From Manhattan with Revenge (The Fourth Book in the Fifth Avenue Series) Read Free Page B

This stinks of something recent. Have you
looked into Alex’s life? Did he slip up and talk to someone? If he did, who did
he talk to? And who did that person talk to?”
    She felt a chill and looked down the long
corridor that led to the bar, where Jake was waiting for her. He mentioned that
he spoke to Alex before they left for the island. Who did he speak to after
that?
    “I have to go,” she said. “I’ll take
everything into consideration. You’ll make the calls?”
    “I said I would.”
    “I appreciate it.”
    “Watch your back, Carmen. Keep an open
mind. And stay in touch. I’ll do what I can from afar.”

 
 
 
 
    CHAPTER FOUR

 
    She hurried down the corridor, hoping she
was wrong but knowing in her gut that she was right. She rounded the corner and
looked for him at the bar. He was gone. So were their drinks. The bartender
caught her eye and held up a piece of paper for her.
    She had no time for this. She had to get
out of here now, while she still had a chance, but she needed to know what he
wrote to her since it might inform what she did next. She walked over to the
bartender, a stocky man somewhere in this thirties whose dark hair was slicked
back in such a way that it revealed a handsome face.
    “My husband,” she said. “How long ago did
he leave?”
    “Ten minutes? He wanted me to give you
this.”
    She took the note and opened it. Five
words inside: “Sorry. I had no choice.”
    She looked behind her, saw nothing out of
the ordinary then turned back to the bartender. “Did you happen to see him use
his phone?”
    “I did.”
    So, he called ahead. Or they called him.
Either way, he told them she was here. But why? If they wanted her dead, he
could have shot her an hour ago.
    Because they want to bring
you in.
    It was possible, but why? She was partly
responsible for Laurent’s death. Did they want to have their way with her
before they killed her? Katzev might want to do the job himself. She could see
that happening. Or they might think she has information she shouldn’t have
access to, though she didn’t know what that could be.
    She needed to leave, but she couldn’t go
out the front entrance. Not even the side. Soon, this place would be surrounded
by them, if it wasn’t already.
    “Your husband said you had fifteen
minutes,” the bartender said. “I’m not sure what he meant by that, but it might
mean something to you.”
    “It does.” Why was he tipping her off? Was
he forced into this? Or was it to make her feel a false sense of security? With
five minutes on her side, she might think she could get out now and escape
them, when in reality, they’d be right outside waiting for her. This could be a
trap. “I didn’t see him leave. Which way did he go?”
    “He asked if he could use the service
exit. Sounds strange, but I’ve had stranger requests. We accommodated him.”
    Trap. “I
see.”
    He paused. She could feel him studying
her. “Are you in some sort of trouble, Miss?”
    Use him.
    “I am.”
    “What kind of trouble?”
    “I told my husband I was leaving him
tonight. He told me I wasn’t and that he’d make sure of it. You know what that
means. He’s abusive. He’s had me dealt with before and he’s going to do it
again.”
    “Is there anything I can do?”
    “Can you get me into a room?”
    “You’d need to check in—”
    “You asked if you could help. I need to
get into a room right now. He’s called people to come here and reason with me,
if you get my drift.”
    “Miss—”
    “It’s important.”
    “I don’t have that authority.”
    “Then do you have some place I could hide?
A storage area? A conference room I can step into?”
    “For how long?”
    “An hour? Men are going to come here.
They’re going to ask if you’ve seen me. I need you to tell them that I left the
moment you gave me the note. If they harass you, tell them you’ll call the
police. They’ll leave if you say that. They won’t want any trouble.”
    “Why