Page 95 of Petty's Crime

His eyes homing in like lasers, he follows the steps and the clearly made track that leads behind the reception desk. For a second he disappears from sight, then emerges with a drawer full of keys. I can’t remember when I last had anything other than a key card in a hotel, but then this place is probably as dated as the Ark.

Crash grins widely. “The keys are numbered.” He tips the contents of the drawer out.

Rope and Cuffs help him start sorting them out.

“Thirty-two is missing,” Rope, after what seems forever, announces with a triumphant bark. “Well that’s made our job fuckin’ easier.”

Sarge is examining a faded plan on the wall. “Thirty-two is out back.”

“Okay, let’s check that first.”

I’m glad that’s what the VP decided as nothing’s going to hold me back. Well, except a little case of probable concussion and broken ribs of course.

“Keep your fuckin’ eyes open,” Crash warns as we make our way through the gloomy and spooky hotel. “Just because there’s a key missing doesn’t mean that’s where they are.”

“Might not fuckin’ be here at all,” Rope remarks, nudging Cuff in his side. Cuff grimaces but gives a nod to show he agrees with him.

She has to be.I don’t think my heart can take much more. It’s already thumping hard in anticipation of finding her here. If this is a dead end, it might give out altogether.

I want to shout, to let her hear my voice, to let her know I’m close and coming for her. But just because there’s no vehicle doesn’t mean she’s here alone. And that’s if this is even the right place.

Gritting my teeth against the pain, my muscles having again seized in the brief lull, I follow Crash, keeping up as best I can. We approach carefully, sidling along the walls and ducking beneath windows, making utter fools of ourselves if there isn’t anyone here.

But at last we come to the right door, and Crash raises his hand, a signal to wait and listen.

It’s then I hear the most wonderful sound in the world.

“I need to pee,” RoseLyn says loudly and forcefully as if not for the first time.

“I fuckin’ told you, there’s no electricity or running water.”

“Jeez, right now I don’t care about washing my hands. I need to pee, Thorne.”

Crash turns, but without having to be told, Sarge and Hammer are already moving fast, going around the back of the rooms to see what the bathroom access is like. Leaving Rope and Cuff with Crash, I follow them, slower because I have to concentrate hard as my balance and ability to walk silently have been compromised.

Around the back, we count the rooms until we come to the right one, finding a sealed window comprising of frosted glass. The only part that opens is the top, impossible for anyone to get out of, but it doesn’t faze Sarge. He removes some kind of cutting tool from his well-stocked pack which slices through the glass like a knife through butter. He attaches a sucker onto it, then waits.

“Fucker will probably want to check it out,” he murmurs under his breath.

And he’s right.

“You satisfied?” RoseLyn’s voice comes over clearly, and is answered by a masculine grunt.

“Just do your business quickly.”

“I can’t pee with you watching me.” I grin at the indignance in her tone. It shows me he hasn’t hurt her too badly or broken her spirit, thank fuck. “Get out and close the door.”

“Don’t try to fucking escape.”

“How?” I can picture her with her hands on her hips. “I might be skinny, but not so much I can get out of that.” I assume she’s pointing to the top of the window.

“Just don’t try anything,” he growls. “And don’t lock the door.”

Sarge holds up three fingers then puts them down one at a time. When the countdown has finished, he pulls on the glass which comes away from the frame making no sound.

Unfortunately we’ve caught RoseLyn literally with her pants down, but Hammer reaches in and covers her mouth with his hand before she can do anything but give a startled squeak.

Recognising him, she quickly pulls her pants up, raises her arms and lets Hammer pull her up. She uses the rim of the toilet to bolster herself, and in two short seconds, I’ve got a shocked, but grinning woman standing beside me.

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