A/N. Fictober Prompt #13
Jean looked up and down the hallway one last time and convinced no one was around slipped the key out of her pocket. This wasn't the first time she'd let herself into one of the hotel rooms at Lucien's request, but she hoped it would be the last. Sliding the key into the lock she quickly turned it and entered the dim room. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness she glanced around, unsure of where to start looking. Silently she crossed to the bed and crouched down to look underneath. Dust bunnies. 'They should have a word with their cleaners,' she thought to herself as her eyes searched for where to look next. They fell on the chest of drawers next to the bed. Sliding the drawer open, taking care not to make any noise, she caught sight of a piece of card. 'Aha!' she thought with a smile as she snatched it up. The dim light wasn't enough to see what was on the card however, and so with a quick flash of her eyes to the door she turned the bedside light on. She sighed quietly as she realised it was only a used train ticket.
Voices from the hallway made her jump, and her wide eyes flew to the door with alarm.
"I'll be right with you, let me just grab that file."
The voice was right outside the door, and sure enough she heard a key click in the lock. Quickly and quietly she opened the cupboard door and slid into it, leaving the door open the tiniest fraction. Too late she realised she had left the bedside light on and she held her breath as Derek Alderton entered the room. He strode over to a small travel bag under the window and reaching into it he pulled out a folder. As he turned to leave, he turned back and looked back at the light. Jean's stomach dropped as he frowned, his suspicious beady eyes searching the room. Jean moved back instinctively and felt something poke into her back. She almost screamed with surprise, but her mouth snapped shut.
"Sir?" It was another voice this time and a shiver went up her spine at the thought of when she had last seen this man.
"Sir?" came Sergeant Hannam's voice again. "They're waiting for you."
Alderton nodded at him sharply, and with a final sweep of his eyes around the room, he left, closing the door behind him.
Jean heard the door lock and let out her breath but didn't move. It was some time before Jean pulled herself together, finally confident the men had gone, and she tumbled out of the wardrobe. 'The things you make me do, Lucien!' she grumbled to herself as she rubbed her back where it had been scratched, and she looked back into the cupboard. Poking out of a jacket pocket was a photograph. She grabbed it with a grin and sure enough it showed Major Derek Alderton and Chief Superintendent Munro, smiling and shaking hands, posing for a photo. 'Got you' she said under her breath. Carefully she put it into her pocket, closed the wardrobe door and glanced around the room to make sure nothing else was disturbed, being sure to leave the bedside light on. Creeping to the door she listened intently and on hearing nothing, quickly excited the room, locking it behind her. Moving quickly she returned the key to its place and slipped out, as invisible as she was when she had arrived.