Hustlers by Claire Chilton Read Free Book Online Page B

to be over.
    When the pressure abated, she opened her eyes. Murky water swirled around her. She glanced back, trying to see her father, but the dim lighting only revealed dark shapes. She quickly reached down to her ankles and untied the tape around them. Once free of any restraints, she kicked her way to the surface, holding onto crags in the slimy wall to ensure she wasn’t swept away by the current.
    She broke through the surface with her pulse racing and her lungs burning for oxygen.
Did he make it? Is he okay?
She shivered as cold, dirty water dribbled down her face.
    Inhaling a deep breath, she scanned the area. She was floating a few inches away from the roof, but other than an expanse of dirty water, there was no one else here.
    “Dad?” she cried.
    There was a splashing sound behind her, and she noticed a hand poke through the surface. She paddled over to it, pulling on it to help him rise, but he didn’t move. Trying not to swallow any of the water, she dived down. After scanning the inky depths, she found her father struggling under the surface. The tape around his ankles was caught on a hook that was sticking out of the wall.
    Pushing herself off the wall, she dived down deeper, reaching for the tape. She struggled to unwind the thick tape from his ankles, gasping out bubbles of air.
Hold on. I’ve got you.
She eventually untangled the twisted bindings and untied his feet, pushing him up toward the surface. Once she was certain he was free, she swam up after him.
    Bursting through the surface again, she gave him a hug. “Are you okay?”
    He gasped for a moment then nodded. “You’re right. We are taking out the Starling’s when this is over.” He narrowed his eyes.
    “How do we get out?” She glanced through the doorway at the fast moving water, which was shooting down the tunnel ahead of them.
    “We need to wait for it to drain out.”
    “What about Jimmy?”
    “Let’s just hope he wasn’t stupid enough to bring them the hard drive.” Her dad stared grimly at the tunnel.
    “I told him to get Riley. He might not be alone,” she said, hoping that Jimmy had done what he said he would do.
    “Detective Riley was sent to Scotland Yard a month ago. He won’t be able to help on this one.”
    “We need to get out of here now,” she said as she swam toward the exit.

    Jimmy nervously tightened his grip on the hard drive in his pocket as he stood at the hotel reception desk.
This sucks. Where’s Ellie and Stewart?
    He scanned the lobby, but he couldn’t see Starling either. He jumped when there was a polite cough behind him, spinning around to find a hotel manager glaring at him.
    “What the fuck do you want?” he asked the manager.
    “Can I help you?” the manager asked.
    Jimmy looked the manager up and down, widening his eyes at the man’s checkered trousers. “Dude, you can’t even help yourself. What the fuck are you wearing? I’ve seen golfing pants with more panache.”
    “If you’re not a guest here, I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to leave.” The manager scowled at him.
    “Relax, I got a meeting here. It’s all good.” Jimmy leaned against the reception desk and waved the man away. Then he picked up one of the hotel brochures and began picking his teeth with it while he scanned the room through narrowed eyes.
    “A meeting with whom?” The manager folded his arms.
    “Your mother. I picked her up on special at Poundland,” Jimmy muttered.
    “Right, that’s it. Out!” The manager gripped Jimmy’s arm, trying to drag him toward the doors. People milling around the lobby turned to watch as he tried to force Jimmy out of the hotel.
    “Child abuse!” Jimmy cried. “Dude, get your fucking hands off me, you flaming great pedo. I told you, I’ve got a meeting.”
    “Bullshit, with who?” The manager clawed at his arm trying to drag him toward the door while nodding to the security guard near the entrance.
    “That would be with me.” A smooth voice said behind