Page 74 of Her Last Whisper

“Don’t,” she said and reached out and grabbed his arm. “A woman,” she whispered.

“What does she look like?”

“Simmer down. She’s tall, running clothes, her back is to us, but she’s wearing a hoodie so I can’t see her hair color and I only saw her profile quickly, and she’s wearing sunglasses…” Still keeping her voice low. “She seems familiar, but I can’t get an ID on her.”

“Interesting,” McGaven stated. It was quite clear that he was excited to be a part of their pretext.

“It’s obviously someone he knows very well by the way he’s moving his hand around her body. She’s standing up now.”

The waitress dropped off their drinks.

“It looks like they are going to leave,” she said. “I’ll follow and you pay for the drinks and then follow me. Got it?” she said as she readied herself and stood. “I’ll send a text so you know where I am.” She leaned over, kissing his cheek, and whispered in his ear, “Just keeping up the pretense. See you shortly.”

Forty-Four

Walking quickly trying to catch up to Dr. Jamison, Katie didn’t want to run or look suspicious, so she pretended to be looking for something in her small purse as she slowed and casually continued. The closer she neared the couple it was obvious they were getting friendly with one another and could barely wait to be alone.

They waited for one of the elevator doors to open. One arrived emitting a bell tone and when the doors opened, the couple moved inside. Before the silver doors had slid shut, they had their hands underneath each other’s clothes.

Katie stood and watched the floor numbers tick by, climbing upwards until the fifteenth floor, which was really the fourteenth as, like most hotels, the Parsons Hotel had superstitiously skipped the number thirteen. Another elevator opened and Katie stepped in—luckily, she was alone. Quickly retrieving her cell phone, she spoke into it to send a text to McGaven.

“Going to the fifteenth floor,” she said and returned her phone to her pocket.

McGaven arrived beside her suddenly, breathless from the sprint from the bar.

“Honey, you made it,” said Katie.

The elevator doors finally closed.

“Thought I’d join you,” he said, still winded. “What floor?”

“Fifteen.”

“Ah, a penthouse suite.”

“What is it they say?”

“The more the merrier?” he replied.

“Why haven’t we moved?” she said, looking up.

Katie pressed the button to open the doors but still nothing happened. She pressed the fifteenth floor again, hoping to initiate her exit—but it remained stalled. “Crap,” she muttered.

“What’s the deal?” McGaven eyed the listing of floors.

“I don’t know. The door won’t open and it won’t go up either.”

She was just about to press the emergency button when the door slowly began to open a few inches and paused. “What the hell…” she said. Now she pressed everything she could to release the doors.

The elevator climbed several floors. Then it stopped abruptly, knocking Katie and McGaven off balance.

“Nice elevator,” McGaven managed to say.

After pushing every button possible, Katie leaned back and sighed. “It’s official, we’re stuck.” She tried her cell phone, but the signal was sketchy. “No cell signal.”

“Great.”

Katie pressed the emergency button. After a moment of static she heard a voice, “What’s your emergency?”