Dirty Deals by Nicole James Page 0,53
the door about six inches. I’m tall enough to see over his shoulder to the suitcase on the bed. Looks like he’s leaving town. “Hey pal, got a second?”
“I do not actually. I’ve got a plane to catch.”
“I’m sorry, let me rephrase that.” I pull my gun and aim it at his forehead. He backs up, and we enter. Reno closes the door behind us.
“Do you know who I work for?” Warren asks, an indignant expression on his face.
“Do you know how much I don’t give a shit? But I’m betting it’s not Axle Crow.” That we’re onto him takes him aback, but only for a moment.
“Your real bosses in town?” Reno asks.
His eyes shift between us. “Look, I was just hired to find her. I had no clue they were planning to kill her. I told ‘em I’m not sticking around for that. I’m done.”
“Oh, you’re done, huh? People you know walk away from the mob often, do they?” I ask.
He has the good sense to look worried, which explains the suitcase. “I’m leaving. I want nothing to do with any of this. If you have any sense, you’ll be careful of these guys. They’re some scary dudes, and if I never lay eyes on them again, it’ll be too soon.”
I return my gun to my shoulder holster. “You’re not going anywhere until you tell me where the fuck they are.”
He shoves the last of his clothes in his bag and closes it. “I don’t know. They contact me, not the other way around.”
“Where are they staying?” Reno asks.
Warren looks over his shoulder at him. “They’d never trust me with that information.”
“What are they driving?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “I’m sure it’s a rental. They flew in.”
“What’s it look like?” I grab him by the shirt and yank him to me. I know he’s got more information than he’s sharing.
“Okay, okay. It was dark out, but I think it was a Lincoln Navigator, big black SUV. Look that’s all I know. If you’re smart you’ll get Ms. Fox the hell out of town before something happens to her. My advice, she tells the police what she knows, they lose their motivation for wanting her dead. Once her story’s out, what’s the point?”
“Except they’ll want her to testify,” Reno corrects him.
“Still, the police are her best bet now.”
I let him go with a shove. His legs hit the back of the bed, and he almost falls over. I stand over him. “Bullshit. I’m her best bet. The only one she needs.”
“Then I wish you well with that. I heard on the news your shop burned last night. I’d watch your back if I were you. Now, please, I’ve told you everything I know, and I really do have a plane to catch. I’ve got a family. I never should have gotten involved with this.”
He turns my stomach, but he’s of no more use to me. I step back and signal for Reno to let him go. He opens the door, and Warren grabs his bag and dashes out. We move to stand outside the room, watching him run like a scared rabbit.
Reno folds his arms. “Little shit. Why didn’t we beat the crap outta him? He led ‘em right to your shop and Hot Rod.”
“He was just a pawn.”
Warren throws his bag in the backseat and jumps behind the wheel. I hear the ignition turn over, and the car explodes in a fireball. Reno and I are thrown back against the motel door and the brick wall. We collapse to the concrete walkway.
I shake my head, but hear nothing but a strange roaring sound like I’ve got a big conch shell pressed to my ear. The heat of the explosion radiates over me like a blast furnace. I took a wallop to the back of the head.
Reno pushes to an upright position, running a hand over the back of his head. He’s talking, but I can’t hear a word of it.
I look at what used to be Warren’s rental car. It’s a smoldering heap with smoke billowing out. I don’t think there’s enough left of his body to scrape into a dustpan.
Holy hell. I think I mouth the words. If I said them out loud, I can’t tell. I kneel in front of Reno and point to him then make the okay sign with my hand, asking if he’s all right. He nods, still rubbing the back of his head.
I point at our bikes; thankfully they’re still standing and