Chapter 71 Summary
After the violent confrontation at the warehouse, Bravo contacts Derek in the middle of the night, luring him out with the promise of a lucrative tip. To avoid drawing attention, Bravo arranges to meet Derek at a nearby street corner rather than at the warehouse, thereby concealing the taxi's presence and the aftermath of the encounter. Derek is immediately concerned by Bravo’s blood-soaked arm and urges him to seek medical attention, but Bravo insists on waiting until morning. By dawn, Bravo is awake and tending to the wound himself.
The injury proves to be serious. The deep gash continues to bleed as Bravo cleans it thoroughly and rewraps it using a strip torn from his souvenir t-shirt. Knowing he needs supplies, he contacts the hotel’s front desk and learns of a nearby pharmacy within walking distance. Disguising the injury beneath a long-sleeved shirt, he makes the short trip on foot, carefully maintaining a low profile.
At the pharmacy, Bravo feigns uncertainty about the severity of his injury as he seeks advice. The pharmacist, visibly unsettled upon seeing the wound, urges him to see a doctor, warning that stitches will likely be required. Bravo downplays the injury but accepts antiseptic and butterfly bandages, thanking her for her help before returning to the hotel. Back in his room, he properly cleans the wound, endures the intense sting of antiseptic, and carefully closes and bandages the gash. Satisfied with the temporary treatment, he decides to monitor it before seeking further care.
With his immediate medical needs addressed, Bravo turns his attention to Remington’s hotel room. Aware that the police may soon identify Remington, Bravo intends to reach the room first and collect anything of value or significance. Using the hotel passkey recovered earlier, he identifies the BestInn Hotel and determines it is within walking distance. To gain access, he must first confirm the name under which Remington checked in.
Employing deception, Bravo calls the hotel and learns that while no one named Remington is registered, a Roger Hernandez is staying there. A second call to housekeeping allows him to confirm Hernandez’s room number, 516, without raising suspicion. With the necessary information secured, Bravo dresses carefully, donning jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, a baseball cap, and gloves. Armed with the burner phone taken from Remington, he prepares to move forward, one step ahead of law enforcement and ever deeper into the shadows.
