A/N: The beginning of the end of Hotel Detective.


(She Was A) Hotel Detective

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Gauntlet


Wednesday, November 10, 1965
Chicago, Outside St. Vincent's Orphanage
11:30 am


Sarah looked at Chuck, then at Ellie and Devon, and finally looked back to Jack.

The temperature had dropped further overnight and the late morning had still not shaken it off. Snow was falling half-heartedly.

She had not thought much beyond finding the records, saving Chuck. But now she had them, almost twenty-four hours ahead of Algernon's deadline. Stupid phrase, Sarah!

She turned and scanned her surroundings. A diner's sign glowed across the street.

"Let's go and get some lunch and figure our next step."

Jack nodded but Sarah saw consternation in his eyes.

"What, Dad?"

"A good con improvises, but he never just makes it up as he goes along."

Sarah glared at him. "I am not a con, Dad. I'm not playing an angle, trying to steal a buck. This is about life and death, and, depending on what's in the records, maybe good and evil. Plans are always easier when you have only one value — or none."

Jack stepped back, blinking. "Sorry...Sorry, old habits. Just felt for a minute like old times."

Sarah ignored him. She could see Ellie shivering; Devon carefully put his arm around her, the slowness of the gesture an asking-for-permission. Ellie gave him a smile of thanks.

Sarah turned and started marching toward the diner.

Chuck caught up with her and took her hand. His touch made her shoulders unknot, her brow unfurl. She took a deep breath and smiled at him.

They went inside and found a corner booth. A waitress came and took their orders. After she left, Sarah asked Ellie for the records. Ellie dug them out of the leather purse.

Sarah took them and looked at them closely: two clothbound volumes, tall and thin and dark, dull green. Each had the same design on the front cover — an abstract pattern of black lines, vertical and horizontal, and the word, Records, printed in the center of the design, the center of the cover. Two corners of one volume were bent as if it had been dropped.

She opened one.

The pages were ruled both horizontally and vertically, the design familiar for record-keeping or accounts. Entries were made in ink in a small, careful hand, with few errors or markings-out. She turned several pages and they were all similar.

She turned back to the first page. In the first narrow column of the first row was a date, the first date November 21, 1957.

Beside the date, in the next wide column, was a detailed entry that ran down several rows before a new date was entered in the first narrow column of the next row. But the entry was gibberish: no, not gibberish, a code. Sarah had studied cryptology at the Farm, used codes and ciphers as an agent.

She stared at the code for a while but could make nothing of it, discerned no pattern.

She realized that everyone else was staring at her, waiting. As she started to explain, the waitress appeared with their food. She distributed it to them. After she left, Sarah told them what was in the records and passed the volume around. It came to Chuck last.

"You know," he said, blowing on a hot spoonful of his chicken noodle soup, "I'm pretty good at this kind of thing. It's a lot like the work I do back home. But I'd need a quiet place to work and a few hours. Whatever that code is, it's a hell of a lot more advanced than Pig Latin."

Jack chortled. "You are an Umpchay, monkey."

Chuck grinned goodnaturedly and took the bite of his soup.

He wiped his mouth with his napkin. "Sarah, look, now that we have these things...I'm not sure I feel right giving them to the Russians. I mean, I don't want to die, assuming I have been poisoned, and that all the Succimer...urination...hasn't saved me.

"But I don't want to give the KGB's top spy something he so obviously wants…That just...bothers me."

Everyone was quiet. Chuck started eating again and so did everyone else.

Eventually, as folks finished, Devon spoke. "I've seen those kinds of record books at the office supply store near the Palmer House. I go there to restock our supplies down in the Detective's room.

"What if we made a copy —maybe I don't mean a copy, but a...decoy, I guess. Decoy records. Maybe we could draw this Algernon out of hiding with them while keeping the real records somewhere safe…"

The door of the diner opened and two uniformed policemen walked in. The waitress had two styrofoam to-go cups lidded and on the counter for them. She gestured to the cups.

"Hey, guys. Got your usual right here."

