Page 51 of Bulletproof Jack: Hunting Lee Child's Jack Reacher

“Maybe. We’ll see. But he also had a key card to another hotel room.”

“So we’re going to check out his room? And maybe use his shower?” Russell suggested. “I’d like to get cleaned up.”

Kim opened the door and stepped into the empty hallway. She swiveled her head and looked in all directions but saw no one hanging around making a hasty exit after slamming the exit door to Westwood’s suite.

Russell followed, holding the door until it snugged quietly shut behind him.

They made tracks to the elevator lobby and ignored the elevator cars. Kim slipped into the stairwell and Russell followed close after.

Kim rested most of her body weight on her hands and slid down the rails, one flight after another, her feet barely touching the stair treads. Russell hustled along behind her.

When she’d descended ten flights, Kim paused to wait for Russell at the landing. He wasn’t winded, but he seemed to appreciate the short break.

“Could have been someone from housekeeping. Maybe she opened the door, saw the mess, and hurried out again,” Kim said. “She might not have heard the gunshots at all.”

“Possibly,” Russell replied, doubtful. “Or, your first thought, the skinny guy could have had an accomplice.”

She nodded. “Also possible.”

“We won’t find whoever it was based on what we know now. Better to let them come to us, don’t you think?” Russell asked.

“Agreed. Twelve flights to go and we’ll be at the lobby level. Another one down to the parking garage.” Kim said as she moved to the next flight of stairs and headed down.

“So we go to the skinny guy’s hotel?” Russell asked on the way down.

“Could be it’s not his hotel,” Kim reminded him. “But yeah. The key card is our best lead right now. The key card has the hotel name but no room number on it. You game to keep going on this?”

“I’d really like to know what the hell is going on here.”

“We can figure that out when we get there, possibly.”

“Get where?” Russell said behind her, taking the steps two at a time.

On the fifth floor, a guest opened the door to the stairwell and started down. Kim was below him. Russell above.

He didn’t make eye contact with either of them. Nor did he speak.

They descended three flights at a normal pace and in total silence.

At the mezzanine floor, the man opened the door and headed toward the restaurant. They were alone in the stairwell again.

Kim picked up her speed and the conversation where they’d left off.

“The key card is for the Father Louis Hennepin Hotel. The address is a small town called Niagara-on-the-Lake.” She’d hit the landing and moved toward the next flight down. “I’ve been there before. It’s about thirty minutes north of here. On Lake Ontario.”

“And what, the door slammer actually was the cleaning lady?” Russell asked, slightly breathless after rapidly descending twenty-one flights.

“Then we’d better get the hell out of here before the local constabulary shows up.” Kim slid down the last set of handrails, landed firmly on the pavement, and walked through the door to the parking garage.

Russell overtook her. He approached the SUV, used the key fob to unlock both doors and climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

Kim took the passenger seat quickly. Russell pulled out of the garage before she’d had a chance to put her seat belt on.

She punched the hotel address into the navigation system and hit the green button. The mechanical voice advised the drive was twenty-one kilometers and would be accomplished in twenty-eight minutes, door-to-door.

As Russell drove following the directions, Kim picked up the alligator clamp she’d left on the console earlier and attached it to her seatbelt near the retractor.

Russell seemed to breathe a bit easier once they were clear of the garage. “Any chance we can find a bite to eat at this hour?”

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