Gun Games - Faye Kellerman [147]
Donatti said, “Are you sure you can handle the bike?”
“It’s not a problem, Chris.”
“You’re a sweetie.” He handed her a cloth bag. “Take the shiv inside, wash it, soak it in acid, and luminal it. Make sure nothing glows. Be sure to rinse the drain for a good ten minutes. And do it several times. Then put what’s left of the metal through the shredder and toss the shavings out in the national forest.” He took off the jacket, helmet, and gloves. “Destroy all my clothing and the bag. Totally. Soak the helmet in the solution I gave you, luminal it, and if it’s okay, put it back in my closet.”
Talia stuffed the clothes he gave her inside the bag. Then she opened the trunk to the Aston as Donatti stripped down. She took out his suit, black T-shirt, suede loafers, and a fresh pair of underwear. “Are you sure you want to keep the helmet?”
“We’ve been through a lot together. If it doesn’t glow, I want to keep it. But if it does, get rid of it.”
Talia said, “What do I do with the bike?”
“Give it to Mason. He’ll take care of it. You deal with my cell phone?”
“It was completely destroyed by the water damage so no one could get through to you this morning. I got you a new iPhone and a new telephone number.” She handed him the cell. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” He had slipped on his clothing, and he placed the phone in his jacket pocket. “Where am I going again?”
“What would you do without me?” she complained. “To the Barker Building.”
“That’s right. And what’s the meeting about again?”
“It’s with your broker from Utrich, LLC.” She handed him a briefcase and kissed his cheek. “All the relevant information is inside here.”
“Good girl.”
“By the way, Chris, I did what you said . . . called in the accident from a remote source.”
“Did they get him to the hospital on time?”
“He was alive when they picked him up. Last I heard he was in critical condition.”
“Let’s pray for a speedy recovery.” He kissed her cheek. “With any luck, he’ll live long enough to see what a pathetic blob he is and kill himself.”
Donatti slipped into the driver’s seat, put the top down, and sped off until he reached the highway. He blasted the radio on heavy metal and felt his heart’s smooth and steady beat. Even hours later, he could still taste the grit in his mouth. No matter how much protection, the sand seeps inside. Talia had left a bottle of water on the passenger seat. He reached over and drained it. Hydrated now, cruising down the freeway, seventy-two degrees outside . . . life was good.
No one fucks with his son without consequences.
That was the self-righteous explanation.
The truth was he hadn’t done a job in a long time and he wondered if he still had the touch. There were still a couple of details to take care of—payments to be made, resetting the odometer on his plane—but after the meeting, he had time to deal.
His brain ticked off items on his mental checklist. Almost everything was complete.
He felt his lips curl up into a smile.
Once a pro, always a pro.
About the Author
FAYE KELLERMAN is the author of twenty-seven novels, including twenty New York Times bestselling mysteries that feature the husband-and-wife team of Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus. She has also penned two bestselling short novels with her husband, New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Kellerman, and recently teamed up with her daughter Aliza to cowrite a young adult novel, Prism—the story of four teens in an alternate universe. She lives with her husband in Los Angeles, California, and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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Also by Faye Kellerman
Hangman
Blindman’s Bluff
The Mercedes Coffin
The Burnt House
The Ritual Bath
Sacred and Profane
The Quality of Mercy
Milk and Honey
Day of Atonement
False Prophet
Grievous Sin
Sanctuary
Justice
Prayers for the Dead
Serpent’s Tooth
Moon Music
Jupiter’s Bones
Stalker
The Forgotten
Stone Kiss
Street Dreams
Straight into Darkness
The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights: