Page 86 of Wild Escape

The bellhop appeared a few minutes later. He had been on another call. It was the same guy. I displayed my badge when he approached.

"Is there some kind of problem?” he asked with a confused look.

"When you delivered the champagne to room #517, did Devon give you anything?"

Jason shifted uncomfortably and exchanged a look with the desk clerk.

She shrugged.

"Um, no,” Jason said.

"Are you sure about that?”

"What's this about?”

"It's about to be a problem if you don't answer me honestly."

Jason's lips tightened, then he exhaled a breath. "The guy gave me $200 bucks to take a backpack down the hallway and give it to another guy."

"You didn't think that was a little odd?”

"I thought it was $200. And in this economy, $200 counts. Look, people pay me to do all kinds of things. I don't ask questions." He paused. "What was in the bag?”

"Describe the guy you gave it to.”

"Older guy. Bald. Glasses.”

"What did he do with the bag?”

"I don't know. That's none of my business. I gave it to him, and he left.”

I thanked him for the information and took his number.

By that time, JD and Daphne had joined me in the lobby. I filled Jack in on the situation.

He frowned. "Figures. Devon says he met the girl in the bar.”

Daphne scoffed. "That's complete bullshit. She's a hooker.”

“Maybe she’s a personal assistant for the guy who bought the Codex,” I said. “She probably handled the transaction.”

This was all just theory and speculation. We couldn't prove any of it. It looked like they were gonna get away with it.

JD and I both felt a little deflated.

It had been a long day, and my stomach rumbled. It was time for a late lunch.

We stepped outside, and the valet pulled around the car. We hopped inside and took Daphne to pick up some necessities—toiletries, clothes, etc. There was no going back to her apartment now. Dane and Brock could be surveilling it.

Afterward, we returned to Diver Down and took a seat at the bar.

“Who’s your new friend?” Teagan asked with a hint of jealousy.

“An informant working with us on a case,” I said.

“Informant?” she said in a doubtful tone.

“Teagan, this is Daphne. Daphne, Teagan.”