run a successful hotel to happen seamlessly. Signs were posted at each junction, directing traffic toward kitchens, reception areas, conference rooms, and the like. Hotel staff moved up and down the hallways, some faster than others, but none giving Quinn, Orlando, and Nate more than a single glance.
They weren't the only non-hotel employees in the hallways, either. Conference security, Quinn guessed. Police, or perhaps military, dressed in suits and pretending to work for the hotel.
Unlike the hotel employees, they took more interest in the trio. Twice, Quinn, Orlando, and Nate were stopped. But both times, Quinn flashed his new police ID and explained that they were doing a final check of the areas outside the secure zone prior to the start of the luncheon.
Their biggest obstacle was Quinn's injury. He had a definite limp. He tried as best he could to make it seem natural, an old injury. Often, though, he had to reach out and steady himself on Nate's shoulder.
They found a schedule of the day's events posted on a bulletin board down one of the halls. The conference luncheon was being held in the Athey Ballroom. At the next intersection, they looked for the ballroom on the directional signs and found it next to an arrow that pointed them in the right direction.
'Security check,' Quinn said quietly two minutes later.
They had come down a long hallway and had followed the arrows once again, turning right. The security check was just beyond another intersection. There were two men in dark suits standing next to a walk-through metal detector. Beside it was an X-ray machine for screening bags, similar to those in airports.
Quinn had them slow their pace. His intention was to turn down the hallway just before the checkpoint.
'Quinn,' Orlando said. 'Against the wall. On the other side of the metal detector.'
Quinn looked. There were six boxes against the wall, sitting on a handcart. Six identical cardboard boxes.
He could feel Nate tense beside him.
'Maybe it's not them,' Orlando said.
'It's them,' Quinn said.
His eyes had caught movement farther down the hallway, beyond the boxes. Two men were approaching from the other side of the checkpoint. One of the men seemed to be doing all of the talking. The listener looked like he worked for the hotel. He wore the same mauve suit jacket and black pants Quinn had seen other supervisors wearing. He was nodding his head every few seconds, like he was receiving instructions.
The talker was Leo Tucker. Quinn stopped. They were still a good twenty feet away.
'Turn around and look at me,' he said to the other two. 'We're having a conversation. Completely normal. Okay?'
Orlando turned first, then Nate joined in, their backs now to the checkpoint.
'Did you see those two men approaching?' Quinn
asked. 'Yeah,' Orlando said. Nate started to look over his shoulder. 'No,' Quinn said. Nate stopped. 'The tall one is Leo Tucker. It looks like he's
giving instructions to the other guy.'
Quinn glanced past Orlando toward the boxes. Tucker was getting closer now. He pointed at the stack. The other man nodded and started to move toward them.
'Shit,' Quinn said. 'Just follow me.' Quinn pushed past Orlando and Nate. 'Stop,' he yelled in German. He half ran, half hopped toward the checkpoint.
The two men at the metal detector looked up, one of them dropping his hand to the radio at his side. The man reaching for the boxes also paused. But not Leo Tucker. He glanced at Quinn in surprise, then took off running down the hallway.
'Don't touch those boxes,' Quinn said. 'Poison.' The hotel employee drew back suddenly. 'Stop him,' Quinn said, pointing toward Tucker. The two security officers weren't reacting quickly
enough. Quinn pulled out the police ID and held
it high in the air. 'Terrorist,' he said. 'Terrorist!' That got a reaction. One of the men started
running after Tucker, but the other remained at his post. As Quinn ran through the metal detector, it beeped loudly.
'Wait,' the remaining officer said.
Without stopping, Quinn looked over at the man and said, 'Don't let anyone touch those boxes.'Then he was off down the hallway.
Behind him, he could hear Nate and Orlando.
'Hold it right there,' the officer said.
Quinn looked over his shoulder. The officer was standing near the opening of the metal detector, determined not to let Nate and Orlando pass. As he reached for his radio, Orlando charged him, knocking the surprised man backward.
Quinn turned, unable to watch the rest without risking further injury. Ahead the hallway dead-ended at a T intersection. Tucker and the officer in pursuit of him had disappeared, but Quinn didn't know which way they'd gone. He forced himself to pick up his speed. As he reached the T, he turned to the left and was almost bowled over as Tucker ran past him. Down the corridor from which the Aussie had come, the officer was sprawled on the ground, unmoving.
Quinn grabbed at Tucker, getting a handful of jacket and holding on tight. The Aussie continued forward down
