The intruder was coming back.
She screamed again, and eyes wide with terror, Julie stared at the door as it slowly opened wider. “Get out! I have a weapon and I’ll use it.”
“Don’t shoot. It’s me, Zac.” Zac Rio’s head peeked around the door. “What is it?” He hit the light and keeping his back to the wall, scanned the room, Glock in hand. “What happened, Julie?” He moved inside, his hair ruffled, and he was wearing only sweatpants.
Trembling all over, Julie tried to control the tears spilling down her cheeks. “Someone was in my room. Standing at the end of my bed.” She clung to the stun gun. “They ran out when I screamed. Did you see anyone?”
“No, but I’ll check the CCTV feed first thing in the morning. Stay where you are. I’ll check the bathroom.” Rio moved around cautiously and went through the bathroom and did a complete circle out one door and through the sitting room and back. “There’s no one here. Will you be okay for a minute?”
“No!” Julie shook her head and her hand gripped the stun gun tighter. “I’m not staying here alone.”
“Can you put on a robe and come with me then?” Rio pushed a hand through his hair and dropped the Glock to his side. “I’ll grab some pillows and blankets from my room. I’ll bunk on the sofa. My room is a single, or you could come stay with me until Em gets back.” He walked out and checked the door to the main hallway. “How did he get in here without a key?”
Julie dragged on her robe, stuffed the stun gun in the pocket, pushed her feet into her slippers, and wrapping the robe around her, went to his side. “I don’t know.” She pointed to the keycard on the table beside the door. “I left my key there. Jenna came by before she left. I shut the door but didn’t put the lock on it because Em could be back at any time and she wouldn’t be able to get inside.” She rubbed her arms. “He must have had a passkey. I heard Jenna talking to Uncle Dave about going with the maintenance crew to check the rooms, and they all have passkeys.”
“Okay.” Rio rubbed his chin and stared into space for a few seconds. “Before we go, take a quick look around. Is anything missing?”
Taking her time, Julie moved around the room. They had the basics for a few days’ stay, but she did notice something. “My scarf is missing but Em could have taken it, we do share things like that.”
“You can ask her in the morning.” Rio headed for the door. “Coming?”
Julie hustled after him, her legs feeling like Jell-O. In the hallway, people hovered at their doors, peering in their direction. She forced her lips into a smile. Whatever was going on, she knew better than to give away any clues.
“There’s nothing happening here, folks.” Rio smiled at them. “A spider in the bathroom is all. Go back to bed.” He opened his door and Julie followed him inside.
As Rio collected a few things, Julie leaned against the door. “I know you think I’m still a kid. I know everyone does, but I’m eighteen and I’m not stupid. I know there’s been two murders and now I’m pretty sure another one happened tonight. So three makes a serial killer. For everyone to take off in the middle of the night, something is pretty bad. Now this has happened, I want you to be straight with me.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “Is Sandy really in labor or was that an excuse to dash off?”
“The twins are coming, so I hear.” Rio sighed. “You’re right about the murders and nobody thinks you’re a kid.” He pulled on a black T-shirt. “Jenna didn’t want to spoil the convention for you with all the gory details. The woman in the tub, we believe, is a homicide. There are no signs of forced entry, so either she let the person in, which would say she knew them, or they had a passkey.” He tossed a pillow to Julie and dragged off the duvet. “But most people engage the lock on the door unless they’re expecting room service. No one wants strangers walking into their hotel room.” He pushed his feet into his boots, picked up his Glock and key, and waved her toward the door. “Let’s go. It’s late and I need to get some sleep. All hell is going to break loose in the morning.”
Julie followed him back to her room and watched as he settled on the sofa in front of the fire. “Thanks.”
“That’s what friends are for.” Rio snuggled under the duvet with his eyes closed. “Get some sleep.”
