The Sixth Man (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell 5)
Page 139
“But my partner—”
“No time. Move.”
They hustled him back into the park through another entrance.
A minute later he was pushed under a blanket on the floor of one of the horse carriages that was making a slow meander through the park. The two men disappeared and the driver, wearing a shabby, old-fashioned top hat and long black rain slicker, flicked his whip and the horse increased its pace.
When Sean started to pull the blanket down, the driver said, “Keep it on, mate. Not out of the woods yet.”
That was when Sean felt a body next to him. He gripped a leg and then a hand and then what felt like a breast.
“Wow, your timing really sucks.”
“Michelle?”
He maneuvered the blanket around until he could just make her out in the dark.
“What the hell happened back there?” he asked.
“Tight spot. Probably wasn’t going to make it, but turns out we had some reinforcements in Central Park too.”
“It’s Kelly Paul.”
“Figured, yeah.”
The horse clip-clopped through the park and back out onto the street.
“So much for a fast getaway,” said Michelle.
The driver heard this and said, “Sometimes slow is best. The other side just hightailed it after a decoy we sent out. You can come up for air now.”
They both slid up in the seat and pulled the blanket down at the same time.
The driver turned sideways and looked at them. “Cut it close.”
“Yes we did,” Sean agreed. “So you know Kelly Paul? How?”
“Not going there.”
“That’s a big favor you just did us.”
“You’re lucky she’s on your side.”
“What about the guys in the park? The shots?”
“Your friend here disabled three of them. Bones busted, all out cold. The shots you heard were the pistols of two others going off right when we hit them. Apparently they had orders to take your lady out. Their shots missed, obviously, though not by much. Our equipment didn’t. They’ll live. The scene will be cleansed. The police report will never be filed. Never happened. Officially.”
“Lot of weight behind them,” said Michelle.
“Obviously.” The man turned back around.
Sean said, “So Kelly had planned for this?”
“She plans for everything. She said you two were the tip of the spear. But a spear also has a handle.” He tipped his hat. “We’re the handle.”
“Thanks,” said Michelle. “We owe you.”
Over his shoulder the driver said, “You two ever took the full carriage ride?”