The first thing she saw was a big envelope with Rico’s name scrawled on it.
As she reached forward to pick it up, the shadow of a man fell across the desk.
The shock paralysed her for a moment, then she spun around.
Baird was standing just behind her. At the door, Rico stood, white-faced, staring at her in horror.
‘Hel o, Toots,’ Baird said softly. ‘Stil peeping?’
The scream that rose in her throat was cut short as his fist smashed against the side of her jaw. She felt herself falling into dark, suffocating oblivion.
II
Adam Gillis stood under the bright lights of the Elite cinema and looked impatiently at the stream of passing traffic.
About fifty yards away, Dallas sat in his car, parked in the shadows, watching him.
From time to time Gillis glanced at his strap watch, and Dallas guessed he was waiting for someone.