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Damn it!
I wipe sweat from my brow and prop myself up on a hand, beyond frustrated. This can’t all be for nothing. I have to findsomething.
I start to crawl out from under the desk, the phone light shifting with my movements, when I catch a glimpse of something on the desk frame behind the built-in filing cabinet. I hover my light over it, revealing a button.
I don’t even think about it. I slam my palm over it.
Aclicksounds behind me and I shove myself out from under the desk, my eyes darting to the safe. I see movement of light and I jump up, rushing over to the wall.
The safe is open.
Cracked, but open all the same. I pull on the metal door, excitedly peering in. My eyes land on a manilla folder and my heart deflates. That’s not exciting. Although what I was hoping to see, I’m not sure.
I pull the folder out and open it, revealing a sheet of paper. When I move it straight to try and read it, something falls out. I bend to pick up the fallen object, my hands landing on a card.
A credit card?
I flash my phone over it. Nope, not a credit card.
A hotel room key.
What in the…
Standing back up, I return my focus to the paper inside. Shining my light over it reveals a hotel invoice. It was paid in full for a year, August to August. There’s no other information besides the room number and a name: Lily Valeri.
Rowan’s Wife.
A quick search of the folder confirms it only contained the two items. I feel around the safe to see if there’s anything else.
Nothing.
Why is there a hotel key?
I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.
Chapter Eleven
April 30th - Kate
Clutchingthestolenkeycard, I hurriedly exit the building. Once my feet hit the sidewalk, I order an Uber, then dial Char’s number.
“Hey, too—”
“Some weird shit is going on! I looked up Rentals, and I went into Marco’s office, and—”
“Woah, Kate. Slow down. Start from the beginning. What’s happening?”
I force myself to take a deep breath and fill her in on today’s events. She’s entirely silent as I speak; at one point, I said her name to make sure she was still listening. When I finish, I receive nothing but continued silence.
“Char?” I ask again.
“Kate, don’t they have cameras in there?”
My face blanches, my heart popping like a balloon. “I… I didn’t…”
“What if they decide to check?”
Dread fills me and my stomach rolls. “Fuck!”
