the crime scene?” one of the agents asked.
“Hey, Cooper,” a Security guard cut in before Cooper could answer.
“Hey, Trey,” Cooper said, seeing the guy’s name on his badge. “I found this outside the door and thought the owner might be in here.” He held out the badge he had pilfered. “I guess not. The place was empty. I’ll let you take care of it, Trey.” Cooper handed him the badge.
“Thanks.” Trey took it and looked it over. “Nolan won’t get far without it. I’ll make sure he gets it.”
“Well, it’s getting late. I guess I’d better get going,” Cooper said. “Tell Gordy I’ll call him. Can’t believe what happened. I’m so sorry for your loss. Terrible tragedy. Hope you find out what caused it.”
“Yeah. I can’t believe it either. She was a great boss. See ya, Cooper.” Trey frowned and looked at the floor. The agents nodded and had Trey take them to Audrey’s locker.
Cooper didn’t stick around. He took the escalator up to the Atrium. Glancing back, he couldn’t shake the nagging presence of a tag-along. His peripheral vision confirmed it. A few yards behind him, a travelport employee kept pace with him. Cooper took a few random turns. The guy passed by but never left his range. This could be the same guy who took care of Audrey.
When Cooper reached the exit, he got into a microcab. As it pulled away, he turned back and no cars followed, no sign of his tail.
“Where to?” the driver asked.
“Downtown. A decent hotel. How about the Embassy Suites?” Cooper said as he sank into the seat, relieved to leave the travelport and death and spies behind him.
Cooper closed his eyes.
What have I gotten myself into?
He had instigated a murder! Checking the rear window, Cooper felt confident no cars were following him. Seeing the cab cam in the ceiling, he realized they didn’t need to.
He reached behind his back and felt the cool metal of the tiny rods at the waist of his shirt.
What could be on the drives worth killing for?
Once he had a chance to sit and digest everything, he could figure out what to do next. He laid his head back and tried to get a grip on everything that had just happened.
After sending Blake home for the evening, Nate watched Mr. Cooper rest in the cab. When the tired detective got to the hotel, Nate switched over to the lobby cameras. As Mr. Cooper waited to check in, he rubbed his back like an old man. The poor guy looked beat. Obviously, the excitement and gore had taken a lot out of the small-town detective. Mr. Cooper probably moved to Walnut Grove to get away from the big, scary city and would be running back home by lunch tomorrow. Nate laughed as the camera followed him into the lounge.
“He already needs a drink,” Nate said. “Once a drunk…”
Seeing the small cameras all over the lobby reminded Cooper of the constant surveillance. He had to get used to the feeling of being watched. Audrey’s death proved someone had been paying attention to his business. If he had been suspicious of it before, he would have been more careful and she might still be alive. He had to assume whoever watched him had access to any webcam video feeds they wanted. There really was no place to hide. Thinking about the possible depths of deception made his head hurt. He craved his own bed in Walnut Grove, but he would have to settle for the comforts of a hotel room.
After checking in at a kiosk, Cooper headed straight for the bar, but just for food. His stomach demanded nourishment. Confusion and questions concerning the recent events crowded his brain, but hunger distracted him. For now, he needed to put disturbing thoughts aside. He had to sit and eat.
The old hotel’s once bright and tropical lounge, open to the floors above, had become faded and dismal. A few other patrons sat at the tables, enjoying the somber music and tranquil atmosphere. Cooper expected a bigger crowd for happy hour. It suited him just fine to have the bar all to himself.
After
“Hey, Cooper,” a Security guard cut in before Cooper could answer.
“Hey, Trey,” Cooper said, seeing the guy’s name on his badge. “I found this outside the door and thought the owner might be in here.” He held out the badge he had pilfered. “I guess not. The place was empty. I’ll let you take care of it, Trey.” Cooper handed him the badge.
“Thanks.” Trey took it and looked it over. “Nolan won’t get far without it. I’ll make sure he gets it.”
“Well, it’s getting late. I guess I’d better get going,” Cooper said. “Tell Gordy I’ll call him. Can’t believe what happened. I’m so sorry for your loss. Terrible tragedy. Hope you find out what caused it.”
“Yeah. I can’t believe it either. She was a great boss. See ya, Cooper.” Trey frowned and looked at the floor. The agents nodded and had Trey take them to Audrey’s locker.
Cooper didn’t stick around. He took the escalator up to the Atrium. Glancing back, he couldn’t shake the nagging presence of a tag-along. His peripheral vision confirmed it. A few yards behind him, a travelport employee kept pace with him. Cooper took a few random turns. The guy passed by but never left his range. This could be the same guy who took care of Audrey.
When Cooper reached the exit, he got into a microcab. As it pulled away, he turned back and no cars followed, no sign of his tail.
“Where to?” the driver asked.
“Downtown. A decent hotel. How about the Embassy Suites?” Cooper said as he sank into the seat, relieved to leave the travelport and death and spies behind him.
Cooper closed his eyes.
What have I gotten myself into?
He had instigated a murder! Checking the rear window, Cooper felt confident no cars were following him. Seeing the cab cam in the ceiling, he realized they didn’t need to.
He reached behind his back and felt the cool metal of the tiny rods at the waist of his shirt.
What could be on the drives worth killing for?
Once he had a chance to sit and digest everything, he could figure out what to do next. He laid his head back and tried to get a grip on everything that had just happened.
After sending Blake home for the evening, Nate watched Mr. Cooper rest in the cab. When the tired detective got to the hotel, Nate switched over to the lobby cameras. As Mr. Cooper waited to check in, he rubbed his back like an old man. The poor guy looked beat. Obviously, the excitement and gore had taken a lot out of the small-town detective. Mr. Cooper probably moved to Walnut Grove to get away from the big, scary city and would be running back home by lunch tomorrow. Nate laughed as the camera followed him into the lounge.
“He already needs a drink,” Nate said. “Once a drunk…”
Seeing the small cameras all over the lobby reminded Cooper of the constant surveillance. He had to get used to the feeling of being watched. Audrey’s death proved someone had been paying attention to his business. If he had been suspicious of it before, he would have been more careful and she might still be alive. He had to assume whoever watched him had access to any webcam video feeds they wanted. There really was no place to hide. Thinking about the possible depths of deception made his head hurt. He craved his own bed in Walnut Grove, but he would have to settle for the comforts of a hotel room.
After checking in at a kiosk, Cooper headed straight for the bar, but just for food. His stomach demanded nourishment. Confusion and questions concerning the recent events crowded his brain, but hunger distracted him. For now, he needed to put disturbing thoughts aside. He had to sit and eat.
The old hotel’s once bright and tropical lounge, open to the floors above, had become faded and dismal. A few other patrons sat at the tables, enjoying the somber music and tranquil atmosphere. Cooper expected a bigger crowd for happy hour. It suited him just fine to have the bar all to himself.
After
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