Chapter 30: The Hotel
Alex and Jack glanced around Ebert Park, trying to put the pieces together.
"He asked you to come to this fountain specifically?" asked Jack.
"Yeah," replied the gentleman.
"Let me take a look at that park map," said Alex.
One of the nearby agents handed him a map.
"Why not the fountain on the other side of the park?" he asked.
"Because this one's closer to the payphone they called me on," replied the gentleman.
"No," retorted Jack, "Because this one's closer to them."
"Exactly," said Alex, "They told you to meet them at the statue, then the fountain, then to the building across the park…why?"
Jack's eyes brightened in understanding.
"So they could keep him in their sights," she said, "They were watching the entire time. But from where?"
Alex and Jack scanned the nearby buildings. Suddenly Alex cried out and pointed to one.
"There! The hotel."
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Alex and Jack walked into the hotel. Alex held up the pictures of the two brothers to the lady behind the counter.
"Have you seen either of these men?"
The lady shook her head no.
"What about her?" he asked, holding up a picture of Sarah Tancredi.
"Yeah. Room 1006," said the lady, "She checked in a couple hours ago."
Jack and Alex nodded in gratitude and began glancing around the lobby area. Jack spotted a set of stairs and pointed them out to Alex. He nodded and they began to climb them.
They ran up ten flights of stairs until they reached the right floor. Alex flung open the staircase doorway and stalked down the hallway, with Jack following close behind.
Soon, they ran into a maid. Alex motioned for her to stay quiet and asked for a key. The maid complied and calmly handed Alex the key. He motioned for her to move further down the hallway.
He and Jack slowly approached the room and stood outside to see if they could hear anyone inside. It was silent. Alex inserted the key into the door and turned it slightly. The door gave way, but the chain lock only allowed it to open a couple of inches.
Alex kicked the door open, breaking the chain latch, and entered the room with his gun drawn. Jack drew her weapon and slid into the room after him. They stalked silently around the room, looking in every closet and bathroom.
Then, Alex saw a cell phone charger cord on the floor. He motioned for Jack and she came over to see what it was. She nodded in acknowledgment. Alex motioned for her to remain silent and to follow him.
Alex led her around the corner near the door and pressed himself up against the wall. Jack gave him a questioning look, but remained quiet.
Soon, they heard some slight rustling noises from the bedroom. Jack tensed and waited. Just then, someone turned the corner and nearly ran right into Alex. But Alex was quick to react and stuck his gun in the person's face to prevent them from doing anything.
Alex sighed in disappointment when he recognized who it was. Jack lowered her weapon and let out a frustrated growl. It was Sarah Tancredi.
Alex sneered when he saw the look of fear and shock on her face.
"Sit down."
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Alex and Jack stood by the window murmuring to one another. Then Jack walked away and sat down on the couch opposite of Jack.
"When were they here?" she asked, "Five minutes, ten minutes?"
Sarah shook her head, "They were never here."
"No, no, no, no…they were here," said a very agitated-looking Alex, "I know they were here. Where did they go?"
"I…I don't know," replied Sarah, trying to appear calm.
"No…you do know," said Alex, his hands now shaking.
"He decided that it was for the best. I couldn't take this anymore."
"So, it's over?" asked Jack, "Just like that?"
"Yeah."
"It's over like the time you flew to Mexico with a dead woman's ID to meet up with him?" asked Jack, angrily, "Or when you met at the train station, or like today when you checked into this hotel two hours ago? Which one is it, Sarah?"
"No place to meet, no phone call…" said Alex.
"He's not…"
"Oh, so he's not going to call you?!" snapped Alex.
Sarah slammed her cell phone down on the table between herself and Jack.
"Don't lie to us," said Alex, "You don't want to do that."
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Chicago FBI Field Office
The phone rang and Agent Lang reached over to pick it up.
"Agent Lang."
"Uh, yeah…I need to speak to Mahone, please."
"Can I have him return the call?" asked Lang.
"Listen, this is Benjamin Miles Franklin and I need to speak to Mahone right away."
Lang glanced up at Wheeler as he walked over to her. She covered the receiver with her hand and whispered to him.
"It's Franklin for Mahone."
"I'll take it," said Wheeler.
Lang glared at him for a moment and hesitated.
Wheeler grew angry and snatched the phone out of Lang's hand. Lang shot him a very irritated look.
"Mr. Franklin?" said Wheeler, "This is Agent Wheeler, I don't believe we've met before…"
"I need to speak to Mahone!"
"Something I can help you with?"
"Is Jack Harper there?"
"No, she's unavailable as well. What can I do for you Mr. Franklin?"
"Listen, I want to leave them a message. You tell them that I'll do what they want me to do, okay? I just need a little bit more time…I'll do it. Just don't hurt them. You hear me? Don't hurt them!"
Franklin hung up.
Wheeler hung up the phone slowly, bewildered by what he had just heard.
"What's up?" asked Lang.
"Excuse me," muttered Wheeler as he stalked past her.
Lang watched him leave with undisguised suspicion.
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