Page 12 of KAI Tortured

I open the door of the bar and hold it for Logan. At the same time, I look around – it’s embedded in me, to always be on alert. “Let’s get inside.”

Logan enters, and I quickly follow right behind him. “I’m waiting on someone to track Kai’s cell location,” I tell him quietly.

The Delgados’ bar is a raucous place, with laughter and clinking glasses ringing throughout, but even with all that noise, the moment they see us, a fidgeting silence ensues. That’s a good sign, because in a similar situation in the past, we’d have been killed on the spot. This is progress.

I make our intentions clear. “We’re looking for Kai.”

I get nothing back from any of them. They look at us without saying a word, and their hands hover close to their firearms.

“Have you heard from him?” Logan asks.

A sturdy man, leaning confidently against the bar, pipes up in a very deep voice. “We haven’t.”

Clad in a weathered leather jacket and tattoos that form a tapestry over his wrinkly skin, he seems to calm everyone in the bar with his presence.

“And you are?” I ask him.

“The oldest Delgado you’ll find around here,” he says. “Tom.”

The bartender pours him a shot of something clear. Without taking his eyes off us, he downs it and slams the glass back down on the bar.

As if on cue, my cell pings and I check to see if it’s the news I’m expecting. Sure enough, my police contact finally sent me Kai’s cell location.

“Right. If he comes here, tell him we gotta talk to him. It’s imperative that he calls either Logan or me. Got it?” I nod at Logan to signal that our time here is finished.

Tom, who appears to be in charge, nods, then gestures to the others to go back to how they were. We head out as the hubbub in the bar resumes.

My cell pings again, this time it’s a message from Martin.

‘Kai wants me to bring his bike to the Hilton Garden Inn. Thought you’d wanted to know.’

Damn right I do!

Logan and I make a beeline for my car. “He’s taken her to a hotel,” I announce. “Get in.” I open the door for Logan and jump in after him. I then show him the message from Martin. “He’s asking for his bike. I’ll get Martin to keep him busy long enough for us to take Maisy back.”

“Good plan.” Logan agrees.

Emilio glances at me through the rearview mirror. “Take us to the Hilton Garden Inn, near Battery Park, Emilio.”

“Sure, boss.”

I text Martin back and read the message out loud as I do.

‘Keep him occupied, and away from the main entrance for as long as you can.’

A ping back comes almost instantly. ‘Will do. He’s at the parking lot behind the hotel. Waiting for me.’

“We need to find out if Maisy’s at the hotel, and which room she’s in.” Logan’s ready for action.

“You’ll be sweet-talking the receptionist, while I’ll keep watch in case Kai shows up.”

Emilio navigates the bustling streets of Manhattan and soon, we arrive at the hotel. “We’re here, boss.” He pulls over outside the entrance.

“Stay close, and be ready to go.” I pat Emilio on the shoulder and climb out of the car. Logan follows me.

There are plenty of people in the reception area, so I manage to get to the elevators without drawing any attention. I look like a guest so it’s no problem unless someone recognizes me.

I check on Logan; he’s already talking to the receptionist, touching her elbow and being Logan, the sweet-talking, charming Southerner that he is. She bats her eyelashes, blushing, and proceeds to give him a room key. That looked easy. Logan kisses her cheek and bows to her, then heads in my direction.

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