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“This is the Ritz-Carlton. How may I direct your call?”
“This is Allen Carson. I need to speak to the manager, please.”
“One moment,” the operator said and then his call went through.
By the time Allen hung up, he’d reserved rooms for every resident of the Detter House, with the understanding that they would be there on his dime until the renovations were complete. Then he walked into the office.
“Wayne, I need you to send a list of the present residents’ names to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel here in the city. Send it to the attention of this man. He’s the manager, and the one I’ve already spoken to.”
Wayne took down the information. “Okay, got it, but...what’s going on?” he asked.
“I’m furnishing another place for them as a temporary residence,” Allen said.
“Wow! At the Ritz-Carlton?”
Allen nodded. “Now, I need you to start calling the residents and let them know that, for the time being, their new residence will be at the Ritz. Tell them to pack a bag and just show up. The hotel knows they’re coming, and the cost is on me until the situation here is resolved. And that includes you,” he added.
“But who will—”
“I’ll deal with it,” Allen said. “I can’t believe that this happened on my property, but I won’t have one more person put in danger here until this is remedied.”
“This is very generous of you,” Wayne said. “I’ll start letting them know.”
Within the hour the panic that had been building within the complex was fading. Knowing that the owner was sincere in his need to tear down the hidden passage, and remove and remodel the walls with the hidden access doors, was extinguishing the demands to be released from their leases.
Everyone was relieved...except Sonny.
He was in a panic. His apartment felt like a holding cell. He was trapped, and just waiting to be found out and charged. They’d found the tunnel. They’d found Rachel. Unresponsive but alive. They’d seen his playroom—and were lifting all manner of prints and DNA. The next step would be demanding DNA from everyone in residence here. For all he knew that was already a plan of action they had yet to implement.
As for going to the Ritz-Carlton, it was just trading one holding cell for another, but he wanted to set up another alibi, so that his absence from the Ritz was not an immediate flag that he was on the run. He didn’t have time to waste, and began throwing clothes into suitcases, packed up his laptop, all the chargers and the technology he used, and then called back to the office.
Wayne answered. “Detter House.”
“Wayne, this is Sonny. I just wanted to let you know that I’ll be staying with family here in the city while the remodeling is being done. They’re close to my work, and it’ll be much more comfortable than the hotel. Of course, you have my cell number so I’ll be available for contact, should the need occur.”
“Sure thing,” Wayne said. “I wish I had family in the city. I’d do the same. Take care.”
“You, too,” Sonny said and then he was gone, heading east out of Dallas.
Charlie and Wyrick stood on the sidewalk, watching the EMTs loading Rachel up into the ambulance. He knew Rachel’s chances of survival were iffy. But she was still alive and on her way to the hospital, and that was what they’d set out to do.
And he could tell by the look on Wyrick’s face that she was exhausted. He had to get her home before she crashed.
“Get in the Jeep,” he said and aimed the remote to unlock it.
“But what about—?”
“They know where to find us. They can call. Walk or I’ll carry you,” he said.
She turned, stumbled and seconds later she was in his arms.
“Oh, for the love of God,” she hissed.
“I’m not doing this for God,” Charlie said and carried her across the drive to guest parking and put her down beside his car.
Everything washed over her as she slid into the seat of Charlie’s Jeep. The exhaustion of all the energy she’d used, and the remnants of the drug still in her system, had done her in.
Charlie got into the driver’s seat, looked at her and then leaned across the console and buckled her in.