Chapter 93 first quarter

Decker didn't immediately realize what was happening.He felt as if in a dream.He hadn't been killed, and it surprised him, it paralyzed him, it made him shudder.He even wondered if McKittrick had really let him go.McKittrick's maniac laughter echoed in his head, making him uneasy.There must be something wrong. But Decker didn't have time to think about it.He turned sharply and ran back towards the faint lights of Kloster.Although he is now exhausted from too little sleep and not eating enough, although his wounds are aching all over his body, and the cold on his wet clothes is consuming his strength, he feels that he has never run so fast However, it has never been so determined.The storm beat him hard, but he ignored it and continued dashing on through the darkness.He stretched his legs as far as he could and strode forward.His lungs heaved.Nothing could stop him from going to Beth.Distraught he made it to the edge of town, and saw vaguely the Oldsmobile, which Esperanza had parked on the side of the road near the motel.Then the motel loomed in front of me, its red neon sign flashing.He turned the corner in an almost frenzied rush, gathered the last of his strength, and rushed past the dark rooms, heading straight for No. 19, where the lights were shining.

In the room, Beth was lying on the side of the bed, and Esperanza was bringing a glass of water to her lips.The gag and the rope were thrown on the floor.Apart from these details, everything else in the room seems unnecessary to see.Decker's attention was on Beth.Her long, blond-brown hair was in a mess, her eyes were sunken, and her cheeks were thin.He walked quickly to her, knelt on the ground, and gently raised his hands to hold her face.He was only vaguely aware that he was unrecognizable, that his wet hair was pressed against his forehead, that the abrasions on his face were bleeding, that his drenched His tattered clothes were covered with dirt.But nothing matters except Beth's safety.

"You...?" His voice was hoarse with emotion, startling even himself. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" "No." Beth shuddered.She seemed to be wondering if she was still sober. "You're bleeding. Your face..." Decker felt his eyes ache and his throat ache.He realized he was sobbing. "Lie down, Decker," Esperanza said, "you look worse than Beth." Decker hugged Beth.He held her as lightly as he could, despite the surge of emotion in his heart, and he tasted the saltiness of his own tears as he held her.This was the moment he had been waiting for.All his resolutions and tribulations were for this moment.

"You're hurt," Beth said. "It's okay." He kissed her, never wanting to let go. "I can't tell you how worried I am. Are you sure you're all right?" "Yeah. They didn't hit me. The rope and the gag were the worst. And that thirst. I couldn't get enough water." "I'm serious, Decker," Esperanza said. "You look terrible. You better lie down." But Decker didn't listen to him. He picked up the glass of water and told Beth to drink more.He was overwhelmed with surprise, and kept repeating: "You are still alive." It seemed that in the deepest part of his mind, he had been doubting whether he could save her.

"I was terrified." "Forget about it." Decker stroked her tangled hair lovingly. "It's over now. McKittrick is gone." "And that woman." "woman?" "She terrified me." Decker leaned back, looking at Beth in bewilderment. "What woman?" "The woman with McKittrick." Decker felt a chill in his stomach. "But I only see one man." "Wearing a raincoat and a rain hat." A chill spread through his already icy body. "Is that a woman?" Beth shivered. "She's beautiful, but she has a weird voice. There's something wrong with her throat, a puckered hole, a scar like she's been hit there by something."

Decker understood now why he found that repulsive hoarse voice somewhat familiar.No matter how loud that voice becomes, there is still something that indicates an accent.Italian accent. "Listen carefully. Is she tall? Does she have a nice hip? Short black hair? Does she look Italian?" "Yes. How do you—" "My God, did McKittrick call her by her name? Did he—" "Renata." "We have to get out of here." Decker stood up, pulling Beth up as well.He scanned the room frantically. "What happened?" "Did she leave anything behind? A briefcase? Luggage?"

"As they were getting ready to leave, she went into the other room with a shopping bag and came back without it." "We've got to get out of here," Decker yelled, pushing Beth and Esperanza toward the open door. "She's an expert on demolition. I fear it's a bomb!" He pushed them out into the rain, recalling in horror that stormy night in Rome 15 months ago when he ducked behind a wooden cargo box in the yard. Renata had detonated a bomb in an upstairs apartment.Debris from the explosion fell like a waterfall from the balcony on the fourth floor, and the raging flames lit up the yard.Out of the corner of Decker's eye, he noticed a figure moving in the far left corner of the yard.It was near the door through which he and McKittrick had entered.But that man wasn't McKittrick.The figure emerging from the shadow of the stairs was Renata.With a suppressed pistol in her hand, she rushed towards the open gate and fired continuously into the courtyard.On the wet cobblestones behind the cargo box, Decker moved forward on his elbows and knees.He climbed to the side of the cargo box just in time to catch a glimpse of Renata approaching the door.He aimed at her through the rain curtain and fired twice.The first bullet hit the wall behind her, the second hit her throat.She clutched her trachea, and blood spurted out.Her brother dragged her out into the dark street, out of sight.Decker knew it was useless to save her.Her throat would be so blocked by the bullet that she would not be able to breathe, and within minutes she would die of asphyxiation.

But she wasn't dead, Decker realized with horror.McKittrick must have been looking for her in the weeks and months since.Was she in partnership with McKittrick?Had she convinced him that she was not his enemy, that the Intelligence Service used him worse than she did?Had she been manipulating all this? "Run!" Decker yelled. "Get behind the dumpster!" He heard Esperanza running after him and urged Beth ahead to hurry.Suddenly, he felt a gust of draft turn the driver's window toward the motel.McKittrick must have come back after Decker.He leaned out of the open window, his features contorted with rage.Holding a detonator aloft, he yelled, "I could have detonated it while you were in it! But that would be too cheap for you! I just started! Look behind you often! Some night, when you don't expect We'll blow you and your bitch to pieces!"

In the distance, sirens blared.McKittrick lifted something else.Decker had just enough strength to wrap his arms around Beth before he opened fire with his automatic weapon, and together the two rolled towards the cover behind the dumpster.Bullets thumped against the metal box.Behind the dumpster, Esperanza fought back with his pistol drawn.The next thing Decker heard the screech of tires on the wet pavement, McKittrick's Pontiac roared away.