One policeman stepped to the counter, taking a leather change purse from his pocket to pay. The other stood by the door, rocking on the crepe soles of his black shoes, and glancing around the diner. When his eyes swept their booth, reached Chuck and Sarah, there was a tiny shift in his gaze. He waited for the other policeman to finish paying, and they left together.

Sarah stood up. "Dad, pay for this. We need to go. Out the back door."

She handed the records back to Ellie and Ellie put them in her purse. "Dad, look, we need to split up. That cop recognized Chuck or me or someone. You take Ellie and Devon, keep them safe, the records safe. I'm betting they won't follow you. Chuck and I will make sure we're not being followed, and then we will meet you back at Marlena's."

In the alley behind the diner, the group split up, Sarah's dad leading Devon and Ellie away. Chuck stood watching them go.

"It'll b okay, Chuck. I doubt anyone's after them if they're not with us."

"But they were at Accardo's yesterday."

"True, but I think they're down the scorecard for Accardo, and definitely for Agent Rizzo.

"I don't know if those officers were going to report us to the Outfit or the FBI, but I do know he only had eyes for us. C'mon, we've got to go."

They walked in the dirty, slushy snow to the other side of the block. Sarah scrutinized the street then they started along the sidewalk. She started to step out, to hail a taxi, when she saw a patrol car turn the corner.

The driver was the policeman who saw them in the diner.

Sarah grabbed Chuck's arm. "Hurry, Chuck, run!"

They went back through the alley behind the restaurant, back to the street of St. Vincent's. They crossed the street, zigzagging through the slow-moving traffic, and ran alongside the orphanage, crossing the block.

When they emerged on the next street, Sarah checked, then hailed a taxi. She let Chuck get in and then she followed.

Sarah gave the cabbie a streetcorner near Marlena's as a destination. The taxi pulled slowly out into the traffic. She looked behind them, around, and could not see the patrol car. She let herself relax, take a deep breath, and scoot close to Chuck.

"I think we're okay," she whispered, kissing his earlobe.

Chuck squirmed at the touch of her lips, grinning and shrugging his shoulder. "That tickles!"

She laughed but looked behind them again. Still no patrol car. She looked back at Chuck. "You know, we've been so...busy...I never asked. How long are you in town?"

Chuck gave her a wicked grin. "I don't have any plans past noon tomorrow."

She took his chin in her hands. "Enough black humor. And start making plans past noon tomorrow."

He gazed at her, vulnerable. "May I...include you in those plans?"

She squeezed his leg. "A good boyfriend would include his girlfriend in his plans…"

"So, us, this…" he did the him-to-her-to-him finger dance, "this is open-ended, real."

"Real. I don't think Ellie heard me faking last night, Chuck." It was Sarah's turn for a different kind of wicked grin.

"Right. Wait. What? Ellie heard?"

"Yes, she did."

Chuck beeted. "I'm not sure which is worse, the KGB or...Ellie."

Sarah bumped Chuck's shoulder with his. "Soon, Chuck, just us, no listeners, no need to be quiet." She paused for a second, feeling vulnerable herself. "What do you think of Chicago?"

He gave her a significant look over a sly grin. "It has some nice hotels."


The taxi dropped them at the corner.

The snowfall was heavier, the day no warmer. Sarah tugged Chuck's sleeve and they stepped under a shop's awning.

She pulled him into a kiss. "Just in case I wasn't clear in the taxi…" She let herself linger in the kiss, hugging Chuck closer to her as the wind picked up, cold and edgy.

When they parted, she kept her eyes close to his. "I love you, Chuck Bartowski. I wanted to say that in the daylight." She wanted to say it when she could see his eyes.

She saw everything there she had hoped for.

"I love you too, Sarah."

"Okay, let's get to Marlena's and let's plan a way to end all of this, so we can concentrate on the day after tomorrow, on us."

Chuck nodded. "You know, Computer Control Systems has a research division in Chicago…"

Sarah gave Chuck her brightest smile. "Now that's good to know."


They trudged through the windblown snow and went up the stairs to Marlena's apartment. They knocked and she opened the door.

