The Collectors

Chapter 19

Seeing no one on the front desk gave Holly pause and she shot Jacob a meaningful glance. The old man remained impassive, doing as he was told and following the two Russians. When they entered the suite, Valry stopped in surprise at seeing Davidov and she quickly ushered Holly and Jacob to stand in front of him.

"I did not know you would be coming here," She said.

He sipped the wine and barked at her. "My decisions do not concern you unless I tell you."

Holly saw her wince and the fleeting spark of hatred in her eyes. Something to store just in case. She looked down at the bulging frame of the Russian who terrified everyone.

"Enjoying my wine?"

"Is very good, you have excellent taste."

"If that was the case I wouldn't let you in here if I could help it."

He sneered up at her and set the glass down. "But you can't help it, Miss Lakefield and because I am here you are going to regret very much the trouble you have caused me." He turned to Valry. "What are you waiting for, check the location she told you."

Valry signaled Victor and he went to the corner of the room and moved aside the panel covering the heat pump and took out the plastic bag, holding it up.

"Is that it?" Davidov snarled.

"Yes. Take it and shove it," Holly snarled back.

"Bring here." Davidov squirmed into a more upright position as Victor handed him the plastic bag.

"Aaah... it is the Balzac." He turned it in his hands and hefted its weight. His tiny eyes glittered with greed and he carefully placed it back in the bag. "Your friends would have done well to accept my offer; now we have to teach lessons."



Holly's condo was closer to the hospital so Ursa and Connie headed there first. Finding the lobby empty they checked behind the desk and found the concierge stuffed under the counter. Ursa immediately contacted Staff and reported and was advised that the other two teams would be on site in fifteen minutes, meanwhile, she and Rubicon were to stabilize the site and assure the safety of any hostages.

They took the elevator to the floor below and climbed the stairs the rest of the way. With a tool from her kit, Ursa released the fire door latch and they crept into the hallway of Holly's floor. Setting their weapons on automatic they hurried silently down the hall to the condo door and paused to listen. Ursa made a signal indicating two voices—male and female. Once more from her kit, Ursa removed a tiny wire and plugged it into the side of her phone and then gently fed the end under the condo door. A black and white image of the front hall appeared on the little screen and she worked the wire around until they could see several legs in what would be the living room. One large figure was seated and visible from the waist down. She played with the wire a little longer, establishing where everyone was standing and the shape of the foyer then she pulled it back and put the wire away.

"We go hard and fast," she pointed to the images on her phone screen. "You to the right. Take out any unfriendlies that own those legs."

"How will I know?"

"There are two women. Call them friendly. The one standing next to the woman is likely a Russian plus the one in the dining room. I'll take the one on the couch."

"What about the other man next to the women?"

"That's La Puma."

"How do you know?"

"The way he's tucked his pants into those boots. Just trust me and do as I say. Remember, hard and fast. Lot's of yelling and noise and do not hesitate to shoot your weapon." Ursa checked her magazine and indicated Connie do the same. "You up to this?"