Cross Off by Peter Corris Read Free Book Online Page B

described Ann Torrielli as a 'security officer'. He saw a walkie-talkie and a .32 pistol in the bag. Soul mates.
    'I'm attached to the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation,' he said. 'The woman with me is a protected witness in a major criminal case.'
    'Same as you, I'd like to see some proof.'
    'I don't carry cards or badges. I could let you see my gun. It's in the golf bag here. But that wouldn't prove anything.'
    'You're right. It wouldn't.'
    'I can show you something in my room, but I can't leave this spot just now.'
    'When can you leave?'
    'When Mrs Browning goes back to her room to sleep off . . . the effects.'
    'I'll wait with you.'
    'Could you use the two-way to get us some coffee, Ann? I'm just about falling asleep here.'
    'Mrs Browning proving a handful?'
    'You could say that, yes.' Dunlop smiled, turning on the charm, partly to keep her on side, partly because he found her very easy to smile at. 'She's teamed up with one of your guests, a Mr Kenworthy Bushmill.'
    One of Ann Torrielli's thick, dark eyebrows shot up. 'You seem to give these people you look after a lot of rope.' She spoke briefly into the handset.
    'It's an important case.'
    'I don't think the management would be too happy about this arrangement.'
    'I'm hoping you won't tell them.' Dunlop leaned towards her intently. 'It's perfectly safe for your other guests. Nothing's going to happen. I think she'll get tired of the place in a few days and we'll be on our way.'
    Ann said nothing but continued to study Dunlop, who sat still—a picture of reliability. A waiter arrived with a coffee pot, cups, milk and sugar on a tray. Ann signed the chit. Dunlop poured.
    'Black with one,' Ann said. 'I'm a bit sleepy, too.'
    'Do you get much excitement in the job?'
    She shook her head. The shining dark hair bounced. 'No. The odd domestic. Some trouble with drunks. The occasional wallet lifted. That sort of thing.'
    They drank a cup of coffee each and chatted for several minutes. Dunlop learned that she was a university graduate whose qualifications for her present position were her looks and a certain proficiency in martial arts. She planned to keep the job for as long as it took to save enough money to travel for a year.
    'Where to?' Dunlop asked.
    'Asia. Look! Is that her?'
    Ava was leaving Bushmill's door. The departure entailed a long kiss.
    'Do you enjoy doing this?' Ann said.
    'No.'
    Dunlop shouldered his golf bag. They let Ava take the first turn towards Caribbean and followed at a distance.
    'She moves pretty well,' Ann said. 'Getting fat though. She should exercise.'
    'She gets plenty of exercise.'
    'I mean out of doors.'
    Ava walked past Dunlop's door and entered her room. Her shoulders drooped and she looked tired. Dunlop unlocked his door and ushered Ann inside. He parked his clubs against the wall, crossed to his overnight bag and unzipped an inside compartment. 'I've got an NBCI card. If you're still not happy you can send a fax to . . .'
    The adjoining door flew open and Ava took two steps into the room. She was naked apart fromshoes, stockings and a garter belt. She carried a bottle of champagne in one hand and a lighted cigarette in the other. Her belly bulged; her face and arms were pink from the sun. She stopped when she saw Ann, threw back her head and let out a raucous laugh. Flesh wobbled as she turned and went back into her room, slamming the door behind her.
    Ann barely glanced at the card in Dunlop's hand. 'I believe you,' she said.
    The kiss on the driving range told Tate everything he needed to know. It was his habit to assign nicknames, based on physical characteristics, to associates of his targets when he didn't know their real names. Slim was the boyfriend and Nuggetty was the minder. Tate would have preferred it the other way around—Slim looked less like trouble. He followed the party to the pro shop and up through the gardens to the hotel. Nuggetty was hanging back, which was encouraging, but when Tate saw him take up his