Blood Passage Read Online Free PDF Page B

statements about having been someone named Martin Liu, Dr. Chan spoke to a friend of his in the Psych Department at State. His friend referred Dr. Chan to Dr. Walsh, and that’s how we got involved.”
    “ I see.”
    “ Mrs. Chan captured some of the statements on videotape, the day of Taylor’s third birthday. He said his name had been Martin, that his mother’s name was Merry and that he’d had green eyes. Mrs. Chan showed the tape to her cousin Peter, and he also seemed to think the statements were significant. Then apparently Taylor told Peter that two men named Shawn and Gary had hurt him.”
    “ So what happened next?” Hank asked.
    When Josh didn’t answer, Hank looked up from his notebook.
    Josh was staring through the tinted glass into the lobby, his eyes wide.
    “ What?” Hank asked. “What is it?”
    “ It’s them,” Josh whispered, face rigid.
    “ Who?” Hank slipped his notebook and pen into his jacket pocket.
    “ Walking to the elevators. See them? The Chinese guy in the leather jacket and the other guy. He was wearing a blue jacket yesterday.”
    Hank looked through the glass and saw two Asians sauntering casually through the lobby toward the bank of elevators. One wore a black leather jacket and cowboy boots and the other wore a plum-colored sports jacket, a pale green shirt, faded blue jeans and red sneakers. The guy in the plum jacket was younger, thin, and stylish in a brainless sort of way. The guy in the leather jacket was stocky and tough-looking, like someone accustomed to making a living with his fists.
    “ The guys that attacked you?”
    “ Yeah,” Josh whispered. “My God, they’ve come back for me.”
     

3
     
    “ Stay put,” Hank said, getting up. “Give me your room card.”
    “ Room card?”
    “ The replacement key card for your room,” Hank said, holding out his hand.
    “ Oh, yeah. Right.” Flustered, Josh passed it over.
    “ Don’t move.” Hank started toward the restaurant entrance. Edging between a group of people clustered around the cash register at the front, Hank took out his cell phone and punched a number.
    “ Stainer.”
    “ Karen, I’m still at the Airport Inn. I have a visual on the two goofballs who assaulted Josh Duncan. What’s your twenty?”
    “ En route, Lou. ETA ten.”
    “ They’re at the elevators. Might be going up to the kid’s room, since they took his keycard. I’m going to have a little word with them.”
    “ I’ll be there ASAP.”
    Hank closed the phone and shouldered his way into the lobby. The two men got into the elevator. The one with the leather jacket leaned forward and punched a button. The doors slid silently closed.
    The guy wearing the plum jacket and red sneakers looked familiar to Hank, but he couldn’t place him at the moment. He walked over and pressed the button for another elevator. The doors opened, three people got off, and Hank got on. He pressed the button for the eighth floor and the doors closed.
    They’re a little slow getting here, Hank thought as the car rose smoothly. The assault happened late yesterday afternoon and only now they’re paying a visit to the kid’s room. They work for someone who has to tell them what to do. The guy in the plum jacket, who the hell does he work for? Hank racked his brains without luck.
    The elevator reached the eighth floor and the doors opened. Hank drew his Glock and peeked left and right down the corridor. Empty. He turned right and started down toward Josh’s room, 824. He walked slowly, heel to toe, with his gun extended in a low ready position. He could see that the doors of 824 and 822, the next room up on the same side, were both open. A housekeeping cart was parked between the rooms.
    He reached 822 and paused, lifting his gun close to his sternum. He looked into the room and saw a woman in a housekeeper’s uniform making the bed. He lowered his gun and passed the doorway, eyes flitting between the cart and the open door of 824. He reached 824 and