Remmy rose. The pistol swiveled in her direction. “Sit down!” said the man sharply.
King took a step forward but stopped when the pistol came in his direction once more. “Michelle,” said black hood, “take your gun out and put it on the table. Now! No heroics,” he added.
She did so, gripping it by the muzzle.
“You can’t kill us all, can you?” said King.
“I’m thinking about it, I really am,” shot back the man as he eyed Remmy.
“Well, then I guess it’s time to clear up your misperception,” said King calmly. “Remmy and Harry had nothing to do with Bobby’s death. It was a setup. A setup to bring you in.” He paused and added, “I found the bug.”
The gunman took a step back, his pistol dropped a notch. “What?”
“The conversation you heard between Michelle and me was staged. Okay!”
He snapped his fingers, and the room instantly filled with heavily armed police and FBI agents. They came out from behind the enormous room divider, the large cabinet in the corner and behind the thick drapes. With a dozen guns to his one, black hood backed up against the wall.
“Drop it,” said Todd Williams, his gun leveled right at the circle in crosshairs etched on the black hood.
Michelle had picked up her gun and was aiming at the exact same spot. Black hood seemed to be thinking of whether to go for it. His body seemed to tense.
“Drop it!” roared Williams, who obviously sensed what the man was doing.
“It would really be better if you did,” said King in a level voice. “At least that way you may be able to clear up a few remaining pieces. I think you owe us that.”
“Oh, you do, do you?” Despite the sarcasm, the man let the pistol fall to the floor. He was immediately tackled by the police and handcuffed.
“The house has been surrounded all day,” said King as they pulled the man back up. “We knew exactly where you were at all times. When I went over to admire that piece of furniture, I was actually given the signal you were in the house and I could start my little act.” He paused. “We had Harry and Remmy in safe places so you wouldn’t get a chance to jump the gun on us. We did it on our terms. It was actually refreshing.” King walked over to the prisoner. “Do you mind?” He glanced at the prisoner’s manacled hands. “Since you’re in no position to remove it yourself.”
“Doesn’t matter now, does it?”
King glanced over at Remmy. “I realize you already know from his voice, Remmy, but, Harry, you better hold her anyway.”
Harry placed a protective arm around Remmy’s shaking shoulders. She put a hand to her mouth, stifling back a sob.
King lifted off the hood. The man flinched slightly as the fabric slid across his strong features.
“It’s all over, Eddie,” proclaimed King.
Surrounded by armed men, manacled and caught in the act, Eddie Battle actually had the temerity to smile. “You really think so, Sean?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Hell, I’ll take that bet, old buddy.”
CHAPTER
87
“I STILL DON’T UNDERSTAND
how you figured it out, Sean,” said Williams.
The police chief, Sylvia and Chip Bailey were gathered at King and Maxwell’s office.
King bent a paper clip into a triangle before answering. “Seven hours,” he said. “Seven hours, that’s what got me thinking in Eddie’s direction.”
“You mentioned that before,” said Williams.