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Merrill's Run

by John M. Floyd

About the Author: John M. Floyd’s work has appeared in more than 200 different publications, including The Strand Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Mississippi Noir, The Saturday Evening Post, and The Best American Mystery Stories 2015. A former Air Force captain and IBM systems engineer, John is also a three-time Derringer Award winner, an Edgar Award finalist, and a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee. His sixth book, Dreamland, was released in October 2016.

Excerpt

Merrill Ross was on his way to the 11:10 Chicago flight when he saw them. Two of Paul Brumucci’s men. Goons right out of central casting, standing side-by-side against the wall of the concourse between him and the scanning stations. Both were focused with laserlike stares on the passengers queueing up for the screeners and metal detectors. Merrill froze, his heart in his throat.

He should’ve expected something like this.

On trembling legs he turned and headed quickly back down the concourse. But not quickly enough. He heard the sound of hurried footsteps behind him (hurried, not running; nobody ran in an airport these days), and the grunts and protests that always happened when bystanders got pushed aside. Too late, Merrill realized he should’ve shouted for a security guard—but the only ones he had seen were behind the tables at the screening area.

Merrill walked faster, back toward the ticketing area and the exits, weaving his way through the blank-faced Saturday morning travelers, trying not to let the panic show in his face. He was just another stressed-out businessman, overworked and late and scurrying to catch a cab outside. He slowed only long enough to strip off his sport coat and place it and his carry-on bag beside a bank of elevators before he turned a corner. Maybe it would delay the pursuit a minute or two.

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