’d really get in my way.” Rennell hung up.

“Will he be able to do that?” Lara asked.

“I wouldn’t have called him if he couldn’t. He’s totally experienced and he’s very innovative. Sandrino used to tell me stories about him.” He grimaced. “And I was involved in a few of them myself when I first came to live with Sandrino.” He glanced at her. “Don’t worry, neither the police nor the Albanians will be after us.”

“And what about Volkov?”

“Why should I promise you that? You’ve been telling me that I can’t keep you away from him.” He added grimly, “And you demonstrated it today, didn’t you?”

“Do you think he’s here in Vegas yet?”

“If he is, he hasn’t brought his entire crew or he wouldn’t have gone to the Albanians for outside help.” He paused. “But I think he’ll be here soon. So we’d better see what we can do to get ready for him. As soon as we get back to the safe house, we’d better start going over those scribbles Walker sent us and see if we can make anything of them.”

“I suppose I should have seen if there was anything else in his bedroom when I ran back that second time.”

“This last note I took from the Albanians was probably the only thing of any value. I can’t see Walker leaving anything valuable lying around when he had the entire casino area memorized. But I’ll call Rennell again and tell him to take a look when he’s there.” He looked at her. “I didn’t ask you why you went back.”