Chapter 3
Sorry this one was so short and sorry it was late. With Exams and finishing up tests… ugh. But here it is…
My head was still spinning when found Josef. He was standing on the far side of the room watching the crowded streets below.
"And to what do I owe this visit? You aren't here just to say hello, I take it." He turned and smirked at me.
"What do you know about Trisha Blake?" I asked as Josef sat down on the designer sofa.
He thought for a moment then said slowly "I'm not sure I know who you are asking about?"
I sighed inwardly. "I found a paper in the hotel that the girl, Trisha Blake, was murdered in."
He studied me for a moment "And you think this has something to do with me?"
I shrugged, "The paper had your name on it."
"Can I see the paper?" Damn, the one question I was hoping he wouldn't ask.
" I don't have it." What else could I say?
He gave me a questioning look and I filled him in on all the details. After I finished he stood and walked over to the mini-bar area and pulled out two glasses and a bottle of thick red liquid. I smelled it instantly. Blood.
"So, someone tries to kill you and Beth and when you walk back to the room remembering the paper with my name on it, everything, including the blood, is gone. This my be your hardest case yet." He handed me the glass and took a sip of his own.
Beth was waiting for me at the hotel. I told her everything about the trip to Josef's she looked just as lost and confused as I felt.
"Did you find anything on the tapes?" I sighed. I was running out of options. What would I do if the path ran cold? I couldn't just give up?
"Not much just the cleaning ladies and some girl got in the elevator before us but she was way too young to be able to sabotage the elevator." Beth said reading off of a post-it-note.
"What floor did she get off at?"
Beth laughed humorlessly. "Give you one guess?"
"The seventh floor." Beth nodded gravely.
"Name?" Beth bit her lip.
"Beth?" I asked. She twisted a strand of her hair between her fingers.
"Sorry Mick," She said. "She never checked in and no one even saw her come in or leave."
This was getting way too complicated.
"I did get a picture though." she pulled the folded piece of paper out of the pocket of her jeans.
The girl in the picture was about 17 from the looks of her. But I knew better than anyone that looks can be deceiving. Her hair was dark. Black or dark brown, pulled back in a long braid that ran the length of her spine. Normal height, thin, blue jeans and a black jacket. What stood out to me the most where her eyes. Lightning silver. They were the eyes that if you looked deep into them you'd get an involuntary shiver down you spine.
Beth's stomach rumbled. She blushed furiously. My lips twitched.
"Let's get lunch." I said. Beth raised her eyebrows.
I rolled my eyes to the ceiling. "Lunch for you I mean."
"Alright, you suggested it so you pay." She smiled and headed toward the doors, oblivious to my glare.
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