Lilia’s mind raced as she pieced together the fragments of information they’d gathered. “Amelia said that Willow bought lingerie from a boutique in town a couple of days before the party. She thought it was for her and Augustus’ anniversary, but I guess it was always meant for the other man she was seeing.”
“Well.” Sebastian clapped his hands together, breaking the tension with his usual defiance. “Road trip, anyone?”
Chapter Twelve
November 9th, 2022
Evermore Regency Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts
Lilia glanced around the grand lobby of the Evermore Regency, taking in the gleaming marble floors, the ornate chandeliers that hung from the high ceilings, and the soft murmur of classical music that filled the air. It was the kind of place where secrets were whispered behind closed doors and everything was a little too perfect, a little too controlled.
“Do you have any rooms with a marina view?” she heard Augustus ask at the front desk, his voice calm and confident.
Lilia’s eyes drifted to the large windows on the far side of the lobby, which offered a sweeping view of the marina below. It was easy to see why someone like Willow would have been drawn to a place like this. It was the epitome of elegance, a place where appearances were everything. “What were you doing here, Willow?” she murmured to herself.
Augustus continued his conversation with the receptionist, his tone casual but deliberate. “My friend recommended thehotel to us. She stayed here a few months ago. She said that the room was lovely.”
The woman behind the desk, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, gave a polite but distant smile. “All of our rooms are quite beautiful. We strive to procure the best for our guests.”
Augustus didn’t miss a beat. “Her name is Willow Montgomery. I’m sure it’s written somewhere in your records. Maybe you can find the room she stayed in.”
The receptionist’s fingers flew over the keyboard, but it was clear she was ignoring his request. “She would’ve stayed here at some point during the week of April 13th,” Augustus added, leaning in slightly.
The woman’s smile tightened. “That information is confidential. We’re not allowed to relay information from our guests. But we can gladly provide you and your”—she glanced behind him at his friends—“guests with one of our fine rooms.”
“That would be great,” Augustus said, returning her tight smile with one of his own.
He retrieved the keycard and walked to where Lilia and the others were waiting, the tension visible from the set of his shoulders.
“Any luck?” Lilia asked as he approached.
“She wouldn’t tell me anything,” he replied, slipping the key card into his pocket.
“Maybe it’s written in the ledger. We can check it out later tonight,” Sebastian suggested.
“No, it looks like everything is electronic.” He shook his head. “We’ll have to find another way.”
“Then we’ll come back later,” Delilah said, her voice resolute. “It’s a quick search.”
It was past midnight, and the grand lobby was eerily quiet. The opulent chandeliers overhead cast a dim, golden light across the marble floors, and the only sound was the soft echo of their footsteps as they moved toward the front desk.
“This is a really stupid idea,” Eleanor murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes darted nervously around the space.
“Relax, we’re not committing murder. Calm down, princess,” Sebastian replied, though his bravado couldn’t mask the tension in his voice.
The friends all looked at him, their expressions a mix of disbelief and exasperation.
“Perhaps those weren’t the best choice words, now that I’m thinking about it,” he added, shrugging slightly.
“Would you shut up?” Augustus hissed, glancing over his shoulder to make sure no one was nearby.
“You shut up,” Sebastian retorted as he reached the empty front desk. His fingers hovered over the computer’s keyboard for a moment before he clicked it on. The screen flickered to life, casting pale blue light on his face. “What do I look for?”
“A ledger, reservations, anything with dates and names,” Augustus said, keeping his voice low.
Sebastian’s fingers flew over the keys, navigating through the hotel’s system with surprising ease. The tension in the room was palpable as the rest stood watch, every creak of the building making them jump.
“This is ridiculous,” Delilah whispered, her eyes flickering to the elevators, half-expecting someone to step out at any moment. “If we get caught?—”
