Do you feel it, Eve?
You will.
“RED DOOR INN.” CALEB LOOKED up from the computer. “It’s a chain. There’s one on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell.”
Joe’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Anything else similar?”
“Not so far.” He was flipping through the hotels. “Not in Roswell.”
“Then let’s go for it.” He reached for his phone. “I’ll call the desk and see if I can find out which room by giving a description of him.”
“IT’S A ONE-STORY MOTEL,” Joe said as he hung up. “The clerk said Jelak may be in room 24. He registered under the name of Ted Jonas two days ago. The clerk couldn’t recall his face, but remembers noticing that he had biceps like a weight lifter.”
“Yes, ” Caleb said. “How far?”
“A couple miles.” He looked at Caleb. “Get out here.”
“What?”
“You said that you could feel him. Well, by the looks of those tire tracks Jelak left in the mud, he must have been able to feel you too. Isn’t that right?”
“Yes, but the circumstances are different. We’re in the middle of the city. There’s so much interference from other people that it’s doubtful that he could sense me.”
“Screw doubtful. I’m not having you blow it for me.”
“Dammit, I won’t blow it. We go in fast, and it won’t matter if Jelak knows we’re coming.”
Joe pulled over to the curb. “Get out.”
Caleb muttered a curse and opened the door. “You’re making a mistake. I can get him.”
“So can I. If you don’t send up any red flags.” Joe pulled out into traffic again. “I won’t take that chance.”
“I’m not going to give up.”
Joe knew that he wouldn’t. Caleb would do anything he had to do. He could only hope that he could find Jelak before Caleb managed to get to the motel.
ROOM 24 HAD TO BE ON THE far side of the U-shaped structure. Joe cruised slowly along the parking area, his gaze on the red doors.
The late-afternoon sun highlighted the faded brilliance of the chipped paint and the brass numbers on the doors.
Room 18.
A cleaning woman was opening the door of the room.
A stocky man in a Braves baseball cap was loading up his gray Honda at the end of the row of rooms. He opened the driver’s door and shoved a black Croco case into the passenger’s seat.
Goblets in a black Croco case.
He was going to change to a smaller car, maybe a foreign job.
And that man in the baseball cap wasn’t stocky, he was muscular.
Jelak.
Joe stomped on the brakes.
Jelak’s head lifted at the screeching sound. Fury twisted his face as he saw Joe jump out of the car. “No!”
He threw himself into the Honda.
Joe drew his Magnum. “Stop. You’re under arrest, Jelak.”
“The hell I am.”
Joe saw the dull luster of metal in Jelak’s hand and hit the pavement.
A bullet splintered the red door behind him.
Jelak was barreling toward him in the Honda.
Joe rolled out of the path of the tires as the car skidded by him.
He lifted his Magnum and got off a quick shot.
He saw Jelak jerk as the bullet hit him. Fierce pleasure tore through him.
But the bastard didn’t stop. He rounded the corner of the motel and headed for the street.
Joe jumped in his car and did a U-turn.
Jelak was already on the street and heading for the freeway when he got around the building.
And Caleb was running down the block toward the Honda.
Shit. Jelak would pick him off. Joe aimed at the Honda’s rear tire.
