Breakneck by Marc Cameron

Author:Marc Cameron [Cameron, Marc]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2023-02-16T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 27

Someone at reception cried out in terror. A woman grabbed her two children and hustled them into the gift shop. General pandemonium broke loose as people fled the lobby in all directions. One of the FPD officers piped up with an all clear from outside, letting Sloan know it was safe to evacuate the justice out the exterior doors.

The radio squealed, bonking again as deputies attempted to transmit at once.

Cutter rounded the corner to find Paige Hart and Trooper Montez with their Glocks aimed in, standing over the prone body of a young man in a ballcap. Blood spread rapidly across the floor from a massive head wound. Hooten leaned against the edge of his table, cradling his arm.

“Hart?” Cutter barked, scanning for threats over the top of the Colt Python. “You good?”

“I am,” Hart said. “He’s down. Appears to be alone.” Her first OIS, or officer-involved shooting, with the Marshals Service, the young deputy appeared locked into the last action that made any sense to her, pointing her weapon at the threat. To her credit, her index finger ran alongside the frame of her pistol, off the trigger.

“Justice is sheltering in place until you guys check the grounds,” Sloan said over the radio. Cutter imagined the deputies in the ballroom ushering Morehouse and her daughter into a protected corner and forming a skirmish line around her, bristling with weapons.

“Dave,” Cutter said into his mic. “Keep an eye on the lobby for other threats.”

“Roger that,” Dillard said, barking orders to someone nearby.

Cutter holstered the revolver and approached Hart and Trooper Montez.

“You both shoot?”

“Just me,” Montez said.

“I would have,” Hart said, “but my vantage point put the justice behind the threat.”

“The son of a bitch tried to take my watch,” Hooten said, picking himself up off the table.

Cutter frowned, incredulous. “He tried to rob you? In this venue?”

“Damn straight,” Hooten said. “I was sitting right here, going over her itinerary. My Perpetual is new, so I had it off adjusting the bracelet when this guy—”

“That’s bizarre,” Cutter said. “This hotel is crawling with cops and you’re telling me he—”

“Yes!” Hooten said, his voice tight like he might cry. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. I had my watch off and that guy plowed right into me. The doors to the ballroom had just opened and judges were starting to come out, distracting—”

“Still.” Cutter shook his head, continuing to scan for more threats. “It seems unlikely.”

“I know what it feels like when somebody tries to lift a watch!”

Hart lowered her Glock, but was still locked in at the body. “There’s a gun under him,” she said, chancing a quick glance at Cutter. “He fell on it.”

Cutter stooped near the man’s shoulder, careful to avoid stepping in blood. Considering the size of the head wound, he wasn’t surprised when he found no pulse. He rolled the body up enough to secure a small Kahr semiauto and pass it off to Hart. The troopers on-site would be unhappy that he moved it, but he

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