The Lady Has a Past (Burning Cove #5) - Amanda Quick Page 0,37

the clerk was still safely out of the way.

In addition to the night clerk’s office, there was another office door marked private. He took out the lockpick he had slipped into the pocket of his evening jacket and started around the end of the front desk.

Lyra’s voice was louder now. She was singing “Too Marvelous for Words.” He got the message. He changed his mind and went back around the front desk.

He was lounging against the desk, banging the service bell, when Hiram escorted Lyra back into the lobby. She gave him a sparkling smile.

“Oh, hello, darling,” she said. “I am trying to convince this nice man to let me take a swim in one of the bathhouse pools. He says I can’t swim alone, and he refuses to join me. Would you like to take a swim?”

“Not tonight, dear,” Simon said. “I’ve got a headache. Let’s go upstairs. I think we both need some sleep.”

He crossed the room to take her arm. Hiram was visibly relieved.

“Good night, sir,” he said. “Madam.”

“Good night, Hiram,” Lyra said. “Thank you for showing me around the gardens.”

“Anytime, Mrs. Cage,” Hiram said.

He hastened into the inner office.

Simon kept his grip on Lyra’s arm and steered her toward the stairs. When they reached the landing on the next floor she made to pull away from him. He realized he did not want to let go, but he could not think of a good excuse to hang on to her. Reluctantly he released her.

“Next time you can play the role of the ditzy dame who’s had too many cocktails,” she said.

“I doubt if I could top your performance,” he said. “You were magnificent in the part.”

“I was, wasn’t I? Those drama classes I took in college finally paid off. Well? Were you successful?”

He smiled. She was a little giddy, and it wasn’t from the pink ladies. He recognized the sensation because he was experiencing a similar rush of exhilaration. It was the energy of action; of moving forward on a case. Maybe the new lead would go nowhere, but at least there was a path.

“We’re about to find out,” he said. “Raina Kirk’s name was not on the register, but two single women checked into the hotel yesterday in the afternoon.”

“Do you think one of them was Raina?”

“It’s possible. There’s only one way to be sure. I’ve got the room numbers. We knock on doors and see who answers.”

“This could and probably will get very awkward,” Lyra warned. “Unless we get lucky with the first door, we’re going to wake up a stranger who will no doubt be extremely annoyed.”

“In that case we go into our act.”

“Which is?”

“Intoxicated honeymooners who got lost on the way back to their suite.”

“Embarrassing, but I suppose it’s all we’ve got to work with.”

Simon glanced at his notes. “We’ll start with room three twelve.”

“What is the name of the guest in three twelve?”

Simon consulted his notes. “Coulson.”

They climbed to the third floor and walked down the hall to three twelve.

“I’ll knock,” Lyra said. “Why don’t you stay out of sight? We know the occupant is a woman. If it’s Raina, she’ll recognize me. If it isn’t Raina, whoever is inside will be alarmed at the sight of a man.”

“You’re right. Go ahead.”

Lyra rapped lightly on the door. There was no response.

“It’s three in the morning,” Simon said. “Whoever is inside is probably sound asleep. You’ll have to knock louder.”

Lyra shot him a quelling look but she did not argue. She raised her hand, made a little fist, and knocked again. Sharply.

There was a moment of silence inside and then a woman spoke. Her voice was thick with sleep.

“Who’s there?” she called.

Lyra took a quick breath and stepped back. She glanced at Simon, shook her head, and mouthed the words, “Not Raina.”

“Sorry,” she said, raising her voice. “Wrong room.”

She turned quickly, motioning to Simon.

“Let’s get out of here,” she whispered.

But it was too late. The door opened abruptly. An attractive woman in her late twenties or early thirties peered out. She was dressed in an expensive silk robe. Her hair was pinned up in curls. She studied Lyra with sleepy blue eyes.

“Who are you?” she demanded. Then she noticed Simon and frowned. “What’s going on here?”

“I’m so sorry we awakened you,” Lyra said. “We are looking for our friends. They invited us up to their room for a nightcap after the bar closed but we must have got the number wrong.”

“House phone’s on the table down the hall,” the woman said, clearly