So no one was around, I think to myself. Or that’s what they claim. But what was to stop any of them from sneaking back downstairs and stabbing Kyan?
“And where were the rest of yous?” Allen’s deep-set eyes focus on me and Declan.
I stand there, trying to come up with a lie, but my mind freezes.
“We were both napping. Separately. It’s been a pretty eventful few days.” The lie slips from Declan’s lips easily.
“Okay then,” Allen says, clearly disinterested in anything we have to say. “Officer Cain”—he gestures to his silent, gangly sidekick—“and I will be looking into this. We’ll be in touch.”
“That’s it?”
The question escapes my lips before I can stop it, the hostile undercurrent certainly not lost on Allen, judging by his disgusted expression.
“Yes, that it is for now,ma’am.” His emphasis on the last word is accompanied with a spit, saliva hitting the dusty ground heavily.
“What about the tires on our rental cars? They’re slashed.”
The duo glances lazily over at the cars. Allen tries to mask his surprise with boredom.
“Guess someone didn’t want yous to leave.”
His sidekick gives a single wet laugh.
“Now if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be having a word with Mr. Campbell,” Allen announces, heading towards the Inn, apparently referring to Randy.
“Oh,” he says, stopping a few steps short of the doorway. “There is one more thing. This place is now an active crime scene.” The irony of his statement in light of his complete negligence would be laughable in any other situation. “You’ll need to find somewhere else to spend the night.”
“But our cars,” Ellery says, her arm looped tightly around Adrien’s shoulders, as if she’s keeping her upright. “We can’t drive anywhere, and there aren’t any other hotels in town.”
Allen shrugs. “Guess yous’ll have to figure something out.”
He turns before anyone can respond, the door shutting out his sidekick’s chuckle.
27
Claire
Now
“Like I told Miss Claire, we stopped operating this place as a hotel several years back. There just wasn’t the demand for it. But we still have the rooms and furniture. They’re livable, but definitely not five-star accommodations,” Luke says in apology as he leads us into the lobby of the Royal.
As we stood in the Inn’s parking lot, trying to figure out our next move, I remembered the business card in my pocket from the drinks I’d had with Nick earlier. I’d called the number listed below The Royal Hotel & Bar logo, and Luke picked up on the first ring. When I told him our predicament, he didn’t hesitate to offer up the hotel for us to spend the night, even picked us up in his beat-up hatchback.
“I think you’re forgetting that we just came from the Raven Inn,” Josh says, with a smile that I find nearly unimaginable at this point.“As long as you don’t go assaulting any of us, I’m pretty confident you’ll exceed our expectations.”
Luke laughs, a shimmery sound incongruous with the events of the last hour. “Well, we only have three rooms, so you’ll have to bunk up.” He distributes a key to Ellery, who wraps her arm around Adrien, another to Josh to share with Declan, and one to me. “I would offer to help you with your bags, but it looks like you all travel pretty light.” He gestures to our lack of luggage.
“We didn’t plan on coming back here,” I begin to explain, but I’m stopped by Adrien’s steely voice.
“Weshouldn’thave come back. We should never have gone to Rollowong to see Nick. That was a stupid idea.”
I’m surprised to see the cold rage burning in Adrien’s eyes beneath her swollen lids. Before this afternoon, I’ve never seen this side of her. She’s always been poised, collected, but now it’s like something’s snapped. She seems one push away from losing control. I don’t plan to respond, not wanting to be the person that pushes her over the edge, but she keeps going.
“This is your fault,” she spits, pointing at me. “You wanted to come find Nick, to dredge up everything that happened a decade ago. So we could helpPhoebe, of all people.” She says her name as if I suggested trying to help a terrorist. “She was the last person who deserved our help.”
“That’s not fair,” I say as calmly as possible, but even I can hear the slight waver in my voice. “Phoebe was a good friend to us.” I turn back to Luke, as if he’ll understand.
Adrien coughs out a bitter laugh. “That’s hilarious.”
