on a light breeze as Lorenzo cautiously approached the hotel.
Jenna couldn’t have gotten away. Charlene had to be lying. He wiped a smear of her blood from his knuckles onto his pants, wondering what she’d done with his money.
What nagged at him was that Charlene had looked as surprised as he’d been when the money hadn’t been in the box.
He slowed. The afternoon was dark, the clouds low and heavy with moisture. Mist moved through the air like floating cobwebs, and a strange cold feeling seemed to settle in his bones.
A light glowed in the lobby, and in front of it he saw figures in the lobby—Rose Garcia and the man she’d arrived with.
Apparently the man had been shot, because Rose was helping him. Alexandria was with her.
Lorenzo swore as he watched them disappear from view. He didn’t need any more trouble. All he wanted was his money. And Jenna.
Staying in the shadows, he moved up the steps and across the wide porch. No sign of Rose and the man. Where had they gone? He drew his gun and eased open the front door. The place was eerily empty. The lush, thick carpet muffled his footfalls as he moved quickly to the registration desk and quietly checked the book.
The first guest since 1936 was a Jenna Johnson. Johnson? Yeah, right. According to the book, she was in room 318. So Charlene at least hadn’t lied about that. All the cubbyholes behind the desk contained two keys, except for the slot marked 318. It had only one in it.
He pocketed the key with a smile and turned toward the elevator.
As he did he heard a sound coming from behind the door marked Manager. He heard Rose Garcia calling the police. Too late to stop her. He’d just have to move quickly and finish his business here before the cops arrived.
At the elevator, he pushed the button and waited. He was considering taking the stairs instead when the elevator doors opened and he saw an elderly, gray-haired man. The man’s surprised gaze went from Lorenzo’s face to the gun in his hand.
Lorenzo stepped in, the elevator doors closing behind him as he reached over and hit the third-floor button.
“Who the—” That’s all the old man got out before Lorenzo backhanded him with the gun. The old man slid slowly to the floor as the elevator hummed upward.
LOCKED INSIDE THE MANAGER’S office, Rose worked to stop Mike’s bleeding. She’d pulled off her jacket and folded the soft fabric, pressing it against the gunshot wound. Mike was pale, his skin clammy.
“A lot of help I was to you,” he said.
She smiled at him. “You’re just a high-priced private eye. You’re not used to women shooting at you. Or are you?”
His smile was feeble. “I didn’t see the gun in her hand until it was too late. I was looking at you and Lexi.”
That’s what she’d feared.
Lexi was crying softly. Rose pulled her closer. “It’s all right.” She met Mike’s gaze. “I’ve called for backup and an ambulance.”
He nodded and covered her hand with his. Their eyes met and she felt her heart drop like a stone. “Don’t dare think about taking off on me,” she murmured. They both knew what she meant.
“Not a chance,” he whispered. “Not after I finally got you to admit you wanted to date me.”
She looked at Lexi. Where was the little girl’s mother? Was Jenna still alive?
“Go on,” he said. “Find Jenna. I’ll be all right. I’ll take care of Lexi.”
He looked as if he might pass out at any moment. Rose knew if she left him he might die. She glanced from Mike to the little girl. Lexi had curled up beside Mike, hugging her rag doll and looking terrified.
“I know what you came up here to do,” Mike said quietly.
Kill Lorenzo, Rose thought.
“Go ahead. I wasn’t going to try to stop you,” Mike said.
She felt the pull. She was a cop. A cop on medical leave. Out of her jurisdiction. On a mission. She had come up here to make sure Lorenzo Dante was stopped for good, and Mike knew it.
“Several of the highway patrol are close by because of more flooding on the road,” she said.
She could hear sirens in the distance. They would be here soon.
“I’ll be all right,” he whispered.
She shook her head. She couldn’t leave this scared little girl alone with a man who might bleed to death while she was gone. “The highway patrol will find Jenna and help her.” If Jenna