Her face was drawn, worried. "Sarah, I've been hoping you would come back soon. A man called from the Palmer House. A...Morgan...I think. Anyway, he said your roommate, Carina called."

Marlena looked down at a piece of paper in her hand. "Her manager at the Green Mill followed her home last night. He's still there, in a car outside the building. She wants to know what she should do."

Sarah looked at Chuck, then Marlena. "Have the others gotten back yet, Dad and Ellie and Devon?"

"No, not yet."

"Chuck, look, stay here. When they get back, start working on the code in the records. I'm going to go and get Carina, bring her back here. I'm worried Accardo will try to take her, use her as leverage against us…I've got my gun, my knife. I'll get her out of there."

"No, Sarah, I…"

"Chuck, I know how brave you are. But this is the kind of thing I was trained for, have done for years. I'll be back, with Carina, I promise. I need you to figure out what's in those records, otherwise, we are moving on the chessboard but without knowing where or what the opposing pieces are…"

Chuck slumped visibly. "Okay, but you come back to me. The day after tomorrow, remember?"

"I won't forget, Chuck." She gave him a quick kiss and turned to go.

Marlena stopped her. "Sarah, take my car." She stepped out of view and returned, a set of keys in her hand. "It's in the parking garage on the corner. Spot 51. A yellow VW."

"Thanks, Marlena," Sarah said as she took the keys. "Call Carina. Tell her I am coming. Describe the car. Tell her to wait at the door, inside, and to come out when she sees me." Marlena nodded.

Sarah gave Chuck one last quick kiss and ran down the stairs.


Sarah slowed the VW Bug as she approached her block. No one was immediately behind her, so she slowed even more.

She saw a brown Cadillac ahead, parked across the street from her building, down the block a short distance. Someone was seated inside. She was sure it was Carina's manager, Jack. He would have my dad's name. She saw him as she passed but he did not look at her, he was looking at the building. She could see the door of the building. She let the VW roll slowly as she passed the Caddilac.

The building's door opened and Carina came out quickly, aiming to intersect with Sarah. Sarah moved into the left-hand lane and reached across, opening the passenger door. Carina ran around the front of the car and jumped in as it was still rolling.

Boom! Smash!

A gunshot shattered the small rear window of the VW. Carina screamed.

Sarah punched the gas and the VW's tiny engine screamed along with Carina.

Sarah swerved back into her lane and turned right at the corner. She heard the Caddilac's tires squeal. Her only chance was to outmaneuver the other car; she could not outrun it.

A rabbit chased by a greyhound.

Carina dropped her purse on the floor and clicked her seatbelt. "You know," she said, her voice remarkably calm for a woman who had just screamed. "You kinda suck as a roommate…"

Carina looked back and then gave Sarah a grin. "Sorry about the scream. Never been shot at before."

Sarah nodded, checking the rearview.

The Cadillac was closing, right on her bumper.

She waited until the last possible second, and, not knowing what she would find, she swung the car right violently, launching it into the mouth of a narrow alley.

Luck was with her. The alleyway was open.

She heard the Cadillac squeal to a stop, then accelerate. There was no way it could follow her into the alley.

It had been a day for alleys.

She punched the engine again. It screamed without Carina's help. They rocketed along the alleyway, and then into the next street.

A car flashed across their front, another across their rear, and then they were into the alley as it continued on the next block. It too was open but Sarah knew she had pushed her luck already.

At the next street, Sarah slowed and entered traffic, turning left. The light was green and she went through the intersection.

Just after she did, the Cadillac swept past in the opposite direction.

Traffic was heavy, and so there was no way for the Cadillac to turn. Sarah turned right and ducked the VW into a parking garage, whipping up the ramp and throwing Carina against her door.

After climbing to the top, Sarah found a spot near the ramp going down and pulled in. She left the engine running.

"Are you okay, Carina?"

"Yeah, yeah, fine, except for not getting much sleep. I kept watching Jack and his damn car. I thought at any moment he'd climb the stairs, come for me. He was out there when I got off the L. — Sarah, what did you do?"

