Page 38 of Devil's Deal

“Keep an eye out,” I whispered to Dante as I passed him.

“You got it.”

Since Gangster’s Paradise was on the second floor, I often took the stairs, but I was as nervous about seeing Cory again as I was agitated that he’d been in this meeting with Huey for so long. A dose of Everest was just what the doctor called for.

“Good afternoon, sir,” Everest said as the elevator doors opened. He checked his watch. “A little early for you to be back, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, but I had some things I wanted to look into around here today.”

“I’m sure Mr. Letterman will be glad to have you back.” He beamed knowingly. “With all those break-ins, he needs someone keeping an eye on him.”

The elevator doors opened, but there was something about Everest agreeing that Cory needed someone to care about him that made me stop and open my camera app. I should’ve done that in the first place while I was still at the desk. I could have reassured Harlow already. Not that I wanted him to know I’d put a camera in Cory’s office.

“That’s weird.”

“What’s that?” Everest asked.

I pointed the phone toward him. “Cory’s not in his office.”

Everest was mumbling something about him probably walking the hotel while I rewound the recording. I stopped as soon I saw Huey on Cory’s side of the desk. “What’s he doing?”

I went back further and saw Huey striking Cory and my boy falling back into his rolling chair. “What the…” My voice trailed off as I hit fast-forward. I skipped through slowly, and I watched as Huey shoved something silver and gleaming into his pocket.

“He’s got a gun,” I said, speaking more to myself than Everest. Huey went around the desk and to the wall, tapping somewhere off to the left of the viewing angle, and a hole appeared. He went back, and straining, he rolled Cory back through it. “What the actual fuck?”

“Was that Mr. Letterman?” Everest asked with concern.

“Take me back downstairs,” I demanded, stepping back all the way into the glass box.

The door shut, and Everest worried his hands together. “It looks like he took them into the old tunnels.”

My head snapped up, surprised. “The what?”

Everest nodded his head. “Yeah, there’s tunnels running all the way around this place. I think there’s even some down below.”

The doors opened, and Everest stayed on my heels as I moved briskly through the lobby, dodging any fellow travelers. “Cory never said anything about any tunnels. Does he know about them?”

“I don’t know. Mr. Mac knew about them, but Mr. Letterman never said anything about them.”

“What’s wrong?” Dante asked as we reached him.

“Office. Now,” I barked.

My hand was on the doorknob when I realized that Everest and Harlow had followed us, as well. “You two stay out here and do your jobs. I’m going to go get Cory.”

“What’s happening?” Harlow asked, sounding panicked.

Join the club kid. I am, too.

“I’ll tell him. You go on now,” Everest said.

As soon as Dante was in the office, he closed the door behind us. He stopped. “I thought Cory was in here.”

“So did I.” I went to the wall, examining the area where I saw Huey’s hand disappear.

“What are you doing?” Dante came to my side. “Where’s Cory?”

“Did you know there’s fucking tunnels in this building?”

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