CHAPTER 52

Lockett pushed through the exit leading to the parking lot. Hennessy followed a step behind. It took a moment for their eyes to adjust to the midday sun blaring down on them.

The first gunshot echoed around the parking lot.

Hennessy and Lockett dove behind a sedan as a second shot rang out.

“Palin’s going down fighting,”

Lockett said as he leaned against the truck’s tire. “What do you want to do?”

“I want to get paid.”

Hennessy checked his Glock. “We’ve been shot at twice, and we have nowhere to retreat. Anything we do now is in self-defense.”

Lockett leaned close to the ground and checked the surroundings. “I can see his feet. He’s covering behind his car.”

Lockett explained. “I’ll go right and hide behind the sedan over there. I’ll draw his attention while you circle left and approach him from behind.”

“No. This is my problem; I’ll act as the diversion.”

“You’re too slow, Joe.”

Hennessy nodded. It was no time for ego.

“Cover me,”

Lockett said. “In three… two… one.”

Hennessy raised his Glock, fired two shots, and Lockett ran toward the older sedan. No shots were fired back.

Hennessy checked under the car and saw Palin’s feet pointed in Lockett’s direction. Lockett fired twice, and Palin went to his knees and sheltered behind his sedan.

Hennessy moved quietly to the right, toward a cluster of small trees near the edge of the lot. He caught sight of Palin, who began to rise to his feet again. Lockett fired again, and Palin went back to kneeling.

Hennessy moved toward Palin, careful not to make a sound. When another shot hadn’t fired off, Palin peered over the sedan’s hood.

Hennessy moved across the asphalt, crouched down with his weapon out.

Palin didn’t see him coming.

“Don’t move.”

Hennessy stood behind Palin. His Glock was focused on the back of the head of his former client. “And put the weapon down.”

Palin froze for a long moment and then lowered his weapon to the ground. He raised both his arms out to his side. “Stanwell won’t let you do this to me.”

“He’s busy on the phone.”

Hennessy kicked Palin’s weapon away. “Now, where’s my payment?”

Palin chuckled as Lockett came jogging around the back of the car. Lockett picked up Palin’s handgun and put it into his belt while keeping his weapon trained on Palin. Hennessy nodded to Lockett and then put his Glock into his belt.

He grabbed Palin by the collar and turned him around to face him. Hennessy slammed Palin into his sedan, enough to wobble the car. “I’m not going to ask again. Where’s my payment?”

Palin gripped Hennessy’s wrist as he pushed it into Palin’s throat, but Hennessy’s strength was too much for him. When Palin stopped struggling, Hennessy eased off.

“It’s in the car,”

Palin conceded. “It’s in the black backpack on the passenger seat.”

Lockett went to open the car door. It was locked. Palin shrugged and smiled. “I guess you’ve got to go back in there and talk to Stanwell if you want the keys.”

The car beeped.

Hennessy looked to his right.

Stanwell was approaching with the car keys in his hands. The two bikers flanked him on either side. Stanwell nodded toward the car. Lockett didn’t hesitate. He opened the door and removed the backpack, unzipping it and looking inside. He showed Hennessy.

“That’s a lot of cash,”

Lockett said. “All hundred-dollar bills.”

“It’s all yours,”

Stanwell said.

Palin’s neck snapped to his left, staring at Stanwell. “But that’s my money. That’s how I get to Costa Rica and start again.”

“You won’t be going to Costa Rica today.”

“What?”

Palin’s voice was exasperated. “Why?”

“I’ve just got off the phone with our new accountant. He checked the records that you sent him this morning and found there were invoices paid to ‘JR Concreting Supplies.’”

“No,”

Palin whispered. “That’s not right. That’s a mistake.”

“JR Concreting Supplies never existed as a company. And when the new accountant checked the bank transfer, he confirmed the money went to your business.”

“No, no, no.”

Tears welled in Palin’s eyes. “It’s a mistake.”

Hennessy eased his grip off Palin’s collar, and he looked at Stanwell.

Stanwell nodded. “I suggest you two get out of here before I change my mind about that money in the backpack.”

Hennessy and Lockett nodded and backed away slightly.

“What will happen to Palin?”

Hennessy asked.

“He ripped me off and now has a debt to pay. And I know the perfect way for him to pay me back.”

“No, no, no,”

Palin whispered and fell to his knees. “Please, Tony, you need to understand. It was a mistake. An accounting error. That’s all.”

Hennessy didn’t ask any further questions.

Lockett gripped the backpack tight, and the two men walked to Hennessy’s truck.

They didn’t look back.