Takedown

CHAPTER 40

Warlock was waiting for them at the rendezvous point, a small secluded cove about a mile off the highway.

The floatplane sat on the glassy, moonlit surface of the water, its pilot standing on the dock, smoking a cigarette. He wasn’t a Stonewell employee, but a freelancer who was paid enough to know when to shut up and do his job.

Warlock emerged from the Buick as Cooper brought the limo to a stop. Cooper popped the trunk, and Deuce and Alex climbed out, and immediately went to check on Valac.

As they had expected, he was still out cold, and fortunately — or perhaps unfortunately — the only sign of physical damage was the bloody nose Alex had given him, which had started to crust up around his nostrils. He’d have trouble breathing through it for a while.

Deuce reached in and groaned as he lifted Valac by the shoulders.

“You wanna give me a hand?” he said to Warlock. “My back feels like somebody stuck a screwdriver in it.”

“Anything to hurry it up. Our pilot’s getting a bit antsy.”

Together, they pulled Valac the rest of the way out and dropped him to the ground. The asshole’s head cracked against it pretty hard, but none of them could muster up much sympathy.

Especially Alex.

After they dragged Valac onto the floatplane, she turned to Warlock and said, “Give me the keys to the Buick.”

“What?”

“The keys,” she said. “I need the keys.”

“Why?” Cooper asked.

She hesitated a moment. “I’m going back to the hotel.”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“What the hell for?” Deuce said. “We can’t be waiting around while you take a joyride.”

“Deuce is right,” Cooper told her.

“Then go back to Key West without me. It’s only a short flight, so give the pilot a few extra bucks after you’ve landed and send him back for me. I should be done by then.”

“Done doing what?”

“Going to the hotel.”

Cooper sighed. “Alex, will you quit being so damn cryptic and tell us what you’re up to?”

“I’ll explain later.”

“Why do I doubt that?”

“Why does it matter?” she said. “There’s something I need to do. You remember when you told me you’re here whenever I need you?”

“Yes.”

“Well, right now, I need the keys to the car you rented.”

They all stared at her for a long moment, then Cooper said, “Warlock, give her what she wants.”

Warlock pulled out the keys and handed them to her, having sense enough not to make any cracks.

She turned to Deuce. “I’ll need a room key, too.”

He frowned. “I don’t know what you’re up to, but if you’re going back to that hotel right after we almost got our asses shot off, you’re gonna need company. I’m going with you.”

“No,” she told him. “I have to do this alone.”

“Alex…”

“I mean it, Deuce. I know you’re only trying to protect me, and God knows you had my back tonight, but if you try to tag along, I’ll have to hurt you.”

Deuce blew out a breath. “You’ve gotta be the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met.” He dug in his pocket and handed her his room card. “If you somehow manage to get yourself killed, I’m gonna have to track down your ghost and kill you all over again.”

“And I’ll help him,” Cooper said.

“Don’t worry. That won’t be necessary. This won’t take long.”

She started for the Buick, but Deuce stopped her. “Wait.”

She turned.

“You emptied that pop gun you’re carrying, right?”

She nodded.

He brought out his SIG, ejected the magazine, and replaced it with a fresh one. “Take this with you, just in case, and don’t tell me no.”

She took it from him without protest, crossed to the Buick, and got behind the wheel.

A few seconds later, she was on the road and gone.