Point Blank (Sisterhood Book 26) (14 page)

When the three vans stopped at the hotel, Avery gave the sign to Charles that nothing had changed. His operatives were still in place. The bad guys or the first string hadn’t moved.

The moment the group assembled in Myra and Annie’s suite, she called room service and ordered coffee, tea, Kentucky bourbon, Chinese beer, and soda pop.

Dennis worked his way over to where Jack and Harry were standing. “I thought the girls would be talking nonstop about all the shopping they did. Instead they’re . . . they’re working on a plan to take out those guys out there, the ones Mr. Snowden’s people are watching. What’s up with that? What if they get caught?”

“That’s a negative, Dennis,” Harry said quietly. “The women don’t know the meaning of that particular word. We need to leave here tomorrow morning, free and clear. That means no one can be tailing us. We want to hit Macau clean and move on from there. Are you having a problem with any of this, Dennis? By the way, what did you order back on Nathan Road?”

“No, I am not having a problem. I ordered two suits with the Armani label. Two sport jackets, two pairs of boots, and one pair of dress shoes. Why?”

“I was just making conversation, kid. You need to relax, have a beer or something. We’re all good here. Just look at Cooper. If things weren’t right, he’d let us know.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re right, Harry. I guess I feel like this because I don’t like China. I don’t care how cheap it is to get custom-made attire, and I don’t care about how ritzy this hotel is or how many royals have stayed here; give me a Holiday Inn or Best Western, and I’m a happy camper. I guess that I’m a poor excuse for a one-percenter, aren’t I? And the air here is so foul, we’ll probably all have emphysema by the time we get home to the good old USA.”

“Take a nap for God’s sakes, Dennis!” Espinosa snarled. Dennis blinked. Then he shrugged. Everyone was on edge. He could understand that easily enough.

Drinks in hand, Annie stood front and center. “I vote we pass on the high tea and avail ourselves of these wondrous drinks I just ordered from room service. Midnight works for me, people. Our trackers will be feeling the lack of activity. Twenty-four hours is a long time to spend in one spot with no action. The witching hour has always worked for us. I seriously doubt that that bunch of hoodlums, first-stringers or not, will think twice about a group of American women going for a stroll at midnight. We move in, take them out, Avery cleans up after us. Simple. Everyone on board?”

Every hand in the room shot upward, even Dennis’s, which he waved to make sure it was noticed. Cooper let loose with a happy bark.

Harry looked over at Yoko. “One more day closer to finding our daughter. One day closer. I’m going to kill someone, Yoko. I don’t want you to stop me either.”

Yoko smiled up at her husband. “I would never stop you. I will help you. No rules this time, my husband.” She shook her head. “No rules.”

 

T
he group managed to while away the hours till midnight by talking about their shopping expedition, having a room service buffet dinner, watching some local television that made no sense to any of them, then strategizing.

Kathryn held up her hand, and said, “I have an idea. I know it’s dark outside right now since it’s after ten o’clock, but this place is lit up like Yankee Stadium. I think Espinosa and Dennis should take a little night stroll and take some pictures. We know approximately where our stalkers are, from what Snowden told us, but that isn’t going to be good enough. We need to know precisely where each stalker is. This takedown has to be quick and dirty. Espinosa can take the pictures, upload them to us here in the room, and we make out where each of the little men are, hand out assignments, and we’re good to go. Unless any of you have a better idea?”

Espinosa was already sliding his arms into his Windbreaker. Dennis followed suit.

He felt brave enough to ask, “Who takes pictures at night? Won’t we stand out like sore thumbs? I mean, hey, I’m okay with it. I just don’t want to arouse suspicion.”

“Stupid Americans, that’s who. It’s brighter than daylight out there, in case you haven’t noticed,” Kathryn shot back.

And, as usual with one of Dennis’s questions, that was the end of that discussion.

Avery Snowden started pacing the elegant suite of rooms, muttering to himself until he finally exploded. “I can’t believe you people sent those two”—he was going to say “idiots” but changed his mind—“puppies out there to take pictures at midnight. What are you people thinking?” He zeroed in on Charles before he threw his hands high in the air, then started his frantic pacing again.

“I think, Avery, the ladies know what they’re doing. Young Dennis may still be wet behind the ears, but the boy has heart, and according to Harry and Jack, he can definitely hold his own. He’ll protect Espinosa if it comes to that. Let’s not worry about something that might never come to pass. Besides, Avery, your people are out there, so if things get out of hand, they can jump in. Ah, the first pictures are coming in.”

Fergus and Charles both raced to the desk, where, courtesy of the hotel, their laptops were set up. The others crowded around to view the pictures appearing at the speed of light.

“Lightweights,” Jack said. He hoped he was right even though he knew that he wasn’t.

“Deadly,” Harry said. He looked over at Jack, disgust written all over his features. He knew for certain that he was right.

The women cackled with glee.

Fergus looked at Charles, his eyes full of panic as Harry’s assessment of the men outside the hotel ricocheted inside his brain.

