Chapter 1
Mallet waited at the desk for the clerk to get his room key. Watching the rain pouring down, he shook his head. He hadn't seen rain like this in a while, but it seemed fitting he thought. His entire world felt as if it was falling down on top of him. At least the weather seemed to agree. The clerk returned with a few papers to sign before disappearing again behind the doors. Mallet sighed. How hard was it to retrieve a simple key?
Dinah tried to keep under the eaves of the buildings. She cursed herself for leaving the umbrella back in her hotel room, but she'd not expected this torrential downpour. Looking at the small café sign, she thought for a second and grabbed the handle on the door. She'd sit with her back towards the entrance and besides, she reasoned, who is really going to recognize me here. She walked quickly into the hotel lobby and moved to turn towards the entrance of the café.
Mallet turned at the same time to slam into her. "I'm sorry," he said quickly, "I wasn't watching where I was going."
Dinah didn't speak at first. She recognized the voice immediately. Looking up at him, she saw the realization hit him.
"Dinah," he said in a whisper, "What are you…are you staying here?"
Dinah looked around quickly. "No," she whispered, "I just stepped in here to sit in the café until it clears up. I'm staying further down the street."
The clerk from the counter interrupted the reunion. "Sir, I have the key for you here," he said bluntly.
Mallet turned grabbing the key. "You think that's a good idea?," he asked her.
"Well," she said with a slight smile, "I think it's a better idea than wandering around the street like a drowned rat," she said clutching the soaking paper bag under her arm.
Mallet shook his head. "Come on," he said gently taking her arm and walking towards his room, "I could use the company, and you could use a towel."