Chapter 13 - The Abandoned Hotel
The Ashford Hotel had once been famous.
Now it stood behind construction fencing like a corpse waiting to be restored.
Rain began falling as Claire arrived with police several blocks away.
Cole had forbidden her from entering.
Claire intended to obey.
Then Vanessa received a second message.
NO POLICE.
WE SEE EVERYTHING.
A photograph followed.
It showed Cole’s unmarked car.
They were being watched.
Claire looked toward the dark hotel.
“This is about the key.”
Cole shook his head.
“You are not going inside.”
“If we stay here, Richard dies.”
“Richard may be part of this.”
“Then we need him alive to answer questions.”
Vanessa stepped forward.
“I’m going.”
Conrad grabbed her arm.
“No.”
She pulled free.
“You’ve spent my entire life deciding what danger I’m allowed to understand.”
“Vanessa.”
“I’m done.”
Claire looked at Cole.
He hated the situation.
Eventually, a plan was made.
Claire and Vanessa would approach the hotel.
Police would remain beyond the perimeter while tactical officers entered through a rear service tunnel Vanessa remembered from childhood.
Claire carried the key.
No USB.
No weapons.
Only a hidden transmitter taped beneath her uniform shirt.
The hotel doors opened with a groan.
Inside, dust covered the once-grand lobby.
Plastic sheets hung from the balconies.
Lightning flashed through boarded windows.
Claire whispered, “Charming.”
Vanessa almost laughed.
Then a voice echoed from the darkness.
“Fourth floor.”
Stephen Marr.
Speakers had been installed somewhere above them.
“Elevator works.”
Claire looked at Vanessa.
“Of course it does.”
They entered.
The elevator climbed slowly.
First floor.
Second.
Third.
Then it stopped.
The lights went out.
Vanessa swore.
A red emergency bulb flickered on.
Claire heard breathing.
Not Vanessa’s.
Someone else was inside.
A figure moved behind them.
Claire screamed.
A hand covered her mouth.
Vanessa swung blindly.
The emergency light brightened.
Julian stood pressed against the wall.
His shirt was torn.
Blood stained one sleeve.
Claire shoved him away.
“What are you doing here?”
“I escaped.”
Vanessa stared.
“From police?”
Julian nodded.
“That doesn’t help your credibility.”
“They moved me after someone attacked the transport vehicle.”
Claire looked at the blood.
“You’re hurt.”
“Not badly.”
The elevator started moving again.
Julian looked at the key in Claire’s hand.
“Listen to me.”
“No.”
“Claire.”
“No more secrets.”
Julian’s face tightened.
“The key does not open the ledger box.”
Claire froze.
“What does it open?”
Julian looked toward the elevator numbers.
May you like
Floor four approached.
“It opens the room where I hid the person who copied it.”
