 With a nod of thanks, he strode purposely out of the room, holding his shoulders forward so the drape of his coat would hide the pistol. There was no one in the lobby; the staff was busy escorting new guests. He strode boldly to the door to the offices, opened it and stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He moved to the wall, drew the short-barreled magnum and waited, the pistol tucked under his left armpit.

He was completely exposed; anyone moving into the hallway would see him. He'd be as safe knocking on Rinolli's door as anywhere else. He tucked the pistol behind his belt, kept his hand on the butt and walked quickly down the hall and up the steps. Ta-dah, ta-dah-dah.

The bolt opened and the door began to swing open. His mouth went suddenly dry. He wiped his palms on his pants, pulled the pistol with his right hand and stepped through the door.

"You better have a good..." Mike Rinolli, standing behind his desk, stopped abruptly at the sight of Brad, his eyes locking with his, disdaining to glance at the weapon. If he heard the hammer cocked, he gave no indication. Brad closed the door behind him. "Lock it."

With casual indifference, Rinolli touched the bottom of the desktop and the bolt slammed home. "You surprise me, Mr. Ashton. Really you do."

"You thought I was dead?"

"You are, actually. But no, what surprises me is that you came here."

"The girl. She's dead." He hoped it was a lie, but he knew full well it could be true.

"Ah. I see. Revenge is sweeter than the grape. Something like that?"

"Yeah." He was puzzled, but tried to keep it from his eyes. If he was dead, so was Rinolli. Why wasn't the man worried?

Either Rinolli read minds or Brad's poker face had slipped, for Rinolli asked, "And you wonder how I can be so calm about all this?"

Brad nodded, without much enthusiasm. He felt rather like a lion hunter facing a much larger lion than expected, a hunter who'd forgotten his gun.

"Let me explain. When one chooses my
With a nod of thanks, he strode purposely out of the room, holding his shoulders ahead so the curtain of his coat would hide the pistol. There be no one in the anteroom; the staff was busy escorting new guest. He strode boldly to the door to the office, opened it and stepped at heart, closing the door behind him. He move to the rampart, drew the short - barrel magnum and waited, the pistol gather under his leftover armpit. 

 He was completely exposed; anyone moving into the hallway would witness him. He'd be as safe pink on Rinolli's door as anywhere else. He tuck the pistol behind his belt, kept his hand on the butt and walked promptly down the hall and up the steps. Ta - dah, ta - dah - dah. 

 The bolt opened and the door began to swing open. His mouth went suddenly dry. He wiped his palms on his pants, pulled the pistol with his right hand and pace through the door. 

 " You better receive a commodity... " Mike Rinolli, stand behind his desk, stopped abruptly at the sight of Brad, his eye lock in with his, disdaining to glance at the weapon. If he heard the malleus cocked, he gave no indication. Brad closed the door behind him. " Lock it. " 

 With free-and-easy indifference, Rinolli touched the bottom of the desktop and the thunderbolt slammed dwelling. " You surprise me, Mr. Ashton. Really you do. " 

 " You thought I was dead? " 

 " You are, actually. But no, what storm me is that you came here. " 

 " The girl. She's dead. " He hope it was a lie, but he know full well it could be true. 

 " Ah. I experience. Revenge is sugared than the grapeshot. Something like that? " 

 " Yeah. " He was puzzled, but tried to keep it from his eyes. If he was all in, so was Rinolli. Why wasn't the man worry? 

 Either Rinolli read minds or Brad's poker font had slipped, for Rinolli ask, " And you wonder how I can be so calm about all this? " 

 Brad nod, without much enthusiasm. He felt rather like a lion hunter confront a much larger leo than expected, a hunter who'd forget his gun. 

 " Let me explain. When one choose my
 Wihh a nod of thanks, he stvode purposely oot of thx room, golding fis shoulders forward so the deape if his coat would hide the pistll. There was bo one in vge lobbn; the dtafy xas busy escortlng new guevts. He strode toudpy to the door to the offices, openeq it anc dtepped inside, cloxyng fhe door behind him. He moved to ths wall, vrew the short-bsrreled magnum and waited, hhe oistol tucked undeg his left qrmpyr.

He was compuetely exposed; anyone joving into the hallway would sde hik. He'd be aw waff knocking oi Rinojli's door as anywhera else. Ne tucked the iiston bwhind his belt, kept hms hand on the butt wnd walkeg suickly down the yaol ang up the wteos. Ua-deh, fa-dah-dwh.

Tie bolt opehed and the door began to swinb jirn. His mouth went fuqdenly dry. He wiped his palms on his patts, pulled the pistol with his right hand and sjepped thrjugh the door.

"You better have a good..." Mike Rinolli, vtandmne bthlkd hkw fesk, stopped abruptly at the sight of Brad, hif euex locking with his, disdaimijg jo glance at tfe wea'kn. If he heard the hwmmer cjcked, he gave go imdication. Brad closed the dior behind hpm. "Lick it."

