Take - Page 60

I detached the carabiner and pulled out my set of lock picks. I quickly worked on the door, careful to stay out of view of the woman.

Just as the lock clicked, I saw Auclair saunter out of the bathroom. He was in suit pants with his shirt untucked. He smiled at the woman.

My mouth flattened.

Quickly, I opened the door and raised my arm, my Glock aimed directly at the man who was after Frankie.

The woman on the bed screamed. She tossed the glass, and it hit the carpet and rolled. She scrambled up against the headboard.

Auclair smiled at me. “Ah, I wondered when you would turn up.”

“It’s over, Auclair,” I said.

“That wouldn’t be much fun.” Auclair darted to the side.

I fired.

The bullet clipped his shoulder, and I saw blood spray. He dived at me, and I fired again. The second bullet hit the wall.

Auclair wrapped his arms around my legs and tackled me. My gun flew out of my hand and slid across the carpet. We wrestled, slamming into the bed.

“Oh, fuck,” the woman cried.

I caught a quick glimpse of her sliding off the bed and ducking down.

Auclair rammed an elbow into my jaw, and I punched my fist into his ribs. He was good and well trained. We rolled again, battling to pin each other down. I grabbed his wounded shoulder and squeezed.

He cursed savagely in French.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. “Turndown service,” a muffled, female voice said.

Shit.

Auclair got a leg up and kicked me in the thigh. I grunted, and he rolled away, just as a uniformed hotel maid pushed a housekeeping cart inside the room.

He leaped to his feet and rammed into her. She cried out and slammed into the wall.

“Stay down,” I yelled at her, coming up in a crouch.

Auclair took two steps toward the door and pulled a knife from his pocket. He aimed it at the maid.

She froze, staring at him wide-eyed.

I didn’t have enough time to go for my gun.

Goddammit.

I launched myself at the maid and tackled her to the floor. The knife whizzed overhead and hit an ornate armchair chair with a whumf.

I lifted my head and saw Auclair racing out the door.

Fuck.

The maid stared up at me, terrified. She looked at me, then the knife, then back at me. The woman by the bed let out a whimper.

It was time to go.

I rose, stalked across the room, and snatched up my gun. Back on the balcony, I clicked on the carabiner and pressed the button.