Page 93 of Stuart Woods' Smolder

Stone gave him a ten. “Thanks.”

Before he and Monica could take a step, the valet said, “There was a guy chasing him, too.”

“What guy?”

“A big one. Wore a suit and moved great for his size. Didn’t see his face, though.”

“Which way did they go when they reached the street?”

“To the right, away from the boulevard.”

Stone and Monica raced from the parking lot and turned down the sidewalk. Parked cars filled nearly every available spot for as far as they could see, but the sidewalks were empty.

At the end of the block, they stopped. Stone scanned both ways down the intersecting road but saw no sign of either Tristan or the other man.

Stone’s phone vibrated. It was Dino.

“I’m betting you didn’t find him,” Stone said.

“Did you?”

“No, but the valet told us he came this way. He also said Tristan was chased out of the parking lot by what he called a big man.”

“And do we know who this man is?”

“We do not.”

“I see two cameras from where I’m standing. I’ll bet you there’s some in the parking lot. May I suggest a visit with hotel security?”

“Excellent idea.”

—

“I’m sorry,” the nighttime security manager said. “Without a warrant, I can’t allow anyone to view the footage.”

“Even if a person might be in danger?” Stone asked.

“In danger how?”

“He was chased from your parking lot by someone. When we looked for them, they were both gone. Keep in mind, we were no more than a minute behind them.”

“A minute is a long time.”

“It is. Which is why we are concerned. A lot could have happened to our friend in that time.”

She grimaced, unsure what to do.

“If something does happen to him,” Stone said, “the police will find out his attacker chased him from here and will wonder why you didn’t report it.”

Her discomfort grew but she still didn’t relent.

“As a member of law enforcement, I can confirm what my friend has said,” Dino chimed in.

“You’re LAPD?” she asked.

“New York City.”

“He’s the commissioner,” Stone said. “That means he’s the top cop.”

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