Chase stepped aside, and Ragsdale couldn’t get out of the basement fast enough. The other gamblers scurried after Ragsdale. Blade jerked his thumb at the owner, and he scrambled over the fallen door and up the steps. When Lester was stupid enough to try and follow him, Chase blocked his exit. Lester backpedaled until the wall stopped him.
“Where does Franco Spatafore have Jade Taylor?” Chase asked.
“I didn’t know he had her,” Lester said.
“You’re slick,” Richard complimented Chase as Lester hadn’t blinked at the name of Franco Spatafore or the fact he could have Jade.
Lester swallowed hard. “So…so I can’t help you.”
“Where does Franco Spatafore live?” Chase asked.
“I—I don’t know,” Lester sputtered.
“You’re lying,” Chase said.
Wolf snarled through his silver teeth, “I don’t like liars.”
“Me neither,” Chase said. “One more time, Lester, where does Franco live?”
“If I tell you, he’ll double the amount of money I already owe him.” Lester wiped at sweat running from his bald head down his round face and said, “If he lets me live.”
“I’m gonna cut him, boss,” Blade said.
Tommy-Gun said, “And then I’ll shoot him.”
“Please, please, don’t hurt me,” Lester begged. To Chase, he added, “Can you make a bargain with me not to tell them where you got the information?”
“I don’t bargain,” Chase snarled.
Flinching, Lester sniveled, “Am I gonna die?”
“Better you than Jade.” Chase pulled the Blackhawk out of the back of his belt and pressed the barrel between Lester’s eyes. He cocked the .357 Magnum and realized Lester was losing control of his bladder. He didn’t point it out but stepped back. “The address. Now.”
“Lusso Lane. The Spatafores own a six-acre compound up Cheyenne Mountain in an unfinished development beyond The Broadmoor,” Lester spewed the information as quickly as possible. “But their house is a fortress. You’ll never get past the wrought iron gate.”
Keeping his gun against Lester’s skull, Chase said, “If you don’t want to see me again, don’t warn ‘em I’m coming. You got that, Lester?”
“Yes!” Lester nodded like a bobblehead toy. “Yes, sir!”
“If you do warn ‘em, youwilldie, and it’ll be bloody,” Richard said bluntly. With a grimace of disgust at the surroundings, he added, “We’re done here.” Blade, with a wave of his knife at Lester, preceded Richard up the stairs. “Chase,” Richard called over his shoulder.
Chase instinctively knew he was supposed to let Tommy-Gun and Wolf cover his exit. So, with a last glare at a cringing, wet Lester, he pulled his gun from between the man’s eyes and followed Richard up the stairs. Once they were all back in the cool night air, they paused near their bikes. Chase noticed the junkyard owner watching them through his office window. He’d been smart enough not to call the police. Lifting his hand in a wave, he smiled and was ignored by all.
“Thank you,” Chase said to Richard and his men. “I never would have found Lester without you.”
“Welcome. What’s your next move?” Richard asked.
“Getting through that gate on Lusso Lane.”
“We’ll go with you.”
“I wouldn’t put you at risk like that. Franco might call the cops.”
Richard shrugged. “Let him.”
Chase said, “I’ve got some cowboys who can go with me, if I need backup.”
“I know you do,” Richard said. “All right then. Keep me posted.”
