“They’ll try and kill you and take the jewels, is what they’ll do. Then they’ll kill Landman and the women so there are no witnesses.”
“That’s how I’ve got it figured, too.”
“I’ll just get my clothes,” Hondo said and got out of bed. He might have wobbled a little, but it could have been my imagination.
“You can’t go. You’re weak as a kitten.”
He put on his jeans and shirt, then his socks and shoes. “You don’t have anybody else,” he said. Hondo stood and leaned against the doorjamb. I think it was for support. He said, “Come on, it’ll be legendary, like Wyatt and Doc, Butch and Sundance.”
“Abbot and Costello,” I said. Hondo grinned and started out the door. I followed him to our office, waiting for him as he caught his breath after every dozen steps.
We went inside and Hondo sat at his desk. “My legs are wobbly,” he said.
I said, “What a pair, The Tumescent Detective and Noodle Man.”
“Yeah, Bad Guys beware.” Hondo looked around and said, “I wish Hunter was here.”
“Me too, she can shoot.”
“Shoot the ears off a flying gnat at a hundred yards.”
“At night.”
“Blindfolded.”
I pulled the phone to me and said, “Might as well find them so we can start the ball.”
Hondo leaned back in his chair, “We might as well,” he said and closed his eyes.
I called the Caspian Diamond and they told me Mr. Rakes was not in and hadn’t been all day. I tried Siberia next and got no answer. I said, “You think I’m getting the run-around?”
“Uh-huh. They don’t want to be disturbed. Sure be easy just to tell the help to lie.”
“At least it’s not because of my personality.”
“Don’t bet on it,” Hondo said.
I stood up, “I guess you’re up for a drive, huh?”
Hondo got to his feet, went into the storage room and came out with a twelve gauge Remington pump. He racked a round into the chamber and fed another fat shell of buckshot into the magazine, “I am now,” he said.
Hondo almost balked at going in the Yugo, but we finally got underway. I stopped at a convenience store and bought two quarts of Gatorade, some peanut M&Ms, and a pack of Tic-Tacs for good luck. We were ready for surveillance now.
We watched the Caspian Diamond for three hours and never saw a familiar face. I finally couldn’t stand it anymore and told Hondo I was going inside. He patted the shotgun and said, “We’ll be ready.”
I opened the door and stepped into darkness and Lenny Kravitz singing American Woman. I let my eyes adjust before easing into the main room. A blond woman worked the pole in time to Lenny, moving her body in smooth undulations that made her seem boneless. I controlled my lecherous thoughts and walked to the bar. There was a different bartender, and none of the Russian thugs were in the audience or sitting on barstools. I ordered a beer, and over the next two songs maneuvered my way to the office door. It was closed with no light showing underneath. I leaned my back against it and turned so one ear was against the door.
I didn’t know if that really worked, but it seemed like the thing to do. There was only silence. I hitched at my pants, turned to face the door, opened it and stepped in. I heard the bartender shout at me over the music as I closed the door behind me.
At the far end of the hallway was a door with EXIT stenciled across it in big red letters. Halfway down the hall on the right was another door. I opened it. This was an office, but no one was there. A notepad was on the center of the desk, and on an impulse, I pu
t it inside my shirt.
I heard footsteps coming down the hall and I stepped out to meet them. “Where the heck’s the bathroom?” I said.
**
Five minutes later, drained and refreshed, I left the club and drove away. Hondo complained about needing to pee and I told him to be a man and hold it.