Page 84 of Paging Dr. Hart
As soon as we enter the Starlight, I realize where Shelly hid the diamonds.
Little bird.
It’s so obvious that I almost doubt myself. Surely Shelly wouldn’t have hidden them some place I know so well? But how would she have ever guessed that Rafe would contact me? Find me and bring me with him to search for the treasure. When Shelly last saw Rafe and me together, their betrayal had devastated me. She probably assumed I’d never willingly help him. Which is true—there is nothing willing about this. Rafe keeps one hand on my arm as we enter the Starlight as if he doesn’t trust me not to run away.
The hotel is in shambles. Heaps of rubble and debris line the hallways. Off-kilter doors have broken free of their hinges, hanging at awkward angles. The old, patterned carpet is wet from rain that has blown in through broken windows. It squelches under foot. The whole place smells like rot and decay. I stifle a cough in my throat, putting the back of my hand over my nose to block the stench.
Rafe doesn’t seem to be bothered by any of it. He eagerly scans the rooms as we walk past, searching for a clue about the diamonds’ location. The flashlight’s beam skitters over the walls and floor as he swings it from side to side. Still clutching my arm, he drags me ever deeper into the hotel.
There’s a new-looking rectangular box in one hallway. It has a diamond-shaped orange sign on the side showing a picture of a ball with a jagged crack through its middle and lines radiating out from its sides. Like a bomb exploding. Rafe walks right past it, but it catches my eye. I halt to take a closer look, holding my ground even as he tugs on my arm, urging me forward.
“Hey.” I yank back, countering his pull. “What’s this?”
“Beats me. Let’s get going,” Rafe says gruffly, not bothering to glance at the box. He jerks harder on me, but I dig my heels into the soft carpet, rooting myself into the floor.
“No. Tell me what this is. What am I looking at?” I should already know the answer, but my mind doesn’t want to comprehend what my eyes are seeing.
“It’s probably dynamite or C3,” Rafe admits as he stops tugging on me.
“Why would they have that kind of explosive in here?” My heart hammers in my chest, trying madly to escape my rib cage.
“Because they’re going to blow this place up.” He almost looks guilty. “The City Council finally reached an agreement with the owners. They want to clear this land to make way for a new luxury resort.”
“What?” My voice rises, pitching into a panicked tone. “When?”
“Tonight,” he answers reluctantly. “They plan to broadcast it on TV. It will be a big show.”
“What?! Are you kidding me?” I’m shouting now. “Why aren’t there police cars out front to stop stupid people like us from coming in?”
“I dunno.” He shrugs. “I expected we’d have a lot more trouble getting in here. They’ve been talking about the demolition for weeks, so maybe they thought that was enough of a deterrent for most people. This is why we had to come today. Don’t you see, Tiffany? It’s my last chance to get those diamonds.”
Suddenly motivated to find the gems and escape, I spin around, trying to get my bearings. It had been hectic when Shelly and I were chased into the hotel by those awful, scary men. My mind was so overcome with fear back then that I worry I won’t be able to find the small storage room again.
I turn in a circle. A hallway looks familiar. I start toward it, but stop. “How do I know you’ll let me go if I help?” I ask quietly.
“If we find the diamonds, then that’s it. That’ll be the last time you ever see me,” Rafe promises, his gaze steady.
“But how do Iknow?” I insist.
I want to believe him.
When we were young, I’d trusted Rafe, maybe because he had rescued me or maybe because I felt like he kept a protective eye on Shelly and me. Even though I knew he did bad things, illegal things, there was something in him that I had found comforting.
After he and Shelly left, I thought I had been delusional, attributing Rafewith a noble heart he didn’t deserve. Now I find myself asking those same questions.
Who is Rafe? Savior? Protector? Betrayer? Friend or Foe?
“Because I said so.” He sets his jaw.
I stare into his eyes, looking for the truth. It’s like gazing into a murky pond. Things slip and slither beneath the surface, but I can’t make out their form. As usual, I can’t decipher his intentions.
“You’ll just have to believe me, Tiffany.” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “I understand why you don’t trust me, but there’s nothing I can do about that. We’re running out of time. If you want to get back to your doctor life, see that boyfriend of yours, there’s only one choice for you to make. Let’s go.” He doesn’t move toward me, doesn’t grab me or force me.
Rafe waits for me to decide.
“Fine,” I say, still angry and unsure but unable to think of a better solution. Pointing to the hallway that looks promising, I tell him, “I’m not positive, but it might be down there.”
Rafe lets out a breath, and his shoulders slump. In the irregular beam from our flashlights, he appears older than his age. His posture is stooped, and his arms hang heavy at his sides. As I walk away, I almost miss his whispered, “Thank you.”
