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9
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Returning from the library, Mort trudged up the steps of the hotel. He walked to the elevator and rode up to his suite.
Mort emerged from the elevator and walked down the passage to his door. He inserted the key into the lock and tried to turn, but the door swung open by itself.
Mort gulped and took a step into the dark room. He flipped the light switch on..
The room was askew. Everything was everywhere. Obviously someone had been in there. But why?
Then he realized why: The book; 'The Nine Gates'. Someone was after it. Who? Perhaps it was that girl. She had seemed to be popping up around him everywhere lately. Maybe it was her? But, maybe it wasn't. Who was it? He did not know... yet.
This made him remember Balkan's warning. 'Be careful, Corso,' Balkan had said. Was this what he had been referring to?
Mort had to hide the book. It was not safe in his possession. Someone knew that he had it, and they would probably not stop until they got it.