Chapters (46)
- COVER PAGE
- PRAISE
- DEDICATION
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
- SNEAK PEEK: EXIT .45
Even if he had a bad side, the good side didn’t deserve what happened. She sat down again at the computer and Googled the number for Page Swanson. She used her cell phone to dial. The call went straight to voicemail. She waited for the beep and said, ‘This is Erin Jones. My father was murdered this morning. The last call made to his home was from your office.’ She paused, listening to the faint hiss of the line. She said, ‘I’m staying at the Beverly Hilton. I want to speak to Terry Page here, in person, at nine am tomorrow, or I’m going to make everything public.’
NINETEEN
NINETEEN
When Locke got back to his motel the sun had set and the sky was graded cleanly from light blue above the water to black above the mountains in the east. Not a cloud. He followed the headlights down the rows of vehicles and parked in his usual spot. He’d only just unlocked his room and stepped in when the phone in his pocket buzzed with another call. He stood there in the dark with his eyes closed for a moment, and then answered.
‘Yes?’
‘Mr Locke, it’s Kelsey here at reception. I’m sorry to disturb you—’
‘It’s no trouble.’ He felt for the wall switch and turned on the light.
‘Sure, well, I just wanted to let you know there was a gentleman here earlier looking for you and I called at the time but couldn’t get through, and then I saw your car go past a moment ago, but didn’t … anyway, I thought I’d try your cell.’
Locke said, ‘Who was the gentleman?’
‘Uh … shortish man, dark. He had gold teeth?’
He’d been doing this job twenty-nine years, but certain things could still give him a chill. Just reach through and get him where it felt visceral. He looked over his shoulder and leaned slightly to see into the bathroom, put a hand on his gun and stepped quietly to the threshold and toed back the door.
‘Mr Locke?’
‘Yes, I’m here. When was this?’
‘About a half-hour ago. He just … the gentleman called, and then came down in person. He waited here at the desk for a while, but I don’t know where he is now. I presume he left.’
‘Okay. Call me again if you see him. Don’t bother with the room phone, just use this number.’
‘Yes, of course.’
He ended the call and unlocked the sliding door and stepped out. Cold air and the smell of chlorine from the swimming pool. He scanned the upper-level balconies.
Nothing.
TV light flickering in different windows, soft behind drapes. He took another pace away from the door and looked up and checked the rooms above him. Now his phone was buzzing again. He answered.
‘Yes?’