Page 27 of Push & Pull
Petra said nothing.
“You can’t talk to these people logically. They won’t part with cash unless you make it truly worth their while. The fastest way to do that?” He took a generous bite of his pizza and spoke above his bites. “Hit them in the heart.”
Petra shifted in her seat. “Hit them where it hurts, you mean.”
“Create panic. Make them think that whatever they’re forking money over for is more important than the money itself. That…” Greasy pizza shook in Petra’s face. “That is how you get those bank accounts to open.That’show you make a payday.”
Samson chuckled. Georgio stared at Petra as if he suddenly realized she was there.
“I’ve already had dinner.” She scooted back in her chair. “If you’ve given me all of my instructions, I’ll be heading back to my hotel.”
Nobody stopped her, although Michail smugly smiled at her as she turned around and headed back into the living room. Samson’s wife was gone, although a light shined beneath the bathroom door.
Petra glanced toward the kitchen, where the three men were in sight and already muttering about their other plans. When she was sure that nobody saw her, she snatched Samson’s wife’s purse and pulled out her wallet.
Five bucks and a debit card. Not even worth it.
Chapter 11
SimonebarelynoticedwhenPetra returned. Then again, things had changed since Petra left earlier that evening.
“Whoa.” She found Simone sitting in the lobby of the hotel, the manager on one side and a police officer on the other. For the past half hour, Simone had explained the terrifying situation of almost being robbed – or worse! – by someone attempting to break into her room. The man had been caught on the security camera, but nobody recognized him beneath his disguise. Although the manager promised to turn the tape over to the police, Simone had a feeling that it would go nowhere. “What’s going on here?”
“We’re changing rooms, for one thing.” Simone scratched her head when she said that. “Someone tried to break in while you were gone. I happened to be getting a drink from the vending machine and caught him in the act.”
Although Petra conveyed her shock with her visage, she did not say anything.
The officer took a statement from Petra as well, although she had nothing to offer. The manager escorted them back to their untouched room and waited for them to pack up their things before taking them to a room in another part of the hotel. Simone had asked if she could possibly get any security that night, but the poor manager looked at her as if to say,“Sweetheart, this isn’t Vegas. We’re not exactly known for our big security budget.”
“I will ensure the night shift is on high alert,” the manager said before departing. “I amsosorry for this, Ms. Evans.” To Petra, he said, “You too, Miss… uh…”
“Kallis.”
Simone glanced at Petra when the manager repeated the name back to her. When he was gone and the two women were left alone in their new room, she said, “Petra Kallis?”
“What? Problem?”
“No. Just don’t hear those names every day. Greek, right?”
“Hmph. I didn’t completely lie about where my family was from. Only how much money they made. So…” Petra turned to the pile of items Simone had already left on the table by the window. The curtains were drawn closed, and they would stay that way until they checked out. “Where did the laptop come from?”
Simone arranged her things while Petra flopped onto the bed. “Right after you left, I popped into the store down the block. Oh, I bought a prepaid phone, too. Of course, I didn’t have it on me when I went out to get a damn soda.” Simone had a sudden thought. “I wonder if I was followed here from the electronics’ store. Like maybe I was targeted?”
Petra did not commit any reaction until she said, “It’s possible. Seems like a terrible way to target someone these days, though. Especially since that laptop doesn’t look that expensive.”
“It’s not! Cost like $250.”
“What an idiot, then. Hopefully, you and that cop hanging around gave him a good scare. Though, to be fair…” Petra rolled onto her back and looked up at the ceiling. “I see a cop in the hotel lobby where I’m staying, and I assume he’s after me.”
Simone looked up from her laptop. Although she was sure the would-be robber hadn’t made it inside the other room, she was still worried that her info had been tampered with. “Why? Do you have a warrant I should know about?” Simone didn’t want to sound judgmental, but she also would have liked to have known about this before she agreed to spend another night with Petra.
“Warrants? Nah. Been to jail a couple of times, though. I was an idiot kid. Guess you could say it’s a gut reaction whenever I see the pigs out of their pen.”
Simone stared at the top of Petra’s dark head before looking back at the laptop screen. “I’m grateful they came quickly.”
“Only because even down here they know the name Simone Evans.”
“What makes you think I’m that special?”
