He whirled and broke for the terrace, moving fast. Shayne, who was nearest, reacted slowly. He collided with Perkins in the doorway, and Hallam was over the railing by the time the detective reached it.
Shayne swiped at him awkwardly with his hook, but missed. Hallam fell away, face up, arms and legs splayed outward, an expression of astonishment on his face. A girl screamed in the room. Shayne turned without waiting to see Hallam hit the concrete twelve floors below. Jose, rubbing his mouth, was watching him.
Shayne said, “Did you really see him in the lab?”
Jose snorted. “Don’t get high and mighty with me, Shayne. You know as well as I do you couldn’t get a conviction. You were a little slow there, I thought. I’ve seen you move, man. You move like a rattlesnake-when you want to.”
After a moment Shayne said heavily. “It’s been a hard night. Now it’s time for the cops.”