Page 34

CHAPTER 34

We didn’t say much during the drive back to the hotel, our bodies and minds weary, needing rest and lots of care. The remainder of the night was even quieter. No phone calls or texts. Just a dreamless sleep.

Miracles do happen , I thought when I stirred later that morning, feeling rested. Maddie was still sound asleep, so I dressed for the day, left her a note that I’d be right back, and headed out the door on tiptoes. A hot cup of coffee and some light food were calling my name, and I had never been so grateful as I was now about the breakfast they served in the pretty atrium on the main level.

I placed my to-go order at the atrium’s reception desk, one for me, the other for Maddie. While I stood there and waited, I felt the unmistakable sensation that I was being watched.

I turned to find no one was behind me or even close on either side of me … strange . I scanned the lobby area, but everyone was busy doing their own things, not paying one bit of attention to me.

Still, the sensation lingered.

The woman who’d taken my order handed me a bag of breakfast sandwiches and a tray of four coffees. Two may have sufficed, but it felt like it was going to be a multiple coffee type of day.

“Thank you,” I said. “Have a good one.”

I moved through the lobby, dodging two children who were running around, having fun. As I turned to head up the grand staircase that would take me to my room, my eyes were drawn to one of the leather lobby couches.

A hand-carved walking cane was leaning against it.

I took a few steps back, staying close to the wall, and watched to see who would come back for the cane.

Five minutes went by, and I placed my food order on a nearby side table, sipped on one of the coffees—black—and continued to watch.

Another five minutes.

And another.

No one came for the cane.

Time for a closer look .

I grabbed the tray and the bag of food, then walked over to the couch and sat down. I placed the food on the table and prepared the coffees. Cream and sugar. One at a time. Nice and slow. All the while I was examining the cane and its intricate carvings of a forest and small creatures.

A tiger’s eye stone made up the knobbed handle.

Just like Dr. Beetle had described.

I swung my head in all directions.

Still, no one was paying me any mind.

But I wasn’t about to leave.

I was being watched; I was sure of it.

It had to be him.

I took a sip of coffee and withdrew one of the wrapped breakfast sandwiches from the bag.

I unwrapped the sandwich.

On top of the biscuit, there was a note.

Surf’s up, buttercup

Come prepared.

Alone, or someone else dies.

Would be a shame, wouldn’t it?

Another friend you couldn’t save.

You or them.

Decide.

After all, this is a life-or-death situation.

Or a death-and-death situation.

I’ll be waiting.

He had been here.

Maybe he was still here.

Was he a server or a cook, part of the hotel staff?

Somehow, he’d slid into the right position so he could leave me this note on my food order. He was nowhere and everywhere at the same time.

The time had come for me to stop him.

And stop him, I would.

I turned toward the atrium. The same woman was still at the podium, taking care of hungry guests.

“I accept the challenge,” I said, standing.

I took the cane and the note and trashed the food and the coffees. Not knowing whether he’d tampered with our order, I couldn’t take a chance.

I walked toward the hotel entrance, pivoting for a moment when a thought came to mind:

What if the note was meant to lure me away?

What if today Maddie was his intended target?

I couldn’t leave until I was sure.

I raced toward our room, finding yet another note stuck to the door.

It read:

If I wanted her dead, she would be.

You best hurry along now.

Tick-tock.

Unlocking the bedroom door, I found Maddie on the bed, still snoring away. I searched the room. Found nothing. He wasn’t there.

He was gone … on his way to the beach.

I grabbed a pen and paper.

Maddie,

I’ve gone to the beach.

This is something I need to do alone.

I’m sorry.

I tucked it beneath the lamp on her nightstand, feeling guilty, knowing I needed to get away before she stopped me. I knew the wrath I’d face for doing so later, but I refused to let anyone else in my circle get hurt.

I told myself it was the right thing to do, the only thing to do.

It had to be this way.

This was a mano a mano fight now.