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Mr. Li gave Cash a curt nod and then finished climbing the stairs.
Cash let out a breath he’d been holding. This meeting was going to be all kinds of fun. He made a mental note to review the file he had on Li one more time. He was sure there was a lot of information missing but maybe there was a kernel in there that would explain what the hell was going on.
The door behind him opened unexpectedly and he spun around, tweaking his ribs, but he masked the pain. His hand was already on the gun that was lodged in the waistband of his pants at the small of his back.
“Mr. Walker,” the man said as he closed the door behind him.
Cash recognized him immediately as Derek Davenport. “Mr. Davenport. I believe we weren’t expecting you for another hour or so.”
Davenport came forward with his hand outstretched. “Ah, yes, well we got a tailwind so I’m slightly early. Is that a problem?” he asked as they shook hands.
“Not at all,” Cash said.
Except for the fact that Cash now knew Davenport had been staying in the top suite at Hotel Danieli for the last few nights. Shit, he’d seen him on the street earlier today. People lying to him made Cash uneasy.
His tone bordered on pissed off when he said, “I can show you to your room.”
Davenport waved him off. “I always stay in the corner suite on the second floor with a view of the garden. I’m sure Mrs. Munari has it ready for me.”
Cash nodded. “As you like.” He stepped back and Davenport went up the stairs.
Dominick, the house manager came to stand beside Cash. “The luggage for Mr. Li is being inspected and will be brought up shortly. Mr. Davenport’s luggage will be searched shortly, as well.”
Cash glanced at the aging man next to him. Dominick’s hair should be white but he or someone in his life insisted on dying it dark. The wrinkles around his eyes had deepened since the last time Cash had been here and his mouth was more pinched. Aging was not for the weak.
“What is it?” Cash asked in a low voice as he studied the other man’s face. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Perhaps, you would like to follow me,” Dominick said and then turned and walked down the hallway. They went through the staircase door, and into the security area where there was a conference room. Li’s luggage and briefcase were open on the table. Davenport’s luggage was open next to it. Dante was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. Cash narrowed his eyes at him. How the hell did he get there so damn fast without breaking a sweat? He was just across the canal a few minutes ago. He raised his chin in greeting. “What’s going on?”
Dominick pointed. On the table between the two suitcases was what looked like a USB stick. The silver rectangle was about four inches long.
“Why am I looking at this? We don’t invade our guest’s privacy.” Cash’s gut clenched. These men knew what they were doing. If the USB was on the table then there was a problem.
“It was hidden in a secret compartment of Li’s briefcase,” Dante supplied. Louis came around the corner and entered the room putting another piece of luggage on the floor. “That’s the last of it.”
Cash acknowledged him with a nod. Then turning back to Dominick, he said, “Okay. The man is allowed to bring secret documents in. I would be surprised if he hadn’t.”
“Yes, sir,” Dominick nodded, “but he is not allowed to bring in weapons.” He reached down and pulled the top off the USB stick. It wasn’t a USB at all, but a small blade made to look like a USB. Something small enough for a person to palm and use without their victim being the wiser.
“Shit,” Cash mumbled. “How did you find it?”
Dante shrugged. “I found the USB and almost put it back but it’s a little longer than a regular drive and it felt different. Weighed a bit more. So, I gave it a tug.”
“That’s awesome.” Louis reached out to touch it. Cash stopped him with a look as he pulled out his phone. His first instinct said to confront Li and yell at him for bringing a weapon onto the premises. That was a serious violation of the rules. If it was anyone else, he would do just that, but this meeting seemed to be very important to Archer. Best to confer with him. “Give me the room,” he said and the others filed out.
“Cash,” Archer ground out, “I don’t have time at the moment so unless it’s a major emergency?—”
“Li brought in a weapon.” He was fucking sure that constituted an emergency.
Dead silence on the other end of the phone. It lasted a full minute. “I’ll be on the ground in ten hours. Don’t say anything to him yet. Just keep an eye on him.”
“As you know, Davenport also arrived slightly early. Said he had a tailwind. After seeing him earlier today, I poked around and he’s been staying at the Danieli for the last few nights. Something is off.”
“Agreed. We’ll talk as soon as I arrive. Don’t tell anyone but Mrs. Munari that I’m coming. Have her open up my room.”
“Will do.”
“And Cash, be ready. This could get very messy.”
