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11
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Mort sat down at the table in his hotel room, 'The Nine Gates' opened up in front of him. An annoying noise was coming from the other room.
Mort shot a glance at the dog. "I'm open to suggestions."
The dog looked sad.
Mort suddenly stood up and walked to the doorway of the next room. He saw Mrs. Garvey, the hotel's maid who was assigned to his room, vacuuming.
He looked back at the dog. "If you don't go and bite her, I'll kill her."
The dog turned away.
Mort went back into the other room and sat in his chair. He rubbed his hands together and looked down at the open book. "I have to visit the other two owners next," he said aloud. "I have to examine their copies."
Mort reached over to the end of the table and picked up his slinky."Fargas and Kessler," He said thoughtfully.
He played with it for a few moments, then put it down.
"But first...," he began. Mort closed 'The Nine Gates', held it in his hands and looked at it. "I'm going to have to hide you, my friend."