A man was sitting there.
It was Omar.
He was holding a gun.
Omar’s eyes were hard, triumphant. “Not so smart as you think, are you?”
“Clearly not.”
“You thought no one would see past that fake moustache and stupid cowboy hat. But I do. You are not Floyd Maitland.”
Teddy shrugged. “It was a calculated risk.”
“Unfortunately for you, I’ve had dealings with Maitland. He was an annoying man but a good businessman, sold us AK-47s.”
“I hope you got a good deal.”
Omar gestured with the gun. “With one hand, reach down and pull your jacket open so I can see your gun.”
Teddy did as he was told. The shoulder holster hung just where Omar said it would.
“Take the gun out with two fingers and set it on the floor. Slowly. That’s it. Now stand up and raise your hands again. Don’t make any sudden moves. You’re mine. I could have shot you. I still can. But I want to know who you are and what you’re doing. Are you with the CIA?”
“I am not with the CIA.”
“Who are you with?”
Teddy just smiled.
Omar scowled. “You have no bargaining power. You talk or you die.”
“I will talk. Just ask me something I know.”
“You don’t know who you’re with?”
“I don’t know what the sides are. I don’t know what the game is. So far, all I know is several people want to kill a black rhino. Why, I have no idea.”
“For sport.”
“So they say. But you don’t want to kill it. Why not?”
“It does not amuse me.”
“I doubt if this operation was organized for your amusement. Why was it organized, I wonder?”
Omar said nothing. He rubbed his left eye.
Teddy relaxed slightly.
Omar frowned. “You look too calm. Why aren’t you frightened?”
“They teach us not to show fear. It’s one of the first classes at Langley.”
Omar scowled.
“That gun must be heavy with the silencer,” Teddy said. “Why don’t you put it down?”
“Last chance,” Omar snarled. “You want to talk, or should I shoot you right now?”
“Hmm. Tough choice. They’re always mad at you when you talk. When you’re shot, you get a lot of sympathy.”
“Stop talking nonsense!”
“Did you open my hotel safe?” Teddy said gently.
The change of subject was too much for Omar. He blinked stupidly. “What?”
“My hotel safe. Did you open it?”
“There was nothing in it.”
“But you opened it. Which hand did you use?”
“Why?”
“You’re right-handed, aren’t you? You’re holding the gun in your right hand. But some right-handed people use their left hand on a combination lock. Is that what you did?”
“Why are you saying this?”
“Just passing the time. Why exactly did you open the safe? What were you looking for?”
“Why are you being so strange?”
“You’re very strong, aren’t you? Were you ever captured? I bet you’d stand up well to interrogation. Strong man like you. And yet . . .” Teddy pointed. “I was right! Your left eyelid’s drooping. You did use your left hand on the safe.”
The Palestinian blinked, no longer sure of himself. “What are you saying?”
“I figured you’d search my room and open my safe. You know, it’s amazing that a small amount of serum can produce such a drastic result. Could you feel the pinprick on your finger? Obviously not, or you would not have been waiting so patiently for me to get home.”
Omar shuddered. The gun he was holding wavered. He raised it at Teddy and attempted to pull the trigger. But his finger was putty.
“Can’t hold a gun anymore, can you? It’s all right, I’ll help you.” Teddy stepped up and took the gun from Omar’s fingers. “Good thing you’re sitting down or you’d be on the floor by now.”
Teddy pulled open the door of the minibar and took out a small, clear bottle. “You want the antidote?” He popped open the bottle and poured it into a small glass. “You have maybe a minute before you won’t be able to drink it anymore. You can take comfort in the fact that you were loyal and true in the face of death, or you can tell me why you’re at the conference. You don’t have time for a lengthy explanation, so just give me the gist.” He held up the glass, tantalizingly. “Why are you here?”
Omar’s face twisted. His mouth was distorted, making it impossible to tell if he was trying to talk or just writhing in agony.
His mouth formed a word. “Dog.”
Teddy blinked. Dog?
Omar was now swaying. Teddy gripped his shoulders and shook him. “Did you say ‘dog’?” he asked.
Omar nodded his head, sort of a lolling droop, but a clear affirmative.
“Good boy. Drink this.” He held the glass to Omar’s lips. Omar managed to choke it down. “And here’s the rest of the antidote.” Teddy took a hypodermic syringe out of his pocket. He rolled up Omar’s sleeve, and injected it into his vein. Omar’s body jerked violently. “Don’t worry. That’s perfectly natural.”
The twitching subsided.
“Now, here’s the bad news. That wasn’t the antidote. The drink was vodka. The injection was pure alcohol. I need you to have enough in your system that no one questions an accident. That’s right. You’re going to have an accident. Just sit there. I’ll take care of everything.”
Teddy opened the hotel room door. Maitland’s suite was on the interior court, where the hallway overlooked the lobby fourteen floors below. At the moment, the chambermaids were working in suites across the court, and there was no one in the hall. Teddy went back, lifted Omar to his feet, and walked him to the door. The man had no conscious thought remaining, just a few motor functions. Teddy propped him up, opened the door, and looked out. There was still no one there. Teddy pulled him out, leaned him on the rail, hoisted him up, and flipped him over.
Teddy didn’t wait to see the result. He was back in Maitland’s suite with the door locked before the body landed in the lobby.