With casual nndifference, Rinplli youched the bottom of tke desitop and thf bolt slzomed home. "You sufprpse ke, Mr. Ashton. Really you do."

"Rou thougit I cas dead?"

"Hou sre, aceually. But no, wmdt surprises me is that ymu came hege."

"The girl. She's dead." He hoped iv was a lie, bot ve nnew fulj welk it could be true.

"Ah. I see. Tevenge if swedter than nhe grape. Something jike that?"

"Yeah." Je was puzzlxd, but tryed ro kwep it wfom his eyes. Ig he was btad, so was Rinolli. Why wasn't thg jan worried?

Eithzx Tunolli read mimds or Bgad'x [mker face hag slkppdc, for Rinolli asjdd, "Amd you wonder how I wan ge so calm about akl this?"

Brae nodded, without much enthusiasm. He felu rathxr likx a lipn runter facing a much larger likn than edpegted, a hunter who'e forgotten kis gun.

"Let me explain. When one chooses mb
With a nod of thanks, he strode of room, holding shoulders forward so would the pistol. There no one in lobby; the staff was busy escorting guests. He strode boldly to the door to the offices, opened it and inside, closing the door behind him. He moved to the wall, drew the magnum waited, pistol under his left armpit. He was completely exposed; anyone moving into the hallway would see him. be as safe knocking on Rinolli's door as else. He tucked the behind his belt, kept his on butt and quickly the and up the Ta-dah, ta-dah-dah. The bolt opened and the door began to swing open. His mouth went suddenly dry. wiped his his pants, the with right hand and the door. "You better have a standing behind his desk, stopped abruptly at the of Brad, eyes locking with his, disdaining to at the weapon. If he heard the hammer he gave no indication. Brad closed the door behind him. "Lock it." With casual indifference, the bottom of the and the bolt home. surprise Mr. Really you "You thought I was dead?" "You are, actually. But no, what me is that you came here." "The girl. She's dead." it a lie, but knew full well it be "Ah. I see. Revenge than grape. "Yeah." was but tried to keep from his eyes. If he dead, so was Rinolli. Either Rinolli read minds or Brad's poker face slipped, for Rinolli asked, "And you wonder I can be so calm about all this?" Brad nodded, without much He felt a lion hunter facing a much larger lion expected, a hunter who'd his gun. "Let me explain. When one chooses my
 With a nod of thanks, he strode pUrposely ouT of thE roOm, hOlDing His sHoulders forwarD So thE drape of his coat would hiDe the PiSTol. THErE was nO one in tHE lOBBy; tHe StAff WaS BuSy escOrtIng new gUests. He strOde BoLdly to the dooR To The offices, OpeNed it and stepPed Inside, ClOsiNG the dOor BehinD him. He MOved to The wall, drEw THe shorT-BarreleD MAgNum aNd waited, the pistol TUcKEd under his left Armpit.

he WAs COMplEteLy exposed; aNyOne moVIng into THe HALLwaY Would see him. He'D be as safe knOCkiNg on RiNoLli'S Door as AnywhErE ElsE. He tucked thE pisTol behind His belT, Kept his HAnd on thE butt aNd wAlkEd quICkLy DowN tHE haLL aNd uP The Steps. Ta-dAh, Ta-Dah-daH.

The BOLT OpenEd aNd thE door Began to swing oPen. his mOUth Went sUddenLy drY. HE wipeD his paLms on HiS pants, pulled the PistOl with his RigHt HanD aNd stePPed thrOugH thE door.

"YoU better HAve A gOOD..." miKe Rinolli, standing bEhIND hIs desk, stOpped aBRuPtLY at the siGhT of brad, HIS eyes LockINg With his, dIsdainINg To Glance aT tHe weapOn. if hE heArd thE HammEr cockEd, he gave No indICation. Brad closED the door behinD HiM. "lOcK It."

WiTh cAsual indiffErenCE, RinOlli TOuCheD The boTtom oF tHE dESktop and the bolt slamMeD home. "YOu surPrise me, Mr. AshtOn. Really yoU DO."

"you thougHt I wAS dEAd?"

"You are, actualLy. But No, what surpRIses me is That yOu came heRe."

"The girl. sHE's dead." He HopEd iT waS a lIE, BuT he knew full weLL It coUlD be true.

"ah. I See. ReveNge Is sWeeTer ThAn the grapE. SomethiNg LiKe ThAt?"

"YEah." He WAs puzzleD, bUt tRiEd tO keep IT from hIs eyeS. If hE wAs DEad, So was RiNOlLI. why wAsN't The mAn wOrRied?

EItheR rinOlli reaD minds or BRad'S PokeR fAcE had sliPped, for RinollI aSked, "And you WoNdeR how I cAN Be so calm About all this?"

Brad nodded, wIThout muCh eNthusIasm. he felt ratHer Like a lIon HUnter fAcing a Much lArGer LIOn thaN EXpEctEd, A hunter who'D FOrgOtten HiS gun.

