Stone moved to the door. “As I’ll ever be.”
“Putting you on speaker.”
The sound quality of the call changed, and Stone heard Jack walk away from the phone.
Stone quietly opened his door a few inches and was just able to make out the side of Dominic Estrada standing in front of Jack’s suite.
He couldn’t see Kroger, however.
Over the earpiece, he heard Jack ask, “Who is it?”
“Hotel maintenance, Mr. Coulter,” Estrada said. “There’s a problem with the water in the room below yours, and we need to check that it’s not affecting your suite.”
“I haven’t noticed a problem.”
“I still need to check, sir. It should only take a moment.”
“Oh, very well.”
The latch on Jack’s door clicked.
The polite smile Dominic woreas the door started to swing open died at the sight of the pistol pointing at his chest.
“I didn’t realize you worked for the Conrad, Mr. Estrada,” Coulter said.
Dominic blinked, as shocked by the fact that Coulter knew who he was as by the gun in Coulter’s hand.
“Whatever it is you’re holding behind your back, I’d advise you to drop it on the floor,” Coulter said.
Manny swung out from the wall and pointed his gun at Coulter. “The only one dropping anything is you, buddy. Now!”
“Ah, Mr. Kroger,” Coulter said, his gun still aimed at Dominic. “I was wondering when you’d make an appearance.”
“I said drop it,” Manny demanded.
“Perhaps you should take a look down the hallway first.”
Manny’s brow furrowed. “Huh?”
Coulter nodded his head to the side, in the direction of the elevators.
While Manny repositioned himself so he could see both Coulter and the hallway, Dominic flicked a quick glance that way and muttered, “Shit.”
Standing outside the door of the next suite was the guy with whom Coulter had arrived at the Conrad. He was also holding a gun, pointed at them.
“Glad you understand your situation,” Coulter said. “Drop your guns. Both of you. No need for anyone to get—”
“Fuck that!” Manny said as he dove against the wall, out of Coulter’s sight, and sent a bullet flying down the hall toward Coulter’s friend.
Or rather it would have flown down the hall if Dominic hadn’t twisted in surprise at Manny’s sudden movement and caught the bullet with his chest.
Stone had barely registered Krogerpulling his trigger before Estrada fell to the floor in a heap, and the bullet that had punched through him zinged into the ceiling a few feet in front of Stone.
Kroger stared for a moment at his downed friend before his gaze whipped back to Stone and he took aim again.
Stone dove to the floor as Kroger’s gun cracked. He returned fire without aiming, pulling his trigger several times. Kroger staggered backward, then slumped against the wall and slid to the floor.
“I’m coming out,” Jack shouted. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t shoot me.”
