AllFreeNovel
Share Us
?“To what?”
?“To everything. The murders, stealing your ideas—”
?His eyes brightened. Then he grew suspicious. “Is this a joke?” His eyes narrowed to slits.
?“I will be at the Regent Room at 5:00 PM, if you want to find out.”
?“The Regent Room? How do I know you aren’t just trying to lure me there to get me alone—”
?“The police will be there. I am going to reveal everything. Be there—if you want.”
?I turned and walked away. As I moved up a hallway, I glanced back to see Allen watch me with a puzzled expression.
?He was hooked.
?The game was, indeed, afoot.
* * *
?It is often said that in war the wait is the worst part. I couldn’t agree more.
?The wheels were in motion, the players were in position, the flag was ready to be saluted, and I had run out of clichés.
?I sat in the Regent Room on the second floor of the Hilton Hotel at 4:45 PM, totally unsure how the next few minutes would unfold. I had no notion of what Sheryl had planned.
?I also didn’t have any better ideas.
?The first to arrive was Charles Nederlander at about ten of the hour. He strode up the hall, chin up, head back, his eyes studying every detail.
?He lingered in the doorway. “Just the two of us, then?” he questioned.
?“No, we’re just the first to get here.”
?This relaxed him and he took several steps into the room, found a chair near the door, and sat down.
?Two minutes later, Winsley Cunningham walked in.
?“Charles?” she said, when she saw I wasn’t alone. “What does this have to do with you?”
?I wanted to shout something dramatic, like “Everything!” However, except for our suppositions, I didn’t know if he had anything to do with it or not.
?The most hesitant arrival was Allen. He approached the door surreptitiously, although I didn’t see him until he peeked around the doorjamb.
?“Come in, Allen,” I invited.
?He stood tall and walked into the room and gave a nod of recognition to Winsley and Charles.
?“Why’re they here?” he said. “Witnesses?”
?“All will become clear momentarily,” I said as Norm Blake shifted his large body through the door, followed by the slender Hypno.
?“Looks like a party,” Hypno said. “This better not take long. I hafta get back to break down the booth.”
?Norm nodded. “Myself as well!”
?“Look here!” Charles said, appearing as if he wanted to take charge. “I don’t know why you asked all of us here, but I think you’d better explain yourself right now.”
?“That won’t be necessary,” Detective DeStadler said as he walked into the room. He was followed by Detective Elvis and two officers in uniform, a rather tall, thin man and a short, squat African-American woman.
