Jack peeked out, then stepped into the hall and walked quickly to Stone, who was still lying on the floor.
“Did you get hit? Are you hurt?”
“No to both,” Stone said.
“Let me help you up.”
He grabbed Stone by an arm and helped him back to his feet. Together, they walked down to Estrada and Kroger. There was no need to check either man’s pulse. They were both dead.
“I thought you said you weren’t a good shot with a pistol,” Jack said.
“I’m not,” Stone said. He was much better with a long gun. “Besides, I wasn’t even aiming.”
“Well, you hit Kroger at least three times. Maybe you should try not aiming more.”
Four people rushed into the hallway down near the elevators, wearing identical suits.
“Hotel security!” one of them shouted. “Stay where you are and put your hands in the air.”
Stone and Jack complied.
“Gun!” another of the men barked.
Jack’s hands were empty. Stone’s, however, was still wrapped around his pistol.
“Put your weapon on the floor.”
Stone did as he was ordered, then stood again.
The security team cautiously approached them.
“Hands against the wall and spread your legs,” said the man who seemed to be in charge.
After Stone and Jack assumed the position, each was patted down.
“You can turn around now. Please stay against the wall and keep your hands where we can see them.”
“In case you were wondering, we’re guests here,” Jack said. He nodded at Estrada and Kroger. “They came to cause trouble.”
“The police can sort it out when they arrive.”
“Good,” Stone said. “You‘ve already called them. You might want to tell them to inform Commissioner Bacchetti. He’ll want to know about this.”
The man in charge pulled a vibrating phone out of his pocket.
“Yes?” he answered. He listened for a few seconds, then hung up and said to Stone, “You can tell them yourself. They’re on the way up.”
Chapter 49
Stone and Jack were sittingin Jack’s suite in the middle of being interrogated by a pair of detectives when Dino entered.
“I’m really finding it hard to believe you’ve never met them before,” Detective Hanson said. He was the younger of the two.
“I don’t know what else to tell you, Detective,” Stone said. “It’s the truth.”
“So you say. Let’s take it from the beginning again.”
“Let’s not,” Dino said.
