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"HELLO, O’SULLIVAN," the man said.
"And who might you be?" I said. I couldn’t make out the details of his face due to the shadows.
"Never mind that," the man said. "I want my money back. Where is it?"
"Ah, Adam," I said. "The helo pilot."
"Shut up," Adam said. "Where is the money?"
"Money?" I said.
"Don’t play games with me," Adam said. "I’ve already been to the hospital to see Allison. She told me you have the backpack."
"The last time I saw you two together she was shooting at you," I said. "I’m surprised she would tell you anything."
"With a pillow pressed over her face, Allison became very cooperative," Adam said. "People tend to get that way when unable to breathe."
"Did you kill her?" I said.
"No, didn’t get the chance," Adam said. "A nurse interrupted me moments after she told me you had the backpack. Now, where is it?"
"It’s in my hotel room, back in Honolulu," I said. "Or at least it was the last time I saw it."
"You’re lying," Adam said.
"I’m not," I said. "If you’ve heard the news you know the cops think I killed Shaw in my hotel room. I had to run. I didn’t have time to take anything, not even the backpack. Even so, I got out of the room only minutes before the cops arrived."
"Yeah, I heard Shaw bought it," Adam said. "So, you did him?"
"I didn’t," I said. "But, someone went to a good bit of trouble to make it look as if I did."
"Then come on, we’re going back to Honolulu to get the money," Adam said.
"Pardon?" I said. "Did you not hear what I said? The cops think I killed Shaw and they were in my room. Do you actually think the police overlooked a backpack filled with cash?"
"No offense," Adam said, "but I still don’t believe you." He motioned with the barrel of the gun. "Let’s go inside and have a look. I want to make sure the backpack isn’t there."
"Sure," I said. I turned, opened the door, and walked back inside. Adam followed me in and closed the door behind him.
Adam looked around the lounge. "How about the bedroom?" he said. "Let’s have a look in there." He motioned with the gun barrel again.
I walked to the small bedroom and went in.
"Stand over there against the wall," Adam said.
I complied. Adam stooped over and checked beneath the bed. Not finding the backpack there, he walked to the wardrobe. After glancing at me, he opened the door and looked inside. No backpack. He then walked around the foot of the bed until he could see the floor on the other side. We repeated the process while he checked the bathroom and kitchen.
"Have you hidden it somewhere outside?" Adam said.
"I didn’t," I said. "Like I told you, it was in my hotel room, and I’m certain the police have it now."
"That reminds me," Adam said. "Where is your gun, the one you used to shoot up my bird with?"
"To be fair, you were trying to strike me with your helo," I said.
Adam laughed. "You’re quite the smart ass, lady."
"Yep, I can be a bit cheeky when someone is pointing a gun at me."
"So where is it?" Adam said.
"It was in the backpack with the money," I said. "I’m guessing the police have it too."
"Strange that there was nothing in the news about the cops finding $750,000 in your hotel room," Adam said.
"Not really," I said. "The police don’t tell the media everything about a murder investigation."
"Maybe not," Adam said. "But to be certain, let's have a look in your rental car outside."
"I’m not mad," I said. "If I had the bloody backpack I wouldn’t have left it outside in the car."
"You could have been on your way to retrieve it from the car when I showed up," Adam said. " I see you have the car keys in your hand. You must have gone outside to get something from the car. We'll take a look to make sure the backpack isn't there. Now, move. We’re going to check the car."
We walked outside to the car. "My guess is it is in the trunk," Adam said. "Let’s look there first."
He directed me to the back of the car. "Open it," he said.
I inserted the key and turned the lock.
"Now take a step back," Adam said, holding the gun straight out in his right hand with the barrel pointed at my face. He looked away for a split second while he lifted the lid of the boot with his left hand. It was time to make my move.
I stepped forward and slapped the inside of Adam’s right wrist hard with my right palm. In the same motion, I twisted and ripped the pistol out of his hand with my left. It was a Krav Maga move I learned once from an Israeli Mossad officer. So quick and violent was the move, taking the weapon from Adam had been as easy as taking candy from an infant. Now Adam was looking down the barrel of his own gun.
Adam started to speak, but my right foot was already in motion. I gave him a proper kick in the crotch. Adam doubled over grabbing himself. I followed up with a knee to his face. The blow sent him sprawling backward against the car, and then he bounced off it and slid to the ground on his side.
He put both hands to his nose. There was already a nice bit of blood running from his nostrils. "You broke my nose you bitch."
"At least it made you forget the pain in your nuts," I said. "You’re welcome. Now get up rat bastard. We’re going back inside. You try anything, and I’ll shoot you quick smart right in the arse."
I closed the lid of the boot and pulled the key out. Adam got to his feet and limped back inside the flat with me behind him. The moment we entered the lounge, I bashed him in the head behind the right ear with the butt of the pistol. Adam dropped like a sack of grain.
"Sorry, mate," I said. "I’m feeling a bit shattered, and I couldn’t be fucked with dealing with you a moment longer."
After making certain Adam was unconscious, I went to the kitchen and picked up the knife I’d used earlier. I went back to the lounge and cut the pull cords off the mini blinds over the front windows. Putting the gun down, I bound Adam’s wrists behind his back with one length of the cord. I used the other to bind his ankles. Satisfied he wasn’t going anywhere, I took the gun and went back to the bedroom and got dressed. I couldn’t very well tell Adam to get lost and not return. And I’d not get any sleep staying here with him in the flat, so it was time to move. I grabbed my things and went back out the front door.
I’d left the flat key inside where the owner could find it before closing the front door. It was possible Adam might manage to free himself once he came to I reckoned. If not, the flat owner would find him at some point.
I got in the car and drove back to the motorway, headed back towards Honolulu. I arrived in a town called Wahiawa and drove around for a bit until I found a motel that looked a bit dodgy. The motel had a blinking neon sign out front. The word "vacancy" was partly illuminated. I stopped in front of the office.
I took a packet of one hundred dollar bills from the backpack, ripped off the paper band, and dropped the money in my bag. I went into the office and walked up to the counter. There was no one about so I tapped a silver bell on the counter. An elderly Asian guy came out from the back through a doorway covered by a curtain.
"Yes?" he said.
"I need a room for the night," I said.
I followed the man’s gaze as he looked at a clock mounted on the wall. It was after one in the morning. Looking back at me he said, "Ninety-six dollars."
"Fine," I said. I reached into the beach bag and pulled out a hundred. "Here you go, keep the change," I said.
The man took the bill. He didn’t bother asking for identification or ask me to sign anything. He reached beneath the counter and handed me a room key with a plastic tag attached that had a room number on it. "Room 5," the man said.
"Thank you," I said. I walked back outside, got in the car, and drove along in front of the building until I saw the door with number 5 on it. I parked in front, retrieved the backpack from the boot of the car, and then let myself into the room with the key. It bore no resemblance to the ocean-front flat I’d just left. The room smelt old and musty, the paint faded, and the carpet threadbare. But, it had a bed which is what I was most concerned with at the moment.
After locking the door, I stuck a chair beneath the knob. I turned down the comforter, kicked off my jandals, and fell into bed. The mattress had seen better days but completely shattered in no time I fell asleep.
