Burn Zone

35

ALEX DUARTE OPENED THE DOOR TO THE HOTEL ROOM A CRACK and tried to see inside. The bright sunlight made it difficult to see into the gloomy room. For a reason unknown to him, he slid his right hand to the butt of his pistol. He leaned into the door and opened it a little farther.

The room still remained too dark to see anything. He went ahead and pushed the door inward, feeling it catch slightly on something. For a moment, he thought he might be finding another dead body. That was starting to get old.

As the door opened all the way, with his hand still resting on the knob, he looked into the room and saw the white propane gas tank. Then he thought about the slight catch in the door and saw the loose curtain strings on the floor.

His mind just reacted and he pulled the door to him, hoping to contain the blast he knew would come.

He saw the flash in the crack of the door and heard the blast just as the door was about to close.

Orange flames peeked out all around the door, and the window next to him blew out.

At the same time, he felt the door fly loose from its hinges and lift horizontally off the ground, with him still holding on.

He flew across the breezeway and into the parking lot like he was riding a magic carpet instead of a propane gas-powered door.

He made no sound as the explosion filled his eyes and vision.

He caught a glimpse of Félix instinctively ducking as he passed by him on the floating door.

Pelly smiled when he saw the old lady give Duarte the key and then go back to minding her own business. He couldn't have planned it more precisely. It was almost like the ATF agent was following his script.

Then Pelly saw him hesitate at the door. He opened it a crack and paused. Had he detected the trap?

Pelly thought back over his actions and tried to see if he could determine what he might have done to give away his plan.

Then Duarte pushed the door open.

Pelly let out his breath, knowing the pins had just been pulled from the grenades, and when they detonated so would the propane. He involuntarily squinted his eyes.

Duarte jumped back outside, but it was too late. The flash of the explosion reached Pelly before the sound.

That was one less problem as far as Pelly was concerned. The ATF man wouldn't bother him or the colonel again.