Still s
haking, Julie went into her room and crawled back into her bed, keeping the stun gun within reach. The threat from the figure still hovered in her room like a nightmare she couldn’t wake from. She closed her eyes, seeing the shadowed menace watching her. Terror gripped her and her eyes popped open again. Had that shadow moved? Would the stranger come again and kill her next time? Her heart raced so hard, she couldn’t sleep. In fact, she didn’t think she’d ever sleep again.
Twenty-Seven
My heart pounds as if I’d run a mile and sweat trickles down my brow. The salty rivulets burn my eyes and, annoyed, I brush them away as it reminds me of the tears I once shed. My limbs are slick with perspiration just at being close to her. The long blonde hair cascading over the pillow, the red nails black in the half-light, like blood after lying a week in the sun. She is so like my mom, and when the soft glow from the hotel hallway pierced the darkness of her inner sanctum, I was transported back in time. It was as if I’d shrunk into the young child I once was and had crept into my mom’s room.
My mom was so beautiful when she slept, but I’ve come to know the outer shell of people are deceiving. My mom was not the angelic creature filled with love she portrayed. Inside was pure evil and I was her burden. My punishment was to do her bidding without a word of complaint. At the slightest word of protest, she would scream and lash out, tearing at my cheeks with her nails. I can still feel the sting and how it burned across my face. At school she’d humiliate me by explaining to the teacher how I wouldn’t listen to her and had run away to the river through the brambles. She would dab at her eyes, gaining sympathy. How could I ever explain to anyone the torment I’d suffered? I was by all accounts a belligerent child. A liar who made up stories.
The need to see Julie had become overwhelming. My chance came about by sheer luck. On the way to the elevator, I’d seen the sheriff, her deputy, and Julie’s sister leave. They’d slipped away with a body on a gurney like thieves in the night. I knew Julie would be alone. I had my passkey and had to see for myself if the beauty hid evil inside. Was she another reincarnation of my tormentor? When I stood at the foot of her bed, watching her breathe, she looked so peaceful, angelic, and then she screamed. Her face became ugly and the glowing hall light reflected in her eyes like a demon. In an instant, my brain shattered—all thoughts of revenge gone. Thrown back in time, I was small and vulnerable again—I had to get away. I’d planned my escape and dashed into the sheriff’s room.
Now here I stand, waiting for the calm to come again. The dark room wraps around me like a sanctuary. No one will find me here. My heart slows. I’m in control. To prove it, I press Julie’s scarf to my nose and inhale her annoying perfume. Her smell fills my head and my fingers itch again with the urge to kill. All thoughts of murder vanish when a low rumbling growl comes from behind me. I’d forgotten the sheriff’s dog. At once, I become a nonthreatening statue, turning just my head to see the beast. In the glow of the fire, a dog rises and draws its fleshy lips back to expose sharp teeth. The growl is low and menacing. If he barks, the deputy will find me. I must try and reason with the animal and lower my voice to a whisper. “Good boy.”
Frantic, I search my pockets for the cookies they’d served with supper and toss them to him. To my dismay the beast doesn’t move to accept my gift but increases its growling and makes hesitant steps toward me. Desperate to get away from the slobbering menace, I peer through the peephole in the door. Thankfully the hallway is empty. Cracking open the door, I stick my head outside, searching both ways, but all is still. Without delay, I rush for the fire escape. I chance a glance back along the hallway and the ugly image of Julie drifts back into my mind. Soon.
Twenty-Eight
The warmth of the visitors’ lounge, the happy faces, and the smell that only comes with the joy of birth was a stark contrast to the cold and spartan surrounding of the morgue examination room. Trying to hold on to the good feeling from delivering a pair of healthy twins, Wolfe unzipped the body bag, and stood back as water spilled from the still soaking body. He flicked a gaze to Emily. “Did I mention about wrapping the body in sheets?”
“Yeah, Dad, you did, but as Kane had a body bag in his kit, I made a judgement call and dropped it into the bag.” Emily peered at the body. “I did bag the hands but you won’t find anything.”
Wolfe turned to look at her. “Why?”
“No sign of a struggle.” Emily shrugged.