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Chapter Sixteen
Rylee hovered close and heard sounds of the battle in Jake’s room. Knowing she shouldn’t blow her cover, and that Carl was one of the best agents she’d worked with over the last few jobs, she held back. But she was prepared when the door flew open and Madelaine headed up the opposite corridor.
First, she peeked into the room to see a coughing patient and Jake obviously unhurt giving first aid. She quickly made up her mind that her best option was to follow the perp, and she took off in pursuit.
The woman ahead of her was fast, agile and had no intention of being caught. Rylee had other plans. She wanted this woman in handcuffs, her prisoner to question. Find out what the fuck she thought she was doing, taking chances with her safety to get to Jake Andrews. Made no sense.
Just as Jake earlier concluded, it became clear to Rylee as well. There was more to Maddie’s infatuation than a simple crush. The woman wanted something from him, and it wasn’t to get laid.
It only made sense she was after the same thing everyone else was. Maddie must be working for someone, and Rylee intended to get that information.
Closing the gap, the mile-long hallway a deterrent, she turned a corner only to realize Maddie had disappeared. She must have had access to one of the rooms along here and considering there were a number of them, Rylee had no idea which one it could be. All the doors were now closed.
Shit! The woman had given her the slip. Quickly, Rylee whipped out her phone to see if by any chance Carlos had also emailed her the guest list and maybe she could see which number Maddie occupied. But nothing came up and she was left frustrated. Just as she turned away to start back the way she’d come, a couple appeared arm in arm seemingly happy to be together if his hand on her butt was any indication.
Playing a hunch, stopping them, she asked, “Have you noticed a beautiful Chinese lady staying near here?”
“Not really. There aren’t as many rooms on this floor. However, if you keep going that way, you’ll come out to the main staircase. Also, the other side leads you to the upper-deck restaurant where they have the big pool and the movie screen.”
“Okay, thanks.” Resuming her chase, Rylee fast-walked to the end and sure enough the hall spilled into a large foyer for stairs and the banks of elevators. Playing a hunch, she kept going straight to the other side of the foyer where there was a set of swing doors and a large open area full of tables and chairs, a fancy pool-side bar off to the right and royal blue deck chairs lined up everywhere.
The night sky, loaded with stars close enough to touch, enclosed them in a blanket of balmy warmth. Travellers were milling around, enjoying the late hour, sitting in couples or groups, keeping the bar attendants busy.
Knowing her chase was futile at this point, Rylee turned back the way she’d come. On the lookout for anything out of place, any disturbing thing at all, she noticed a small inconspicuous door, waist high, that looked like a cupboard over on the opposite wall, across from the bar area. An odd cloth hooked in the door, flopping in the ocean breeze, had her curiosity ramping up immediately.
This hidden space, probably where extra deck chairs might be stored, could be the perfect hideout for a person who didn’t want to be seen or caught. If one just stepped behind the deck’s opened doors to the darkened area behind and then bent down and slid the door open, they could fade away easily without anyone paying any attention.
Acting on her impulse, Rylee looked around to make sure she wasn’t a center of attention, then made her way over to the door. Kneeling, aware there could be a crazy lady hiding behind it, wanting to hurt her, she took extra care in sliding back the door.
Allowing for Maddie to lunge, attacking when she realized her hideaway was breached, Rylee waited a few seconds, and knew she’d found her prey. Sounds of panicky breathing were loud to someone paying attention. She’d hit the jackpot.
Nothing happened. Darkness hid the person inside. The rather large area occupied with a number of deck chairs on gurneys over to one side used up a fair amount of the space. But there were signs of occupation barely visible except to one who was expecting to see it.
Shocked that the person hiding hadn’t attacked, knowing Maddie certainly would have so she could gain freedom, Rylee reached for her phone and used the flashlight app.
Slowly, she shone the light over the blackness only to be utterly shocked at what appeared. Crawling forward, hand extended, she whispered softly, “It’s okay. I won’t hurt you.”