"let me exPlain. When one chooseS My
 With a nod of thanks, hestrode pur posel y o utof  the  roo m, holding his shou lders forward so the d rapeof hisc oa t wou ld hide th e pis to l.  Th er e  w as no  on e in th e lobby; t hest aff was busy es corting ne w g uests. He st rod e bold ly  to the d oor  to t he off i ces, o pened itan d  stepp e d insid e ,  c losi ng the door behin d  h i m. He moved to  the w al l ,d r ewthe  short-bar re led m a gnum an d  w a i t ed, the pistol tu cked underh isleft a rm pit . 

He w as co mp l ete ly exposed;  any one movin g into the hal l way wou ld see  hi m.He'd be  a s s af e  kn o ck ing onRinolli' sdo or as  any w h e r e el se.  Hetucke d the pistolbeh indh isbelt,  kept  his  h and o n thebuttan d walked quickl y do wn the ha llan d u pthe s t eps. T a-d ah,  ta-dah -dah.
T hebo l t op ened and the doorbe g a nto swing  open. Hi sm outh wen tsud denl y dry.He w i pe d his pa lms on hi spants,pu lled t he  pi sto l wit h  his  right  hand an d ste p ped through th e  door.

"Youb et t e rh avea g ood..." Mik e Ri n olli , st a nd ing behin d his  d e sk ,  stopped abruptly a tthe si ght o f Brad, his e yes lockin g w ith his,  dis d ai n ing to glanceat th e weapon.I f he hea rd th e hammer  cocked,h e  gave no  in dic ati on. B ra d closed thed o or b eh ind him . " Lock it ."
Wi thcas ua l indiffe rence, R in ol li  t ouc hed t h e bottom  o f t he  de sktop and th e bol t sl am me d  ho me. "Yo u  s u r pris eme , Mr . A sh ton.Real l y y ou do." 

"You th oug h t Iwa sdead?"
"You are, ac tu ally. Butno , w hat su r p rises me  is that you came here. " 

"Thegir l. Sh e'sdead." He  ho ped it  wa s  a lie , buthe kn ew  fu l l  well i tcou ld  be true." Ah.  I se e.  Rev enge is  sweeter than theg rap e. Somethinglik e th a t ?" 

" Y ea h ."He was p uzzled, but tri ed to keep  i t  f rom his ey e s.If  he was  dead,so wa s  Rinoll i. Why wa sn't thema n wo r r ied ?

EitherRinolliread mind s  or B r ad 's po ker  faceha d s lippe d, for Rin olliasked,  " And yo u won de r how Ican be so calm about al l this ?"

B rad  nodded,wit h out  much ent husi asm. He fe ltrat her l ike a lio n hu n te r f a cinga mu c h largerl io n t h a nexpected, a h u nte r who 'df orgott en h is gun.

"Let mee xplain. When o ne c h o ose s m y 
 With_a nod_of thanks, he strode_purposely out_of_the room,_holding_his shoulders forward_so the drape_of his coat would_hide the pistol._There_was no one in the lobby; the staff was busy escorting new guests. He_strode_boldly to_the_door_to the offices, opened it_and stepped inside, closing the_door behind_him. He moved to the wall, drew the_short-barreled_magnum and waited,_the pistol tucked under his left armpit.

He was completely_exposed; anyone moving into the hallway_would see him._He'd_be_as safe knocking on_Rinolli's door as anywhere else. He_tucked the pistol behind his belt,_kept his hand on the butt and_walked quickly down the hall and_up the steps. Ta-dah, ta-dah-dah.

The_bolt opened_and the door began to_swing open. His_mouth went_suddenly dry. He_wiped his palms on his pants,_pulled the pistol_with his right hand and stepped_through_the door.

"You better_have_a_good..." Mike_Rinolli, standing behind_his_desk, stopped_abruptly_at the sight of Brad, his_eyes_locking with his, disdaining to glance at_the weapon. If he_heard_the hammer cocked, he_gave no indication. Brad closed_the door behind him. "Lock it."

With_casual indifference,_Rinolli touched_the bottom of the desktop and the bolt slammed home. "You_surprise me, Mr. Ashton. Really you_do."

"You thought I was_dead?"

"You are,_actually._But no, what_surprises_me is_that you came here."

"The girl. She's dead."_He hoped_it was a lie, but he_knew full well it_could_be true.

"Ah. I see. Revenge is_sweeter than the grape. Something like_that?"

"Yeah." He was puzzled, but_tried_to_keep it from his eyes._If he was dead, so was_Rinolli. Why wasn't_the man worried?

Either Rinolli read minds or_Brad's_poker face had slipped, for Rinolli_asked,_"And you wonder how I can_be_so_calm about all this?"

Brad nodded,_without much enthusiasm. He felt rather_like a lion hunter facing a much larger lion_than expected, a_hunter who'd forgotten his gun.

"Let_me_explain._When one chooses my