The Mississippi Company

by Mark Kertzman

Chapter 18

Jon wasn’t ready for it at all.

The drink hit him in the face, the unbreakable plastic container ricocheting off his temple. The sticky cold liquid splattered off his face and chest, causing him to gasp.

His reflexes, already too slow to avoid the alcoholic projectile, caused him to duck and backpedal anyway. He spit out something that tasted like pina colada and turned back to the booth.

Ravi was already up, vaulting over the back of the lounger and racing through the club. He elbowed several people out of the way, causing yells of consternation.

The two Oriental girls were looking around in stunned confusion. “Hey, you better pay for my drink!”

Jon ignored them and raced off after Ravi. Even as he plowed through the club, he saw Ravi out on the terrace. He couldn’t be sure, but it looked like Ravi was heading for the railing.

As Jon sprinted across the dance floor, Ravi vaulted the railing and dropped out of sight. By the time Jon got there, Ravi was up and running down the service alleyway.

Looking over the edge, Jon surveyed the drop. It was high enough to give him pause. However, he didn’t want to lose Ravi. Setting his jaw, Jon gathered himself and his courage. With one solid bounce, he vaulted the railing, and dropped.

The fall was long, the impact right through his shins. Fortunately, he collapsed and rolled with it, leaving him with nothing more than twinges of pain. Getting to his feet was awkward, and when he started to run he could only manage an uneven lope at first. His urgency overrode the pain, however, and he was soon running full tilt again.

Ravi had managed to get quite a lead. He disappeared from the end of the alley, still running. By the time Jon got there, Ravi was nowhere in sight.

Jon kept up his pace, trying to watch everywhere, trying to figure out which way Ravi had gone. He was nearing the end of this section. A pressure bulkhead formed a blank white wall across his path. Jon was almost certain that Ravi couldn’t have doubled back, and the only thing in front of him was a small, low-walled utility storage shed.

Panting with effort, he finally lurched to a stop at the near entrance to the shed. He really didn’t know if Ravi could have made it to the bulkhead hatch before he had come out of the alley, but he thought he’d better check the shed, just in case.

He took a few deep breaths to try and calm his hammering heart and heaving chest. Then, slowly, carefully, he opened the shed door and went in.

Proceed to Chapter 19...