Hostage to Pleasure

CHAPTER 29

Somewhere in the murky depths of the Tenderloin, a place some still called the dark heart of San Francisco, an exchange took place.

“Careful,” came the hissed command as a box nearly hit the alleyway floor. “We’ve only got two boxes of this stuff.”

“More than enough,” another person scoffed. “All it takes is one hit, right?”

“Not with your shooting,” the first voice said. “Now concentrate.”

Silence reigned for the next ten minutes, until everything was stored in its proper place. “Word from Venice is that this operation is a go, if we can do it without attracting the wrong kind of attention—our top priority is to remain under the radar.” The speaker waited to make sure that was understood before moving on to more practical matters. “Some of us will be shooting with modified tranquilizer guns, so I want everyone to start practicing. If we get a chance to take Aleine, we need to be ready. Because we’ll only get one shot.”

“Then let’s make sure we hit the bull’s-eye first time out.”