Read Online Have and Hold: (A Geeks and Things Cozy Mystery Novella #4) (Geeks and Things Cozy Mysteries) by Sarah Biglow - Free Book Online
Authors: Sarah Biglow
Ads: Link
reporter.”
“You think all of her emotion at getting the severed finger was just a ruse?”
“I’ve seen better actresses”—her sister’s ex college roommate Savannah came to mind—“but she’s definitely believable. It’s not hard to conjure tears over someone losing a finger.”
“Let’s say you’re right. Where does the hotel come into play?”
“When I was talking to Fiona earlier, she pulled out her car keys and I saw a key card with the hotel’s logo on it. I didn’t think much of it then but that has to be where she’s staying to keep away from Bruce. I can’t imagine Beth would let her out of her sight for long.”
“OK. I’m going to get some officers to check it out.”
“I’m already here,” Kalina said and nearly strangled herself in her effort to get out of the car. “I’ll see what I can find.”
“Kalina, do not go in there. This situation just got a lot more dangerous.” His tone took on a more emotional tone. “You aren’t just thinking about yourself anymore. You have our child to consider. Please let me take it from here on out.”
“OK.” She wouldn’t be interfering by just sitting in the lobby. If she was lucky she could find out what room Fiona was in. And Beth certainly couldn’t be in the room with her, could she?
“I mean it, Kal. Stay out of it.”
“I will.”
She ended the call and stowed her phone in her coat pocket before heading through the revolving doors into the warm air of the lobby. It was just as she remembered with the warm, muted browns and reds in the carpet and furniture. Even the wood of the front desk had been stained a deep cherry color. A tired looking man stood in the reception area. Beth was nowhere in sight. That worried her a little. Kalina sidled up to the reception desk and leaned forward, chin propped in one hand.
“Checking in?” the desk clerk asked.
“No, I was actually looking for a friend of mine. Fiona Hayes. She mentioned she was staying here for a few days. She said I could stop by if I had time.”
“I’m not supposed to give out guest information.”
“Oh, I know. Guest privacy is very important. But she told me what the number was but I can’t remember.” She pulled out her phone and made a show of searching through her notes app. “I swear I put it in here but I think it got deleted. I had to do a restore on this stupid thing the other day. Such a pain.”
The clerk gave a long sigh but turned to the computer and hit a few keys. “She’s in room 117. Down the hall to the left.”
“That’s right. Thanks so much!” She kept her phone out and headed down the hallway he’d indicated.
The hall was pretty quiet except for the occasion blare of a TV. She reached a junction where rooms 113-121 branched. She approached slowly, staying to the far side of the hall, when a loud crash echoed ahead. She had a sinking feeling it had come from room 117.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Kalina paused across the hall from room 117. Nothing came after the crash and she suddenly realized that she had no way of getting into the room. She had no key and if either Beth or Bruce was inside with Fiona, they wouldn’t be letting her in willingly. Chewing her bottom lip, she glanced back down the hallway and back to the door. The silence was broken by a woman’s scream coming from the room in front of her.
“That’s it.”
She barreled back down the hallway to the lobby. The clerk stared at her with only a mild interest. “I just heard a scream coming from Fiona’s room.”
“Probably the TV.”
“No. I don’t think so. Do you have a master key or something?”
“Look lady, I’m starting to think you don’t even know her.”
“OK, you’re right. I don’t really know her that well. But I know she’s in trouble. Her boyfriend has been violent before and she’s been staying here because they’ve been fighting. I think he’s found her.” She searched her phone for anything with a picture of Bruce. She
“You think all of her emotion at getting the severed finger was just a ruse?”
“I’ve seen better actresses”—her sister’s ex college roommate Savannah came to mind—“but she’s definitely believable. It’s not hard to conjure tears over someone losing a finger.”
“Let’s say you’re right. Where does the hotel come into play?”
“When I was talking to Fiona earlier, she pulled out her car keys and I saw a key card with the hotel’s logo on it. I didn’t think much of it then but that has to be where she’s staying to keep away from Bruce. I can’t imagine Beth would let her out of her sight for long.”
“OK. I’m going to get some officers to check it out.”
“I’m already here,” Kalina said and nearly strangled herself in her effort to get out of the car. “I’ll see what I can find.”
“Kalina, do not go in there. This situation just got a lot more dangerous.” His tone took on a more emotional tone. “You aren’t just thinking about yourself anymore. You have our child to consider. Please let me take it from here on out.”
“OK.” She wouldn’t be interfering by just sitting in the lobby. If she was lucky she could find out what room Fiona was in. And Beth certainly couldn’t be in the room with her, could she?
“I mean it, Kal. Stay out of it.”
“I will.”
She ended the call and stowed her phone in her coat pocket before heading through the revolving doors into the warm air of the lobby. It was just as she remembered with the warm, muted browns and reds in the carpet and furniture. Even the wood of the front desk had been stained a deep cherry color. A tired looking man stood in the reception area. Beth was nowhere in sight. That worried her a little. Kalina sidled up to the reception desk and leaned forward, chin propped in one hand.
“Checking in?” the desk clerk asked.
“No, I was actually looking for a friend of mine. Fiona Hayes. She mentioned she was staying here for a few days. She said I could stop by if I had time.”
“I’m not supposed to give out guest information.”
“Oh, I know. Guest privacy is very important. But she told me what the number was but I can’t remember.” She pulled out her phone and made a show of searching through her notes app. “I swear I put it in here but I think it got deleted. I had to do a restore on this stupid thing the other day. Such a pain.”
The clerk gave a long sigh but turned to the computer and hit a few keys. “She’s in room 117. Down the hall to the left.”
“That’s right. Thanks so much!” She kept her phone out and headed down the hallway he’d indicated.
The hall was pretty quiet except for the occasion blare of a TV. She reached a junction where rooms 113-121 branched. She approached slowly, staying to the far side of the hall, when a loud crash echoed ahead. She had a sinking feeling it had come from room 117.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Kalina paused across the hall from room 117. Nothing came after the crash and she suddenly realized that she had no way of getting into the room. She had no key and if either Beth or Bruce was inside with Fiona, they wouldn’t be letting her in willingly. Chewing her bottom lip, she glanced back down the hallway and back to the door. The silence was broken by a woman’s scream coming from the room in front of her.
“That’s it.”
She barreled back down the hallway to the lobby. The clerk stared at her with only a mild interest. “I just heard a scream coming from Fiona’s room.”
“Probably the TV.”
“No. I don’t think so. Do you have a master key or something?”
“Look lady, I’m starting to think you don’t even know her.”
“OK, you’re right. I don’t really know her that well. But I know she’s in trouble. Her boyfriend has been violent before and she’s been staying here because they’ve been fighting. I think he’s found her.” She searched her phone for anything with a picture of Bruce. She
Similar Books
