bill, and studied the ink.
Cole said, “Good thing they aren’t counterfeit.”
Jakovich glanced at him, then put the bill back into the bag.
“Okay. We go.”
He raised his hand, and two dark gray Hummers rumbled out from either side of the hotel. One stopped in front of the Jeep, and the other behind, trapping it.
Jakovich said, “We go in my cars. I like it better that way.”
Pike did not look at Cole or hesitate. He followed Jakovich to the closest Hummer. One of the bodyguards brought Cole to the second Hummer. Separation was bad, but showing fear was worse.
Pike said, “How far?”
“Not far.”
As soon as he was in the backseat, a man in the front passenger seat pointed a pistol at him.
Jakovich said, “We going to take your gun this time.”
The other big man patted for his guns, and immediately pulled back.
“He is wearing a vest.”
Pike said, “Precaution.”
Jakovich tugged at his shirt.
“We take the vest. You not going to need it.”
They took his Python and the.25 he kept on his ankle, and told Pike to take off his sweatshirt. Pike unstrapped the vest, then was allowed to put on the sweatshirt. The same big man ran a wand over him, searching for RF devices. Pike kept himself relaxed, planning what he would do if they found Stone’s bug. The wand moved over his shoes, then up the sides of his legs. If they found the bug, Pike knew his only chance was to acquire a weapon and exit the vehicle. He wouldn’t go for the weapon that was pointed at him. If the wand beeped, he would pull the man with the wand close as a shield, then go for the wand man’s weapon. He would shoot the man in the front seat first, then the wand man, then push his way out.
The wand passed over his buckle without beeping.
Point for Jon Stone.
They pulled away, and the second Hummer fell in behind.
Two points for Stone.
They followed Palawan off the finger, then circled the marina. Pike felt certain they were heading for the freeway, but the Hummers never left the marina. They circled past the green glass towers and restaurants, and kept circling until the street ended at undeveloped land. Then they turned back toward the water, following the last remaining street in the marina. They passed the final row of slips, then the last leg of the channel before it reached the ocean. Here, the channel was lined with maintenance buildings, nautical supply shops, storage facilities, and fishing and boat rental businesses.
The Hummers pulled up outside a long, low industrial building at the edge of the channel, and Jakovich opened the door.
“The guns are here.”
Pike looked around. It had taken only five minutes to reach the weapons, but there was only one road in or out. Jakovich’s guards would be able to see Walsh and her backup units coming from a quarter mile away.
44
A SIGN ON THE METAL building read A. L. BARBER-DRY STORAGE. It reminded Pike of an airplane hangar, with hangar-sized doors, but now the doors were closed. Two oversized forklifts were parked nearby, along with yachts on metal frames. They were either on their way into the building or on their way out, but for now they beached in the parking lot.
A large slip cut into the dock allowed boats to be floated onto a sling. They were then lifted from the water and placed on a metal frame. The forklifts then carried them into the building for secure, long-term storage. The building was on the channel, but directly across the street the landscape was brown and ragged. A few stunted oaks and some marsh brush dotted the sandy plain, but nothing else. Pike knew Ballona Creek was somewhere on the other side, but a rise in the land blocked his view.
Jakovich said, “I sent them all home. We have the place to ourselves.”
Cole said, “You own it?”
“Of course.”
Jakovich unlocked the door and entered the building. Two of his men followed, but the others stayed by their cars.
Pike stopped at the door.
“You should have your men come in with us. They’ll attract attention out there.”
“There is no attention to attract, and who cares? I own it. I have every right to be here.”
The lights slowly flickered to life. The ceiling was almost three stories high, and supported by parallel steel girders. A thin frame of more girders was built onto the long walls, each facing the other. They reminded Pike of the Hollywood Squares, like a tic-tac-toe board set