“You guys have police and fire department down there, why not get people out?”
“We’re trying. It looks like we’ve got a pretty severe bottleneck. With all the rooms booked out for the conference, the hotel is at full capacity. We don’t think we can get everyone out and to a safe distance in time.”
June looked up at the unconscious man on her bed. “What about the guy I’ve got up here? Maybe he knows something.”
“Unlikely.”
“How do you know?”
“If he’s in the hotel right now, he’s not involved.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
A deep breath. “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to tell you this,” said Leopold. “But the detonator is counting down.”
June swore. “How long?”
“Around six minutes.”
June swore again.
“Seattle Police and Fire Departments are doing the best they can. We’ve got around half the people out, but it’s complete mayhem down there. At least we got Jack into Secret Service’s hands.”
“So, what about me and the other guests locked in here?” June asked.
“We’re working on it.”
June got up and walked over to the bed. “This guy I’ve got said he couldn’t find anyone else on the seventh floor. I guess the housekeeper split.” She felt his pulse again. His breathing sounded a little stronger.
“Mariel’s gone?”
“Looks like it.”
“Okay, we’ll deal with that later. In the meantime, try to find out what you can if your guest decides to wake up. Jerome should be with you any moment to get those stairwell barriers out of the way. We can get you downstairs.”
“Lot of good that’ll do if I can’t get out the lobby.”
“Just pray we get it cleared in time. I’ve got to go.” Leopold hung up.
June went back to the bedroom for a blanket and pillows. She fluffed the pillows and tried ramming one under the man’s head to prop it up, trying to keep his airways open. She stuck the second pillow behind his back, and then draped the blanket over him. After, she limped off for a bottle of water, returning to sit on the bed, her heart still pounding.
Chapter 53
JONNY HAMMERED ON the door. The staff room on the third floor was locked. The PA system had announced the evacuation a few moments ago, and the hallway was deserted. Everyone had headed for the lobby, taking their chances. Jonny didn’t like his odds. Not with the police zeroing in, not with Kanezaki stalking around the hotel somewhere. He swore out loud and slapped both palms against the door. Rattled the handle, slammed his shoulder against the wood. The door didn’t budge.
Movement behind him, and Jonny whipped around. A figure appeared at the top of the stairs, moving fast. Tall, muscular, dressed in jeans and a leather jacket.
Kanezaki.
Jonny froze. Kanezaki saw him, locked eyes with his. Started running toward him.
“Hey, I was just –”
Kanezaki crossed the distance between them fast. He grabbed Jonny by the jacket, forcing him up against the door.
“You got five minutes to make good on your end,” Kanezaki said. He was close enough that Jonny could smell his breath.
“It’s not that simple,” Jonny said, struggling to keep his nerves in check. “I’m trying to find Mariel. She was supposed to check on Kato.”
“I don’t give a shit.” Kanezaki pulled something from his jeans pocket. A small ceramic knife. The blade looked impossibly sharp. He held it up against Jonny’s throat.
Jonny tensed. Felt something warm and wet down below, trickling down his legs. He closed his eyes, feeling hot tears welling up behind the lids. Lips quivering, he forced himself not to move. Couldn’t risk cutting himself.
“You gonna do something about it?” Kanezaki said, pushing the blade into Jonny’s throat a little harder.
“K-Kato should still be upstairs. W-would have seen her leave with M-Melendez. Wh-what do you want me to do?”
“Way I see it, you’ve got one chance of making it out this hotel alive,” Kanezaki said. “Make it happen.” He pulled away, took a few steps back.
Jonny slumped against the door, gasping for air. “Wh-where are you going?”
Kanezaki folded the knife and slipped it back into his pocket. “I’m getting the hell out of here. I have people posted at all the exits. We’ll pick you up when you’re done. If you fail, you know what’s gonna happen.” Kanezaki turned and walked away, disappearing back down the stairs.
Jonny collapsed to his knees. Without Mariel, he had no idea whether Kato was in position. The bitch had bailed on him. After all they’d been through. He felt light-headed, struggling to breathe. The muscles in his arms tingled and his chest tightened. His vision spun, nausea welling up inside his stomach.