Alex Kava Bundle - Alex Kava [231]
Nick was at the window and watched as she tugged on socks and slipped on shoes. She noticed he had both miniature bottles of Scotch in his hand.
“Still having nightmares?” His eyes searched hers as he returned the bottles to the small table.
“Yes,” she said quite simply, and gave him her back as she found her badge and some cash. She didn’t need Nick Morrelli barging into her life and thinking he had any right to share or expose her vulnerabilities.
“Ready?” she asked as she headed for the door and opened it before looking back at him. She almost tripped over the room-ser-vice tray that sat on the floor outside her door. She stared down at the single dinner plate covered by a silver insulator. The two empty glasses and accompanying silverware sparkled on a crisp, white linen napkin.
“Did you order something from room service?” she turned to ask, but Nick was already by her side.
“No. And I didn’t hear a knock, either.”
He stepped over the tray and out into the hallway to look in both directions. Maggie listened. There were no slamming doors, no footsteps, no wisping elevators.
“Probably just a mistake,” Nick said, but she could hear his tension.
Maggie kneeled next to the tray. Her pulse quickened. Carefully, she slipped the linen napkin out from under the silverware, using thumb and index finger. She unfolded it, then used it to grab the handle of the metal insulator. She lifted it slowly and immediately the smell filled the hall.
“Jesus,” Nick said, jerking back a step.
In the middle of the shiny dinner plate lay a bloody glob Maggie knew was Rita’s missing kidney.
CHAPTER 27
Within minutes, the hotel’s lobby was filled with law enforcement officers from across the Midwest. All entrances and exits were guarded. Elevators were checked and watched. Stairwells were examined at all twenty-five levels. The hotel’s room-service kitchen had been invaded and the staff questioned. Despite the overwhelming brigade of manpower, Maggie knew they would never find him.
Most criminals would consider it suicide to show up in a hotel where hundreds of cops, sheriffs, detectives and FBI agents were staying. For Albert Stucky it would simply be another challenge to his game. Maggie imagined him sitting somewhere, watching and amused by the commotion, the blunders, the unsuccessful attempts at catching him. That’s why she was checking the most obvious places.
The second floor included an atrium overlooking the lobby. She stayed at the brass railing while her eyes searched down below—the line at the reservations counter, the man at the grand piano, the few diners at bistro tables in the glass-encased café the man behind the concierge desk, the cabdriver hauling out luggage. Stucky would blend in. He’d look as though he belonged. Even the room-service staff would not have noticed him had he walked into their kitchen in a white jacket and black tie.
“Any luck?”
Maggie jumped but managed to restrain herself from automatically reaching for her gun.
“Sorry.” Nick looked genuinely concerned. “He’d be nuts to stick around. I’m guessing he’s long gone.”
“Stucky likes to watch. It isn’t much fun if he doesn’t get to see people’s reactions. Half of these officers don’t know what he looks like. If he plays it cool, they might never spot him. He has the uncanny ability to blend in.”
Maggie continued searching, standing quietly and still. She could feel Nick examining her. She was tired of everyone watching for signs of some kind of mental meltdown, though she knew Nick was sincere.
“I’m fine,” she said without looking at him, answering his unspoken question.
“I know you are. I still get to be concerned.” He leaned over the railing, conducting his own search. His shoulder brushed against hers.
“Assistant Director Cunningham thinks he’s protecting me by keeping me off the investigation.”
“I wondered why you were teaching. John said there were rumors that you were burned out, losing