True Conviction by James P. Sumner Read Free Book Online Page A

best thing I can do is kill Ted Jackson and leave town as soon as possible. I have to kill him, because I don’t want word to get around that I’ve gone back on one of my contracts. That would be bad for business. But I also know what I’m like and how easily I’ll get myself involved further in whatever’s going down, because I hate not knowing what’s happening… I know Jackson is working out of his hotel room for the rest of the afternoon, as it’s on the itinerary that Manhattan gave me yesterday, so I’ve decided to bring my plans forward and take him out right away.
    I’m walking down Main Street, heading to the Four Seasons. It’s a lavish, impressive building and covers almost the entire block. Josh, being the hero that he is, has rung ahead posing as my personal assistant—which you could argue doesn’t require much pretending, but don’t tell him I said that. Anyway, he’d told them I need a room on short notice and that I’m meeting one of their guests, a Mr. Jackson, for an evening meal to discuss some business. He explained I’m running late, and to speed things along it’d be a big help if I could have Mr. Jackson’s room number, so I can ring him from my room and let him know when I arrive. That was no problem for the very helpful member of staff who wanted to make a good impression on two of their richest guests.
    I walk through the large, revolving doors and into the lobby of the hotel. It’s enormous. The floor is polished marble tile with various patterns on it. On the left is the front desk, where three people are busily talking into their respective telephones. There’s a woman on the right with cropped blonde hair who looks in her mid-forties. In the middle is a slightly younger guy with glasses on, and next to him on the left is a young-looking girl with long dark hair and too much make-up. To the right is a large dining area, which I’m guessing is their own, very fancy, in-house restaurant. There’s a waiter wearing a tuxedo standing by a podium that has the reservations book and menu on it. In front of me is a row of three elevators, and either side of them is a large staircase disappearing up, out of sight.
    I walk over to the front desk and wait for one of the clerks to finish their conversation. The young girl with dark hair who hangs up first. She looks at me and smiles.
    “Good afternoon, sir,” she says. “Welcome to the Four Seasons. How may I help you today?”
    “Good afternoon,” I reply, in my best businessman voice, with my best boardroom smile. “I have a reservation with you. The name is Marvin Aday.”
    You didn’t honestly think I’d use my real name, did you?
    Josh tends to create my personas for such occasions, keeping it entertaining for us both by using legends of the rock industry as inspiration for the names.
    “Thank you, Mr. Aday. Just give me a moment to bring up your room information.”
    She taps away on her keyboard and programs the keycard for my room. I look around with a practiced nonchalance as I wait. I’ve changed into a smart casual outfit consisting of a shirt and tie with jeans and shoes. I have a briefcase with me and to the casual observer, I’m just another businessman.
    “Here you are, Mr. Aday,” says the girl as she hands me my room key. “You’re on the fifteenth floor, room fifteen twenty-three.”
    “That’s great, thank you.”
    I make my way over to the elevators and get in the first one that arrives on the ground floor. I press the relevant button and the doors close. Josh was able to find out that Jackson is staying in the Summer suite, which is roughly in the center of the sixteenth floor. Conveniently, this is directly above my room.
    Anyone would think I’ve done this sort of thing before...
    I ride the elevator to my floor and step out into the hallway as the doors ding open. The carpet is a neutral color and looks expensive, with the walls complimenting the look by being much the same. There’s artwork