Mindtease

Chapter 21

Kirk found the tissue box on the desk, and took several. Very carefully, Kirk went around the room, loosening all the light bulbs carefully. Kirk wiped the wall where he had listened...no fingerprints.

Going into the bathroom, Kirk turned on the shower...fully hot, leaving the light on, but closing the door until it was just a crack. Kirk made sure the curtains were drawn, the room now nearly dark...but Kirk had turned on the television for light in the large hotel room. Kirk upped the volume until it was really loud.

Kirk took off his ballcap, and then his shirt, and grabbed a lamp, checking.

With a sigh of relief, Kirk knew it was not bolted or secured to the table. Cautiously, Kirk removed the lampshade and lightbulb, throwing them on the bed. Kirk repeated the process with a smaller lamp on the desk. Kirk smiled...he was ready. Putting the larger lamp in the corner behind the door, Kirk put his shirt on, then his ballcap, facing backwards...and looked out the door...the walkway was empty. The maid had cleaned the room after it had become vacant.

Kirk went back in, and grabbed the bare desk lamp, holding it by the harp with a tissue. Very casually but quickly, Kirk walked out, and then with a force, threw the desk lamp against the door of room sixty-nine. Quickly Kirk went back into room sixty-eight, leaving the door open a few inches...an invitation. Grabbing the remote, Kirk quickly took the television volume to the maximum, on some National Geographic documentary about climate change. Kirk put the remote on top of the television, and waited.

# # #

Kirk did not wait long, after putting the remote down, the door next door opened...Kirk could feel it with his back against the wall. Kirk heard some voices but not much through the volume...and then saw the door to the room slowly open.

Kirk felt his heart in his throat, then his mouth...and swallowed softly.

A shadowy figure stood in the doorway, opening the door. A flick of the light switch was ineffective, and the intruder walked into the room, looking around. Seeing no one in the dark room, the figure moved toward the bathroom.

Kirk knew once the intruder realized there was no one in the bathroom, he'd lose the advantage of surprise. Very softly, Kirk picked up the lamp...and waited for the moment.

The figure reached the bathroom, and opened the door. Light and steam poured into the dark room, and Kirk could see the figure had a gun in his hand, holding it pointed in front of him. Kirk moved forward as the figure pushed into the bathroom, looking for anyone.

Kirk came up behind him, and just as he brought the lamp down as a club, the figure turned, and brought an arm up reflexively. The lamp exploded against the head of the figure, and the arm lashed out, but too late. The figure collapsed onto the carpet, stunned or unconscious.

Kirk cursed his foolishness, and grabbed a lamp off another table, and ran back. The figure seemed to be regaining consciousness...moving. Kirk brought this lamp, one he had not prepared, down on the head of the man...there was a crash, an explosion of pieces, and the figure twitched spasmodically, and then his head went down, and body limp...

Kirk opened the bathroom door all the way, and saw where the gun...a fifteen round semi-automatic pistol had hit the floor. Kirk picked up the pistol, and saw it had a muffler...a silencer.

Contract killers.

Kirk looked out on the walkway, which was vacant...almost blissfully unaware of what had transpired in the room.

# # #

Holding the gun so it was not obvious, Kirk looked...and saw the door to room sixty-nine was open...expecting the return of the thug sent to investigate the smashing desk lamp against the door. But the two thugs inside did not know where their associate had gone...or when he'd return. Kirk knew he had to act, but they might be waiting at the door.