The End of the Game - 3
They made a cautious approach to Peck's hotel on foot when Shaw halted "In the car ahead" she said "I think it's Lambert". She was right, they found him slumped in the front seat with blood covering his shirt and his breath rattling in his throat. "Peck..." he gasped.
"Peck did this?" said Reese, astonished that a nerd could overcome someone like Lambert.
"No" said Lambert, shaking his head "Peck… save…" and he pointed to the hotel.
"Shaw, stay with him" ordered Reese "Contact his people, we don't want them blaming us"
Shaw dived into the car and made a rough bandage to staunch the bleeding. Lambert's face was beaded with sweat and his breathing was ragged. She found his mobile and rapidly checked previous calls, deciding that "G" was probably Greer and calling the number.
"Ah, Mr. Lambert" said an upper-class British voice "I hope…"
"Greer, it's Sameen Shaw. We found Lambert shot-up at Peck's hotel and it's doesn't look good. We can take him to someone we know or will you send some people?"
Greer paused, obviously taken off-balance "I'll send a medical team, can you wait 10 minutes?"
"Yes, make it snappy"
"Miss Shaw" said Greer "I'd like to thank you for this phone call, Jeremy is a valued colleague"
Shaw ended the call and resumed tending to Lambert. He grasped her arm urgently "There… there's a new player in the game" he gasped "Maybe it's a whole new game. You and the others… watch your steps"
Two black SUVs drew up and Samaritan agents eased Lambert into one of them. Shaw exchanged nods with their leader - Zachary she thought his name was - and briefly spoke to the Samaritan medic, who seemed competent enough, to assure herself that Lambert would be taken good care of. She smiled inwardly at fussing over someone who might normally be on the other side of a gun, either him pointing one at her or her at him. She mused about a future where Samaritan got on with its plans for world domination and left them in peace to help the numbers. She sighed – that wouldn't happen, anyway Finch and Root would be aghast at what they would see as surrender.
ooooooooooo
Reese bribed the hotel clerk again but he denied seeing Peck since Reese's last visit or anyone asking for him; "He must think it's Christmas" thought Reese sourly. This time Peck's door was ajar and Reese slipped in cautiously. Someone has searched the room and hadn't bothered to hide the fact but, on the plus side, there were no signs of violence or any sort of struggle. Whoever the other party was, it looked like their luck was as bad as Reese's own.
"Finch, we've struck out again" he reported "Any ideas?"
"Yes, Mr. Reese" said Finch "Mr. Peck's father owned a house in the suburbs, he may be there sorting through his father's effects. I imagine he'll want to make arrangements to dispose of the property before he leaves the United States again"
"Good idea, send the address and I'll check it out after I drop Shaw back. She's currently fixing up Lambert, someone shot him. I think others are after Peck, his room's been searched too"
"Be careful, both of you" cautioned Finch "It must be the government, no one else has an interest"