“Easy, Ferg, look at who we have. They were born to this. Isn’t it obvious?” Charles hissed. “There are eight of them if you count Maggie. There are only five men. And Snowden’s people can step in should it be necessary. Stop worrying.”

“Maybe you should take a look at Harry, Charles. Tell me that isn’t worry and possibly fear you see on his face.”

“Maybe you should look at Yoko and the rest of the ladies, then make up your mind, Ferg. Start with Annie. She’s so hyped up, nothing could stop her now. The same goes for my beloved.”

More pictures appeared. Comments flowed, feet shuffled. Everything came to a halt when Cooper stirred and made a production of untangling himself. Before he headed toward Harry, he tucked his one-eared half-tailed rabbit into the blanket he’d been sleeping on. Harry simply waited. They all watched, fascinated, as Cooper did his stretches, yawned, and stopped for a drink from a bowl of water near his gear before letting loose with three sharp yips and heading for the door.

Leash in hand, Jack waited. Cooper reached up, snatched the leash, walked it over to Myra, and held it out for her to take.

Jack let loose with a nasty sound deep in his throat. “That damn dog is reminding us that we are sitting this one out. You need to do something about him, Harry.”

“Me! You want me to do something! Like what? Like what, Jack?” Harry screeched, stopping everyone in their tracks.

“Well, for one thing, isn’t he being disloyal right now?”

“Shut up, Jack. I can’t deal with stupid right now,” Harry responded, his voice now sounding normal.

Because he didn’t know what else to do, Jack clamped his lips shut, his gaze never leaving Cooper, who glared right back at him.

“That’s the last picture,” Charles said, pointing to the final picture on the screen. “Young Dennis just sent a text saying they are on the way back in.” The printer, again, compliments of the hotel, whirred to life as picture after picture shot out. Fergus passed them around for everyone to see. Ted was already working on a handmade map of the driveway, the shrubbery, and the road that led to the hotel. The hidey-holes where the stalkers and Snowden’s men were located were secure with luscious, pruned shrubbery. Perfect for hiding even in the bright light.

Dishbang Deshi watched the proceedings with a jaundiced eye. Like this gaggle of women could really take out the group of thugs bent on killing him. It was obvious to him that Harry was living in a dream world these days. And his people, too, were living in that same dream world. He amplified his thinking to include the strange dog at their side. All these people had traveled halfway around the globe to rescue one little girl. And he knew in his heart, in his gut, in his mind, that if it were he in trouble, there would be no one to come to his aid. Never mind traveling halfway around the world. If nothing else, he had to respect the women’s dedication. The thought was so bitter, so repugnant, Dishbang Deshi gagged.

Dishbang Deshi continued to watch as the women stared at the rough map the pretend tour guide was showing them. He could hear soft murmurs but couldn’t make out what they were saying. What he did understand was how the room he was sitting in had suddenly become electrified. Any moment, he expected to see bolts of lightning ricochet across the room. When nothing like that happened, he realized he was actually disappointed.

Then they were at the door, Myra in the lead with the strange dog. This wasn’t right. It should be the men going through the door, the women staying behind because that was their place instead of the way it was. He risked a glance around the room. None of the men seemed to be having a problem with the women’s going out to slay the dragons who awaited. Obviously, this was the way they did things in America. The women were the dominant force. How in the world had it ever come to this? He shuddered when he thought of what he might find when he made it to Mud Flats, Mississippi, to see his wife and daughters. He wanted to say something, to make his feelings known that this wasn’t right, but he wisely held his tongue. He needed these people, especially Harry, to get him away safely to his family.

Dishbang Deshi leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes as the minutes ticked by. He’d give the women thirty minutes before they called on their male counterparts for help. Maybe sooner. He opened his eyes and looked around. The others were talking, their voices so low he couldn’t make out the words. The two older men seemed to be the only ones concerned with what was going on. How could that be, he wondered. He thought about his wife then, in Mud Flats. She would never, as in never, do what these women were planning on doing outside the hotel. She’d run the other way so fast, she’d leave burn marks on the road. Somewhere deep inside his body he rather thought that was not a good thing. What were those women doing right now? Were they being hurled to the ground and stomped on? Were their necks being snapped like twigs? Were they being bound and gagged and transported to some junk, where they would be sold off to some white slave ring? Was the dog still alive? What would the occupants of this room, especially Harry, do when the hotel staff came knocking on the door with the bad news, followed by the police? More to the point, what would he himself do?

As Dishbang Deshi was thinking of all the disasters taking place outside the hotel, down below, the women strolled along the driveway, chattering like magpies about their shopping experience. They laughed, joked, poked at each other, and stopped to light cigarettes they didn’t want because none of them had the filthy habit. It had been Ted’s idea to bring the cigarettes to create a diversion so as to get a read on the shrubbery and their surroundings. As he said, almost all Chinese appeared to be smokers, so they would blend right in.

“I’m thinking this is pretty close to a warm-cookie moment,” Isabelle said.

