Page 83 of Wild Escape

I approached the front desk, cut in line, and flashed my badge. “Can you tell me what room Devon Anderson is staying in?”

43

JD and I stepped off the elevator with Daphne and hurried down the hall to Suite #517. We hovered around the door and listened.

Muted voices filtered through, but it was hard to decipher the conversation over the noise of the TV.

We had zero probable cause.

I couldn’t prove what was in Kenzie’s backpack.

We waited in the hallway for 20 minutes while the transaction took place.

Finally, Kenzie pulled open the door, looking uplifted. At least, until she saw us. Her eyes rounded with fear, and her face went stiff.

Devon stood behind her in the foyer. He recovered quickly and forced a smile. "Gentlemen, so good to see you. What brings you to the hotel?”

"With everything that's happened lately, we decided Kenzie needed a little extra protection. Especially carrying around such a valuable item. We couldn't help but follow her here."

Kenzie's operating system locked up for a moment. She stood in the doorway, frozen.

"That’s so thoughtful of you," Devon said. "We really need more officers like you. Kenzie was just leaving. I'm sure you can see to it she gets back home safely.”

Kenzie stepped into the hallway and marched toward the elevator. "I'm just fine. I don't need any supervision. Thank you."

"What happened to your backpack?" I asked. “Did you leave it behind?”

Kenzie kept marching down the hall.

Devon closed the door and latched the deadbolt.

I followed Kenzie, and Jack lingered in the hallway to see if he could catch a glimpse of anyone else coming out of Devon’s room. Perhaps the buyer was in there. Perhaps Devon bought the book with the intention of reselling it to another client. It was hard to say.

"Did you get paid in crypto?" I asked Kenzie.

She ignored me as she strutted toward the elevator. Kenzie pressed the call button and waited.

"You really think you’re going to get away with this?"

"Get away with what?" she asked, playing innocent.

The elevator doors slid open, and Kenzie stepped aboard.

I told Daphne to stay with Jack and joined Kenzie.

She pressed the button for the first floor. "How long do you plan on following me around?"

I shrugged. "You sold the book. What's the point now? I think I’ve seen everything I need to see.”

"Why don't you arrest me? Oh, wait, that's right. You've got nothing."

The door slid open, and she stepped off.

I followed her into the lobby. “You’re playing a dangerous game. Levi is capable of murder. Don't underestimate him.”

"You need to find something better to do with your time. How about you focus on who really shot my father?”

"Trust me, we’ll bring the perpetrators to justice."