"I paid his boss a visit, Accardo, and it turned out not-so-well for Accardo."

Carina's eyes widened. "You are truly a badass woman, Sarah Walker."

Sarah ducked her head. "Well, it wouldn't have gone well for me if Chuck and his sister and Devon hadn't come for me…"

In short sentences, she told Carina the story, all the while listening for the Cadillac. It never came.

"So, Chuck saved you. That's unexpected but...wonderful. And you say Devon was with them, with Chuck's sister."

Sarah realized that although she had not said anything about Ellie and Devon that made their growing attachment explicit, it was implicit in what she said. "Um, yeah, Carina, Devon's fallen pretty hard."

"Well, it's my damn fault for missing that train. And she sounds like a badass too. Good for Devon." Her tone was braver than her expression.

"Sorry, Carina."

She waved her hand. "Don't be. Life works the way life works. There are other fish in the sea and I am quite the bait…"

Sarah wrinkled her brow. "That's a strange metaphor."

"It's been a strange day. Get me out of here, to someplace where I can get a drink. I could use one, even if it is too early."

"Marlena will have something, I'm sure, but it will likely be exotic."

"Who's this Marlena?"

Sarah sighed. "I guess she's my dad's girlfriend."


Sarah returned the car Marlena's garage, to spot 51, dreading to tell Marlena about the damage.

She and Carina walked to the stairs and up. Sarah knocked. Chuck opened the door. His face fell.

The reaction unsettled Sarah. "Chuck?"

"I thought maybe you were Jack?"

"Jack? My dad? Aren't he and Ellie and Devon back?"

"Ellie and Devon are. Jack's not." Chuck's face showed dread.

"Chuck…"

"Jack told Ellie he would carry her leather bag for her. She gave it to him. At some point, while she and Devon were trying to hail a taxi, your dad vanished. They searched for him but could not find him. They just got back a few minutes ago. — I think your Dad took the records, Sarah."

Sarah's stomach knotted. She had been conned. Played.

Perfectly.

Her dad had improvised. Like a master.


Chuck went to get Sarah a glass of water as Sarah sat down at the table.

Marlena sat down beside her. "Sarah, I am sorry…" Carina sat down on the other side of Sarah.

"You didn't know, Marlena, did you?" Sarah asked in a small voice.

"No, your father has never taken me into his...confidence." Marlena looked so sad that Sarah could not help but reach out and take one of her hands.

"Me either, Marlena. I can't believe he would risk the only thing I've ever really wanted for myself." She spoke in a whisper; both women looked at Chuck, standing at the sink.

"I don't know what to say, Sarah. He is a complicated man."

"Not that he has ever been," Sarah said, her voice cracking, "but he is no longer my father."

Devon and Ellie got up from the small couch and approached the table, slowly.

Ellie stuck out her hand toward Carina, spoke softly. "Hey, Carina, I'm Ellie."

Carina looked Ellie up and down for a second, as Ellie did the same to her, then Carina nodded appreciatively, grinning for a second at Devon. "Hey, Ellie, great to meet you." She matched Ellie's soft tone.

Devon watched the handshake, slightly red, but as it ended he took a step toward Sarah.

"Sarah, I'm going to go and get a couple of those record books from the office supply store. Maybe we can fake them well enough to get Algernon to trade the antidote."

Sarah nodded. "Thanks, Devon. Chuck, can you remember that first page well enough to reproduce it?"

Chuck crossed the room and handed Sarah the glass of water. His gaze became introspective. "Yeah, I can reproduce it, I think. While I do it, maybe I can break the code."

"Okay," Sarah said, standing up, gathering herself, "okay, let's do it. I'm going to call Casey and Morgan and put this all in motion. I'm not waiting around until tomorrow. As Ellie said, Algernon can't know exactly when the poison will begin to affect Chuck, if it does.

"We can't take the chance that Algernon is lying — and we can't be sure of the Succimer. I have no idea what Dad is planning. It's time for the endgame."


A/N: And so now we head into the final chapters of our story.