[Quinn 03] - Shadow of Betrayal

A pause on the other end. “That won’t be necessary,” she said. “He’s dead.”

And as soon as she said it, he knew where she’d been.

There was no statute of limitations on a mother’s vengeance.

Hardwick had followed the car south on the 101 all the way to Santa Barbara to a motel called the Santa Barbara Beach Inn. He hadn’t been seen because the person he was trailing had no reason to suspect he was being followed. Arrogance. An arrogance that had served him well for years, but was ultimately going to bring him down.

He parked in the lot and got out of the car. The fat suit he’d worn when he’d met with Quinn was gone. He was leaner and in far better shape than he’d portrayed at the museum.

Once he found which room the man was in, he located a maid working alone on the second level. She hadn’t put up much of a fight. It was too bad he had to kill her, but he couldn’t leave anyone who would recognize him. He pulled her cart into the room where he’d left her, then shut the door. He would be long gone by the time anyone found her.

Her passkey in hand, Hardwick listened at the man’s door. A TV was on inside, and somewhere water was running. A shower, he realized.

Perfect.

He used the key and let himself in.

The suite was nice enough. Not the Four Seasons, but livable. Of course, Hardwick would have never stayed there. He assumed it was chosen more for its low profile than for its decor. The living area consisted of a couple of couches, a small dining table, some odds and ends to give the space character, and a plasma TV hanging on the wall and tuned to CNN.

To his right was a door that led to a spacious bedroom, with attached master bath. That’s where the sound of the shower came from.

Hardwick checked his watch: 9:15.

As if on cue, the shower turned off.

Hardwick made himself comfortable on one of the couches. From the bathroom he could hear first the flush of the toilet, then the sink turn on, then off.

When the man entered the living room, he wore only a towel around his waist. He crossed to the TV, and seemed annoyed by what he saw.

“Expecting something else?” Hardwick said.

The man whipped around, surprised. “What are you doing here?” he said.

Hardwick smiled. “It’s such a big day for you, Anthony. I didn’t think you’d want to spend it alone.”

“You will call me Mr. Rose,” he said, his tone as arrogant as his driving habits had been. Anthony was his given first name. No one ever called him that. “And you’re right. It is a big day. We should see the results in a few minutes.”

Hardwick stood up. “I’m not talking about your little plan in Morro Bay. That, I’m fairly confident, isn’t going to come off as you expect.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The LP has always had a plan, Anthony. And what we do in support of that plan is carefully worked out years ahead of time.”

“I’m well aware of the plan, James. That’s exactly what I’ve been working toward. What I will have accomplished this morning will bring us just that much closer. This was all worked out months ago. The council approved my plan and has funded the operation. So whatever it is you’re trying to tell me is just more of your bullshit.”

“The council. Right.” Hardwick smiled. “Who do you think sent me?”

Mr. Rose’s eyes narrowed as his lips pressed together in obvious anger. “Enough. You’ve overstepped your bounds. I’m sure the council has no idea that you’re here.” He turned and started scanning the room, looking for something.

“Your phone’s on the wet bar, if that’s what you’re searching for.”

This only seemed to make Mr. Rose angrier. He marched over to the bar, one hand holding up his towel, the other clenching and flexing as if it was the only thing keeping him from flying into a rage. After picking up the phone, he punched a couple of buttons, then raised it to his ear. Hardwick watched as Mr. Rose held it in place for several seconds, then moved it out so he could see the screen. His eyes grew wide as he read the message Hardwick knew would be there.

“Oh, I totally forgot,” Hardwick said, then looked at his watch. “The council had your phone disconnected four minutes ago. Here. Use mine.” He pulled out his own phone and held it out to Mr. Rose.

Mr. Rose didn’t move. “I don’t need to make a call to know that you’re lying.”

“Then let me do it for you.”

Hardwick activated the speakerphone function, then dialed.

There were two rings, then, “Hello?”

“Mr. Kidd, please,” Hardwick said.

Mr. Rose shot him a look.

“One moment,” the voice on the phone said.

“Didn’t anyone tell you?” Hardwick said to Mr. Rose. “Mr. Kidd’s the chairman now.”