“How about a Jimmy Choo half-price sale on the shoes you’ve lusted after for months?” Nikki giggled.

“Oh no! This is like holding a new, sweet-smelling puppy that will love you forever for taking care of him,” Kathryn said.

The others agreed with the three moments of bliss. Cooper let out a series of sharp yips at the mention of the newborn-puppy moment.

The women continued their leisurely stroll, chatting about everything and nothing, their eyes alert, their senses tuned to even the minuscule rustling of the leaves.

It was a cool evening, with a bit of a gentle breeze that was not strong enough to ruffle the plants or the branches on the trees. The evil-smelling smog was almost gone, the air a bit more clear, especially under the bright lights that seemed to be everywhere.

Kathryn giggled. “My four o’clock is good for you, Izzy. Nikki, I’ll take your seven o’clock. Alexis, update please.”

“I’m coming up to my two o’clock and can simply step to the side and take him down.”

“Annie? Myra?”

“I can see the whites of our guy’s eyes from where I am at the moment. I’m going to bend down to check Cooper’s leash, and Myra will strike the first blow. On the count of three we move, not one second before. Maggie, keep your eyes peeled for trouble.”

“One!”

“Two!”

“Three!”

The air moved as the women went into action.

Barely breaking a sweat, Myra had her quarry’s head between her two hands. She gave it one good bounce to the ground before Annie’s foot clamped down on the man’s throat. “Sneak attack! I like that! What do you think, Myra, should I crush his Adam’s apple or stomp on his privates?”

“Wuss! Why are you being so shy, Annie? Go for both,” Myra shot back, pleased with Annie’s praise.

“Well, okay then, here we go! You rock, old girl!” Annie crunched down with one foot while the other traveled farther south. Myra, in the nick of time, dropped to the ground and clamped both her hands over the stalker’s mouth so he couldn’t give an alert.

“Done! And really done!” Annie grinned. “Let’s see if the others are in need of our help. This piece of human garbage is not going anywhere, and Cooper can stand guard.”

Annie and Myra did their best to stay in the shadows as they made their way back the way they had come. There was no noise, nothing out of the ordinary, only the sigh of the light wind.

“Silence can be deadly sometimes,” Myra whispered.

“Tell me about it.” Annie stopped to step into the lush shrubbery where Nikki was using her shoelaces from her sneakers to tie her quarry’s hands behind his back. He looked bruised and battered, and a slow stream of blood oozed down his chin. One leg stuck out at an awkward angle. “Looks like you snapped his kneecap, dear!”

“I was going for the other one when he gave up,” Nikki said, straightening up. She blew a wisp of blond hair out of her eyes. “Is this two down?”

“It is, darling girl. Oh, dear, in all the excitement I forgot to get the man’s cell phone. I’ll be right back.” Myra was off like the wind. She looked down at the man Annie had rendered harmless. She bent over to search the man’s pockets. There was nothing else to be found. She slipped what she knew was a burner phone into her own pocket. “You really are a low-life bottom-feeding bag of scum for trying to harm a precious little girl.” To show she meant business, she gave the man a vicious kick to the ribs. She was delighted to hear the sound of his ribs snapping and to see his eyes roll back in his head. “Like Annie says, done and done.” She scampered off, her heart lighter, truly believing they were getting closer and closer to rescuing little Lily.

Nikki burst out into a soft giggle when she saw Yoko sitting on her assignment’s chest. She was yanking at his ears, demanding he speak English. “Give it up, Yoko. He has no clue. Knock him out. Cold. Take his phone.” She whistled softly, the sound that of one of the night birds nestled in the trees. Alexis and Isabelle stepped onto the driveway. “Status report?” she continued to giggle.

“One crushed windpipe, three broken legs, one broken shoulder, two smashed noses. One lost significant hair. We’re good here. No English,” Alexis said cheerfully.

“We have their phones. Nothing else in their pockets,” Isabelle said.

Kathryn appeared out of the darkness. “My little pissant understands English. How much, I don’t know. When I told him I was going to pull his tongue out through his nose, he begged me to stop. In English. Of course I didn’t. I broke all his toes and all his fingers. He put up a hell of a fight, I have to give him that. Oh, yeah, one of his ears is . . . you know . . . kind of . . . sort of . . . just hanging there.”

“Well then, I think our work here is done. Avery’s people can take over. If those lowlifes know anything of value, he’ll pass it on to us.” Annie whistled softly. Cooper appeared as if by magic.

“The café in the hotel is still open. Let’s all get a double-decker chocolate ice-cream cone, my treat,” Myra said. “I think we deserve a reward for a good night’s work.”

“Smashing idea, old girl! Someone should alert Mr. Snowden and the others that our job is done, and we’ll be joining them momentarily,” Annie said.

“I just did,” Nikki said, laughing.

“Did we do good or what?” Kathryn queried.

“Damn straight we did good,” Yoko trilled as she bounced along, one knee sock at her ankle, the other one at midcalf. Somewhere along the way, she’d lost her broken glasses.