Page 189 of King’s Ransom

Aristo King’s eyes were the widest. He was totally freaked out.

Longmuir and Hooper just stared at me. They knew they couldn’t make me go, but they knew I had to.

I made my decision.

I turned on my heel and strode toward the elevators, my eyes laser-focused.

Audrey and Heidi caught up with me.

‘Sam,’ Audrey said, ‘he’ll kill you.’

‘If I want to end this, it has to be done.’

‘I want to go with you,’ Audrey said.

‘You can barely stand up, Audrey.’

‘Then I’ll go,’ Heidi said.

‘No, Heidi,’ I said softly but firmly. ‘I can’t let you do that. Your father, the rabbi, would kill me.’

‘This psycho will kill you first,’ Heidi said.

‘No.’

Then another voice interrupted.

‘Well, I’m not letting you go over to that building alone. I’m coming no matter what you say.’

It was Merritt Garrett, my fellow detective turned security professional.

‘He’ll kill anyone who comes with me, Merritt,’ I said.

‘I’ll take that chance,’ he said, patting his hip holster.

‘Thanks,’ I said.

Then the elevator arrived, and like a condemned man going to the execution chamber, I entered it.

Nine minutes later, we arrived on foot at the street entrance to 59West.

Drunken New Year’s Eve revellers sang and toasted each other as they danced past us, heading home. Midnight had just been rung in—some fireworks were still exploding over Central Park—and they were completely unaware of the drama playing out in front of them.

Vasha—the Unperson’s female colleague—was waiting inside the street-level lobby of 59West (the building was still empty, awaiting approval from the FBI and structural engineers to reopen).

She wore a plain jacket. I could see her gripping her CZ 75 pistol inside it.

She opened the doors with her spare hand.

We entered in silence, crossed to the open elevator, and stepped into it without a word.

The elevator’s doors closed.

Vasha stood behind me. Silent.

Garrett stood beside me. Silent.

I stared straight ahead.