Klodi was in charge of an enhanced search team at the main doors. When he saw Hobart and the cops approach he stepped forward to meet them.
‘Hey, officers, can I help you?’
Hobart ignored the large thug with the bandaged hand and forced smile to talk to a woman who appeared to be a senior member of the event staff. ‘Who’s in charge here? I’m talking about the catering and everything?’
‘That would be Mr Mathews,’ the woman said, look ing at Hobart and the two cops either side of him.
‘And where would I find Mr Mathews?’ Hobart asked, like a schoolteacher talking to a child.
‘He’s inside,’ she said.
‘Get him out here – now, please,’ Hobart said.
As the woman walked inside Hobart turned to face Klodi, trying hard not to show an anger that was gradually bubbling up inside him. He was expecting to receive resistance from Skender and was getting ready to meet it head on. ‘I want to see Skender.’
‘Mr Skender is a little busy right now,’ Klodi said with a cocky smile, wiping his nose with his bandaged hand. ‘We got an openin’ ceremony today.’
‘I didn’t ask to see him. I said I wanted to see him which is the same as saying I’m going to see him. Do you understand me?’ Hobart said.
‘Do you wanna hold on a moment? He could be anywhere in the building.’
‘You’ve got one minute and then I’m looking for him myself.’
Klodi moved to one side and raised his radio to his mouth. ‘Mr Vleshek. This is Klodi at the front door.’
‘What is it?’ Cano’s voice crackled over the radio.
‘That FBI guy’s down here. Says he wants to see Mr Skender.’
‘Tell him to come back in an hour when the bar’s open.’
Hobart was listening and bit his lip. He was here to kick some Albanian butt but he needed to save himself for the top man. ‘You got thirty seconds,’ Hobart said.
‘You better get down here,’ Klodi said into the radio. ‘I don’t think he’s here on a social visit.’
There was a pause, then the voice came back. ‘I’m on my way.’
‘He’s on his way,’ Klodi repeated, maintaining his smile.
A man stepped through the doors with the female event-staff member in tow and presented himself to the police officers. ‘I’m Mr Mathews, the event manager. Can I help you?’ he asked with a smile.
Hobart took out his badge and showed it to the man. ‘I’m head of the FBI in California. Does that mean anything to you?’
‘Well, yes – quite a lot,’ the man said, his smile waning a little at the edges. He was beginning to look a little nervous.
‘You’re right. It does mean a lot. I’m giving you five minutes to evacuate this building and move all your people and transport out of here. Is that clear?’
‘Five minutes?’ the man said, looking deeply perplexed.
‘If your vans aren’t out of here by –’ Hobart checked his watch ‘– twelve minutes past the hour you’ll be cited for obstruction of justice, your vehicles will be impounded and could be held for months and I doubt very much whether your business licence will be renewed. Do you understand everything I’ve just said?’
‘I do, sir,’ the man said as he turned on his heel and pushed his way back into the building.
Hobart watched him go. Then he faced Klodi who was standing between him and the front doors. ‘You’re in my way,’ he said.
Klodi stepped aside in the face of a superior power. Hobart and the officers marched in.
As they walked into the lobby beneath the massive chandelier Cano was coming down the broad stairs at the other side of the elevators. As he stepped onto the marble floor it became evident to him by the excited activities of the event staff that something was happening about which he was unaware.
‘Where’s Skender?’ Hobart asked as Cano approached.
‘What’s going on?’ Cano asked, ignoring Hobart’s question and looking past him as several event-staff personnel hurried from the ballroom and out through the main doors.
Hobart hated being ignored and this place was sorely trying his patience. But he stuck by his plan and held on to his temper, though with increasing difficulty. ‘You want to know what’s happening?’ he asked, forcing a smile. ‘I’m closing down your building, your opening ceremony, everything. And now you listen to me. You speak to me one more time like I’m the bellhop and I’ll run you downtown so fast your feet won’t touch the ground. Now take me to Skender!’ he shouted.
Cano remained cool as ice. Hobart’s efforts to impress him were as effective as hail on armour. ‘One moment,’ Cano said, holding up a finger as he took his cellphone from his pocket and stepped to one side to use it.
Hobart gritted his teeth as he looked at one of the cops. Cano spoke quietly on his phone for a few seconds before pocketing it and walking to the elevator. ‘Mr Skender will see you,’ he said as he pushed a call button.
Hobart turned his back on Cano who was just beyond earshot and talked to the cops. ‘Your chief is on his way. This is an emergency situation. We have a suspected bomb in the building. Skender’s bodyguards can stay for the time being but I want everyone else out of here. That includes security staff, administrators, janitors, cooks and busboys, everyone. Got it?’
The cops looked at each other and nodded.
‘Go to it,’ Hobart said before turning to head for the elevator. ‘Lead on, Mr Vleshek,’ he said, making a meal out of the name.
Cano walked inside and Hobart joined him. The elevator doors closed. Cano thought he could sense that Hobart was unusually confident about something, then dismissed it as one of the FBI man’s little moments of power.
The elevator arrived at the penthouse. Hobart followed Cano out, past two suited thugs who were guarding the elevator doors and along the curving corridor to the conference room where Skender was studying his model town and making notes.
Skender looked up as the glass doors opened and the two men walked in.
‘Hobart’s emptying out the building,’ Cano said.
Skender studied them both as if he had not quite heard correctly. ‘Say that again?’ he asked.
‘He’s sent the caterers away,’ Cano said.
‘Home,’ Hobart corrected him. ‘I’ve sent them home.’
Something inside Skender almost snapped as he realised the significance of the information. But he held himself in check as he looked at Hobart, reassessing the man.
‘Just in case you don’t understand my English, I’ll spell things out for you,’ Hobart said, wearing the hint of a grin. ‘Your party’s over. The opening ceremony – it isn’t going to happen. Not today at least.’
‘You want to tell me why?’ Skender asked, putting down his notepad.
‘I have reason to believe there’s a bomb in your building,’ Hobart said.
‘You do?’ Skender said, glancing at Cano.
‘That’s right. I’m not here to argue with you, Skender. I want everyone out of the building.’
‘Why do I get the feeling that you suddenly grew a pair of balls, Hobart?’ Skender asked, walking towards him. ‘You used to walk in here with your cap in your hand like some busboy and now suddenly you’re – how is it you Americans say? – walkin’ tall. What happened? Your wife give you your annual blow job last night?’
Hobart wasn’t fazed by the insult. ‘You’re right about the change. This is just the first step. I warned you about crossing the line.’
‘Warn?’ Skender said, closing on Hobart, barely holding on to his temper. ‘Is that like a weather warning, or a tough-guy warning?’