Overkill (The Mammoth Book of Special Ops) Read Online Free PDF

and its brilliant floral table center perfectly repositioned.
    Tanner intended to be equally as efficient dispatching Joe’s hired killer. He headed for Joe Derek’s room on the third floor and let himself in. Not a second later, the barrel of a gun was lodged against the back of his neck. “What the fuck are you doing in here? Nosing around where you don’t belong.”
    “Collier. I was really hoping it wasn’t you. Figured we might get to be pals, you know?”
    “Fat chance. Turn around, Cross, and make it fast.”
    Tanner never argued with a gun—particularly one in a position to splatter his brains over Persian rugs. He turned.
    The sound of voices filtered in from the hall. “Fuck!” Collier appeared to panic, glancing left, then right. He grabbed Tanner’s shoulder, spun him. “The window. Behind the drapes. Now!”   He shifted the gun to Tanner’s back.
    “You’re kidding me. Behind the curtains?”
    “Shut up and move.”
    He moved. In seconds they were both hidden by rich damask, a second later Derek and Jacobsen walked into the room. Tanner had a half-assed view of the room through the panel break in the draperies.   He guessed Collier had about the same.
    Joe said clearly, “Have you got it?” He took off his jacket, placed it on the bed, and started rolling up his sleeve.
    “Yes, sir.” Jacobsen opened a small box and pulled out a syringe.
    “You can leave it.” Joe said. “I’ll do it myself tonight.”
    What the hell...
    Ignoring the gun Collier had parked on his left kidney, Tanner threw back the curtain. “Stop right there.”
    The men froze in place; Joe with his hand holding his shirt up above the elbow,   Jacobsen, the hypodermic in his hand, and Collier, his gun now pointed at empty space.
    Tanner strode to Jacobsen and grabbed the needle. Turning to Joe, he said, “Game over. Nobody’s dying here tonight.”
    Jacobsen looked faint. Fainter still when Collier stepped from behind the curtains, and pointed a gun at his gut. “Stay put.”
    Joe Derek closed his eyes a moment, then let out a long breath. “Let him go,” he said to Collier. “He thinks it’s a B12 shot. I’ve been taking them for months now.”
    “But this one’s not B12, is it?” Tanner said.
    “No.”
    “Let me guess... a heavy-duty barbiturate. Like maybe enough to kill a elephant?”
    Joe rolled down his sleeve and did up his cuff. “I knew you wouldn’t kill me, Tanner, but I didn’t expect you’d ride in on a damn white horse—figuratively speaking.” He glared at Collier. “What the hell are you doing here? And get rid of that.” He nodded to Collier’s gun.
    Collier shrugged, holstered the gun. “I didn’t like the way this guy’s been sneaking around. Plus he made one too many trips to buy pharmaceuticals. I figured whatever he was up to, it wasn’t good.“
    “I have not been ‘sneaking around’ as you put it. I have been following instructions.” Jacobsen came to life and turned on Joe, his back valet-straight. “Mister Derek, I have been happily in your employ for ten years, and it pains me to submit my resignation, effective immediately. But what pains me more is that you would use me in such an underhanded way. You were selfish to do so, and cowardly in the extreme. Before I go, may I suggest you do the honorable thing. Face your fate from your surgery with courage and resolve. And, as they say, let the chips fall where they may.” He looked around the room, his chin high. “Gentlemen, I bid you good-bye.”
    Three pairs of eyes watched Jacobsen leave the room. Then, Collier gave a curt nod and followed him.
    When they were alone, Tanner nodded to Joe. “Couldn’t have said it better myself.”
    Joe gave a shaky laugh. “Looks like Robbie Burns was right—‘The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.’ Including mine.” He walked to a cabinet near the window, atop it was a decanter of brandy and some glasses. He lifted the decanter.