Page 16 of Wrecked
They stepped away from the reception counter and walked around the corner.
“Smart move leaving,” Hawk said.
Addison held up a keycard. “Someone dropped this off at the counter. That’s why I left.”
“What’s going on?” Cooper asked through their comms.
“I’ve got to program the keycards.” Hawk returned to the lobby, sat in a different chair on the other side of the room, and got busy.
Every second felt like a damn eternity. Addison studied the guests. No one looked like the shooter inanyof his expected disguises.
“I’ve got something,” Cooper said.
“Go,” Addison replied.
“There’re twelve beach-facing hotel rooms on the top floor,” Cooper explained. “All, but three, are lit up. Facing the hotel from the beach, the first room. The next, two doors after that. The third is the eleventh room, all the way down the hall.”
“Got it,” Addison said.
“I’m programming the keycard to give us access to any beachfront room on the top floor,” Hawk said.
A lone man with red hair wearing a straw hat walked into the lobby and caught Addison’s attention. “I got eyes on someone.” She took off after him, rounding the corner as he approached the elevator bank.
One of the cab doors slid opened, and a crowd entered.
“He’s getting on an elevator,” Addison said. “Straw hat, red hair that touches his collar. He’s wearing a flowered shirt and white pants.”
She hurried over. As the doors shut, she glimpsed the man. Well, not the man, but his hat. “Target verified.”
“Are you sure?” Cooper asked.
“Affirmative,” she replied. “He’s wearing the straw hat. The one with the three black stars sewn onto the front.”
“I’m watching to see if any of the hotel rooms light up,” Cooper said.
Hawk appeared at her side, pushed the up button as guests gathered at the elevator bank.
Addison loved these missions, but they rarely included a situation where thousands of innocent people were involved. She had one goal, but there were so many things that could go wrong. Rather than think about those, she focused on finding the shooter and eliminating him.
The elevator doors opened. She and Hawk entered, along with several other guests. They rode in silence, while the cab stopped on multiple floors. Finally, they were alone in the elevator.
“I’ve got your back,” Hawk murmured.
She turned, their eyes met. “You better.” Then she smiled. “And I’ve got yours.”
“Same three rooms are still dark,” Cooper said.
“Copy,” Hawk replied.
The doors slid open. They exited, walked to the room closest to the elevators.
Addison held the keycard against the reader. The light turned green. She shoved the card into her pocket, grabbed her Glock. After a quick glance at Hawk, she opened the door.
A middle-aged couple was making out on the bed.
“Sorry,” Addison said. “Wrong room.” She shut the door, shoved her Glock behind her waist.
“Negative on room one,” Hawk said.
