either. So I guessed my only option was to walk it out, carrying it like it was mine. I unplugged the charger and rolled it up, stuffing it in my bag.
I proceeded to process the rest of the room, and found condoms in the nightstand. She’d been planning on the possibility of sex with a man. Going through her suitcase, I found only the usual items. Clothes, shoes, toiletries, vibrator.
So glad I was wearing gloves.
In the bathroom, I found one more thing of particular interest. A prescription bottle with her name on it for Xyrem. Xyrem was used to treat narcolepsy, but it had a more sinister use.
On the street, it was known as GHB, a date rape drug that left the victim incapacitated and sometimes, with memory loss.
What the hell was Lindsey doing with GHB? I pocketed the bottle as well, and did another quick pass of the room, checking the usual places. Inside the top of the commode, the vents, under the desk, behind the drawers, and mini-fridge, and I didn’t find anything else of interest.
I’d need to call Ryder and have her bring me my VPN and ghost server kit so I could see what all Lindsey had been up to without frying myself in the process.
But first, off to Vlad. I was sure that Brooke had picked Mina up already, and he was probably waiting for me.
I checked through the security peep hole to see if the hall was clear and then stepped outside, and made my way back down the winding halls, heading toward the basement and the doggie daycare.
A door on my right slid open and Gabe Dunavent stood in the entryway. He didn’t seem any worse for wear. In fact, he seemed like he was about to go out. He wasn’t wearing his tux any longer, but black slacks, and a black silk shirt open at the chest, revealing his tan skin.
“Didn’t know your room was in this part of the hotel. My lucky day?”
I laughed. “No, sorry. I was just visiting a friend.”
“Oh yeah? A special friend?”
“No. Just a friend.” I shifted my bag on my shoulder. “Looks like you’re getting ready to go out.”
“I thought I might have a nightcap or two. See what shakes loose.” He shrugged. “How about you? Are you headed in for the night?”
“Actually, I’m going to get my dog from daycare. Then I’ll be in for the night. You can walk me if you want?”
He smiled, and pulled the door closed behind him. “So you’re a dog person. That’s new.”
“Not really. I just didn’t have time to devote to a pet when I was younger. I didn’t have time for anything but slaying.”
“What’s different now? Because you’re semi-retired?”
“He’s a vampire.”
“Only you, Margie.” He laughed.
We walked the long halls, and once again, they seemed endless, but Gabe was content to follow my lead.
“We’d all be fucked if there was a fire,” I said. “People would get so confused in these hallways. This place is a deathtrap.”
He nodded to the walls. “The signage is clearly marked.”
“You should know what people are like in a trauma situation. They don’t stop to read directions.”
We walked a little farther in companionable silence and then he spoke. “So, you haven’t asked me.”
I figured he was referring to his job with the Federal Bureau of Vampire Investigations. “Actually, I did, and all you said was, ‘Yeah.’”
“Well, we did have a situation at the time.” He shrugged. “If you’re curious, I’m happy to answer questions.”
I cocked my head to the side. “Are you trying to recruit me?”
“We could always use a consulting slayer. I’d get to spend more time with you. It’s a win-win.”
“I could think about it.” I did need a way to bring in more money. My retirement “stipend” wasn’t quite getting it. Which was fucked up, if I thought about it too hard. Slayers didn’t get to retire, more often than not, so over the centuries, there’d been so many who’d never gotten to take what was owed them. There were huge accounts that the Council had been sitting on and trying to hatch them like an egg.
The Guild had been trying to get more payouts to families and to me, but so far, they hadn’t had much luck. It was unfortunate they wouldn’t consider a strike. The Council would pay up then, I was sure. Assholes.
Finally, we made it to the basement of the hotel and to the doggie daycare. It occurred to me that this was actually pretty sketch.