Page 39 of Obsession

The door of another elevator car opened. Matthew hesitated. He probably should forget about the man and go back to the bar. But before the doors closed, he slipped inside and pressed the button for four.

When he arrived, the hallway was empty.

If the guy was still here, he had to be in one of the rooms. And given the man’s interest in Billy, the producer’s suite seemed the smart bet.

Matthew moved quietly down the corridor. When he reached Billy’s door, he leaned close and listened.

Someone was moving around inside. He had seen Billy leave, so it had to be the faux guard breaking in.

This could be another opportunity for him to play the hero, Matthew realized. An opportunity from which he could gain the appreciation of Billy Barnett himself, a close personal friend of Tessa’s. Having him in Matthew’s corner would only help to smooth Matthew’s path to permanently being by her side, wouldn’t it?

Matthew retrieved the master keycard and tapped it against the card reader.

???

Since Kordo had some time to kill before Barnett returned, he decided to search the room for anything that might explain why a movie producer would be involved in the search for Rebecca Novak. He went into the bedroom and checked the closet and the dresser but found nothing but clothes.

On the floor next to the dresser was a suitcase. He grabbed it and was about to swing it onto the bed when he heard the front-door lock click.

Barnett must have forgotten something and come back.

Kordo hurried into the living room, planning to yank Barnett inside and incapacitate him. Only when the door opened, it wasn’t Barnett on the other side, it was the guyfrom the movie set. The one Kordo had noticed glancing at him.

“I think you’re in the wrong place, buddy,” the man said. “Because, unless you’re a master of disguise, you’re not Billy Barnett.”

Kordo pulled the door out of the way, then punched the guy in the gut, doubling him over and sending him stumbling into the doorframe.

Kordo grabbed the man’s shoulders. “You should stay out of things not your business.” He then kneed the guy in the face and pushed him to the floor. “You make big mistake.”

Kordo grabbed the door and tried to shove it closed, but the guy’s legs were in the way.

Kordo grunted in frustration, then reached into his jacket and wrapped his fingers around the grip of his gun, intending to put a quick end to the troublemaker. But before he could pull his weapon out, he heard the door of a nearby room open and voices in the hall.

He cursed.

No way he could kill the asshole and pull him into the room before someone walked by.

He jerked the door open and raced into the hallway.

30

Moments before, Tessa was putting on her earrings and checking herself in the mirror.

Perfect, she thought.

She turned to tell Ben she was ready to go, when something thumped against the wall.

Ben looked up from his laptop. “What was that?”

“I don’t know. But I think it came from Billy’s suite.”

Another bang against the wall caused them both to jump up and run for the door.

Ben exited the room first, with Tessa hot on his heels. As they entered the corridor, a man raced out of Billy’s suite and sprinted in the other direction.

“Hey! Stop!” Ben yelled.

The man ignored him. When he reached a door markedstairs, he shoved it open and disappeared inside.

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