Page 11

CHAPTER 11

W hen Olive stepped into the hallway, she didn’t smell any smoke. So what had happened to set off the fire alarm?

She and Nova took the stairs to the first floor. In the lobby, a clerk directed everyone outside. They filed out the front door—some people in pajamas, others with hair in curlers. Some still had their luggage with them as if they’d been about to check in or out.

Olive wanted to believe the fire alarm was a coincidence. But what if there was more to it? What if someone did want to draw them outside?

Uneasily, she gripped the backpack on her shoulders more tightly.

Going into this assignment, Olive had thought it would be easy. She’d figured minimal danger would be involved, which would be a nice change from some of her recent cases.

Now she was starting to rethink that. What if there was more to this investigation than she’d anticipated? Between Motorcycle Man and Maria’s hit-and-run, she was feeling more uneasy.

As she and Nova stood with the rest of the guests in the parking lot, Olive quickly scanned the crowd, looking for any familiar faces or anyone acting suspicious.

Everyone else seemed just as irritated at this change of plans as she was.

But she had a feeling this fire alarm was connected to her case.

In her line of work, she couldn’t afford to assume anything.

A man standing in his pajamas with his wife and two young—and very sleepy—daughters let out a loud sigh. “This is nothing. I’m telling you, I saw a guy walk in, pull the alarm, and then keep walking.”

Olive’s lungs tightened, and she exchanged a look with Nova.

“What kind of guy?” someone else asked. “A guest?”

“I don’t know.” The man sounded annoyed. “He wore a black leather jacket and sunglasses—inside. One of those people.”

Olive’s thoughts raced. That sounded like Motorcycle Man.

He really had come to the hotel and lured everyone outside.

Maybe he wanted to clear Olive or Nova from their rooms so he could find something—something like the USB drive Olive had in her pocket.

“I’ve got to get back in there,” Olive whispered to Nova.

“You’re not leaving me out here. I’m going with you.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“It’s not a good idea,” Nova said. “It’s a great idea. Now let’s go.”

She started toward the hotel.

A hotel employee stood guard at the front door, only letting firefighters in and out.

Olive and Nova would have to think of another way to get inside.

They cut through the parking lot to a side entrance instead.

At the door, Olive pulled her keycard from her pocket and ran it against the scanner.

The lock clicked open.

If Motorcycle Man had done all this to get Olive and Nova out of the hotel, there was a chance he was still in their room. That they could catch him. Catching him would mean demanding answers—something they could use right now.

She and Nova slipped inside and quietly closed the door behind them.

They headed toward the stairway on their left.

But before they could ascend the steps, footsteps came down.

Instead, they darted beneath the stairwell, quickly ducking out of sight.

A moment later, two firefighters in full gear walked by.

“Looks like a false alarm,” one of them muttered.

“I guess some people don’t have anything better to do than to set off the alarm.”

“I hope we can find whoever wasted our time and slap a nice fine on them.”

“We’ll definitely be checking the security footage.”

False alarm? Maybe Olive’s theory was true.

As soon as they passed, Olive and Nova left their hiding spot and rushed up the stairs.

Olive paused at the doorway to her floor and scanned the hallway for any firefighters who might still be checking out the rooms.

It was clear.

Olive nodded to Nova, indicating she should follow. Then they hurried down the hallway to Olive’s room.

After drawing her gun, she swiped her key card and slipped inside.

She crept forward, looking for any signs that someone might be inside.

It was empty.

But when Olive glanced at the bathroom mirror, she saw a message had been left for her there.

Someone had used her lipstick to scrawl the words, Where is it?