Page 54 of Lucky Night

The Finn fidgets as he waits for the translation. Then he speaks. Then they wait.

I am an engineer, the phone says.I will locate the building plan.

Nick and Jenny glance at each other.

Do you thinkhe—

No time! the Finn cries. There is fire!

No shit, Nick says, but—

Give phone! the man insists. Give phone and I show!

He’s looming over them, vibrating with impatience.

Give him the phone, Jenny.

But—

Just do it. Better that than he rips it out of your hands.

She offers the phone to the Finn, who grabs it eagerly. She shoots Nick a resentful look.

What? he says. I’m trying to protect you.

Yeah? You’re doing a great job.

She moves away. The Finn paces by the window, typing and mumbling to himself. Nick watches him. What the hell is happening right now? How is there suddenly a gigantic stranger filling their room with his bulk and his anxiety?

Where did he come from? What did he see?

Is it really bad out there?

No. It can’t be. The hallway was clear. Not a whiff of smoke.

Jenny comes back around the bed, holding his phone.

Unlock this, she says. I’ll use it to talk to him.

I’m not sure he’s in the mood.

We need to find out what he’s seen, Nick.

He unlocks his phone. She starts typing, then frowns.

These keyboard sounds, she mutters. Jesus.

Are you okay? he asks her.

I’m peachy, thanks.

Look, he says. We both got upset just now, but let’s be civil, okay? At least while we deal with whatever thisis?

Go to hell, Nick. She walks away from him, typing.

Nice. No, really, that’s sweet. But fuck this. He doesn’t need a random European, or Google Translate—he’ll call downstairs and get some information. An update, a timeline. It would also be nice to talk with someone who doesn’t think he’s an irredeemable asshole. He moves around the bed toward the room phone. She has no right to be angry with him. She’s the one who lied, who toyed with him, who—

He picks up the receiver. It slips out of his grasp.

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