Page 10 of Slumming It

"Well,Emily," I said as if I might actually believe her. "You know you're in big trouble, right?"

"Yes. I mean no. I mean…" She sighed. "Listen, I can explain, honest."

This was the second time she'd thrown out the h-word.Honest?I didn't think so. The door to my hotel room had clicked shut behind her, leaving us alone in the hall, with fuck-knows-who listening behind closed doors.

I flicked my gaze toward the room she'd just bolted from. In a voice that left little room for argument, I told her, "Open it."

She gave the door a wary glance. "Your hotel room? Why?"

"Because I want to see what you took."

She had the nerve to look offended. "I didn't take anything."

"Alright," I said. "Then I want to see what you left."

She was glaring now. "I didn't leave anything either."

Well, she'd donesomething. And one way or another, I was going to find out what. "Open the door." I took another step forward. "OrIwill. Your choice."

She gave the door another glance before returning her gaze to mine. "But what kind of choice is that? It ends the same way."

"Exactly." I made a forwarding motion with my hand. "So just do it." Sure, I could've opened the door myself, but I wanted to see how she had done it.

This hotel was so outdated, it was still using metal keys – ancient relics in the hospitality business. The room key in my own pocket was probably older than the phone, and that was saying something.

In front of me, Emily the Housekeeper made no move. "But I already told you. I can explain."

"Good." I paused for emphasis. "But you'll be doing it in the room."

Her cheeks flushed. "Why there?"

"Because it's private."

"But—"

"AndI don't like strangers knowing my business." I gave her a pointed look. "But you knew that already, didn't you?"

Her flush deepened. "Of course I knew. Believe it or not, that's what I was doing – protecting your privacy, I mean."

Her claim made no sense, but I was used to it. If I had a dollar for every bullshit story I'd been forced to endure, well, let's just say I'd have a fistful by now.

Again, I gestured to the room. "If you want to explain, you'll be doing it in there." When she opened her mouth to protest, I cut her off. "Or, you can explain to the cops. Your choice."

She shook her head. "But that's no choice at all, just like the other thing."

"So decide," I said. "You've got ten seconds."

Was I bluffing?

Hell no.

Like I said, I never bluff. But what Iwasn'tsaying was that the cops would be private – on my payroll, not the town's. Sure, my guys had no badges, but that didn't mean they couldn't cause a mess of trouble for "Emily" and whoever else was in on it.

I crossed my arms and began the silent countdown.Ten. Nine. Eight.

She looked ready to argue but then thought better of it. "Fine." And with that, she reached deep into the oversized pocket of her khaki pants and yanked out a big bronze key – a master from the looks of it.

I watched in silence as she turned toward the door and jammed the key into the lock. She gave the doorknob a hard twist and a good push before turning back to say, "There. You happy?"