Divide and conquer - Tom Clancy [96]
The bolt went with it. The door opened.
"I told you this was our room," she said to Battat. Odette swallowed hard. The words had caught in her throat and she did not want to show her fear. The Harpooner might hear it in her voice. With the door open a sliver, Odette withdrew the key. She slipped it in her pocket and used that moment to listen. The TV was off and the Harpooner was not in the shower. Odette was half hoping he had been in the bathroom, cornered.
But she heard nothing. She opened the door a little more. There was a short, narrow hallway inside. It was cave dark and utterly still. They had assumed the Harpooner would be hiding in the room, but what if he were not? He could be out for a late breakfast. Or he might have left Baku. Perhaps he kept the room as a safe house in case he needed it. But what if he's waiting for us? she thought then. And she answered her own question. Then we "II have to handle the situation. Viktor used to say that nothing was guaranteed.
"What's wrong, honey?" Battat asked. The words startled her. Odette looked back at her companion. The American's brow was pinched. He was obviously concerned. She realized that she was probably waiting too long to go in.
"Nothing's wrong," she said. She opened the door a little farther and reached in with her left hand.
"I'm just looking for the light." Odette pushed the door until it was halfway open. She could see the glowing red numbers of the alarm clock on the night table. There was a jagged line of white light in the center of the drapes. Its brilliance only made the rest of the room seem darker. Odette's gun was still hidden under her jacket, still behind the half-closed door. She found the light switch with her left hand. She nicked it on. The hall light came on as did the lamps on the night tables. The walls and furniture brightened with a dull yellow orange glow. Odette did not breathe as she stepped into the hallway. The bathroom was to her right. She turned and looked in. There were toiletries on the counter beside the sink. The soap was opened. She looked at the bed. It had not been slept in, though the pillows had been moved around. She saw a suitcase on the luggage stand, but she did not see the Harpooner's shoes. Maybe he was out.
"Something's wrong here," Odette said.
"What do you mean?"
"That's not our bag on the luggage rack," she replied. Battat stepped in behind her. He looked around.
"So I was right," he said.
"This isn't our room."
"Then why did the key work?" she asked.
"Let's go back downstairs and find out," Battat urged. He was still looking around.
"Maybe the bellman made a mistake and put someone else in here," Odette suggested. Battat suddenly grabbed Odette's left shoulder. He roughly shoved her into the bathroom and followed her in. Odette turned and glared at Battat. He put a finger to his lips and moved very close.
"What's wrong?" she whispered.
"He's in there," Battat said quietly.
"Where?"
"Behind the bed, on the floor," Battat told her.
"I saw his reflection in the brass headboard."
"Is he armed?" she asked.
"I couldn't tell," Battat said.
"I'm betting he is." Odette put her jacket on the floor. There was no longer any reason to conceal the gun. Battat was standing a few steps in front of her, near the door. Just then she saw a small round mirror and extender arm attached to the wall to his right. She had an idea.
"Hold this," she whispered and handed Battat the gun. Then she walked around him, popped the mirror from its holder, and moved toward the door. Crouching, she carefully poked the mirror into the corridor. She angled it so that she could see under the bed. No one was there.
"He's gone," she said quietly. Odette extended the mirror arm a little farther so she could see more of the room. She angled it slowly from side to side. There was no one in the corners, and she could not see a bulge behind the drapes.
"He's definitely not here," she said. Battat squatted behind her and looked into the mirror. Odette wondered