Win placed a few phone calls to associates during his ride to the hotel on Columbus Circle, many of which he hadn't spoken to or heard from in months. That wasn't unusual though. People would reach out only when they needed something or had something to offer. There was never a call for friendly chit-chat. Win detested chit-chat.
The limo dropped him off in the hotel's cavernous underground garage, a more discreet entrance than the one above. The garage was used only by valets and hotel guests that wished to keep their privacy and had the power (aka money) to do so. Win's driver opened the car door for him and the bellman held open the hotel's door for him. It wasn't often that Win had to open a door for himself if he didn't want to.
While the hotel's upstairs main lobby was classy, upscale and beautiful, the hotel's downstairs lobby was even more so. Because it was used by only the most prestigious guests, utmost attention had been given to the smaller underground lobby's decor. A hotel representative met Win halfway across the lobby's sparkling white granite floor.
"Good evening, Mr. Lockwood. May I take your bag for you?"
"Thank you, no, I can handle it."
"Here is the key you requested. The room number is 3118. You can use either of the two elevators at the end of that hall." The man gestured down a hallway dimly illuminated by wall sconces.
"I would also like a bottle of cognac Arcana brought to the room."
"Of course. Anything else?"
"Please keep Ms. Kyle's reservation open until I notify you of a departure date. And, if anyone requests her room, she is not a current guest. Her presence here, as well as mine, is to remain undisclosed."
Win handed the man three crisp bills. Without looking at them, the man slid the bills into his inside jacket pocket and nodded. Win turned and made his way down the hall to the elevators.
Parker was not a patient person. It had been more than two hours since Jessica's call and evening had turned into "Parker's bedtime". She lounged on the sofa in the living room of the two-room hotel suite watching one of her favorite Twilight Zone episodes – "The After Hours". Despite the possibility of a visitor, Parker had not changed out of her comfortable black nylon jogging pants and grey short-sleeved tee shirt. Her hair was pulled back in a high, messy ponytail and the majority of the day's make-up had rubbed off. She didn't care. She was in no mood to entertain a visitor, even if he was "gorgeous". She had more important things to worry about than her appearance – sleep, for instance.
She glanced at the wall clock – 12:46.
"I am going to bed when this is over," she declared aloud to herself as she pulled a blanket up to her chin.
Win stepped into the elevator and hit the button for the 31st floor. As the doors closed shut his cell phone rang in his pocket. He pulled it out just in time to catch the caller ID before his service was lost in the elevator shaft.
The slightest hint of annoyance flashed across his face.
He let the elevator ascend to the 31st floor and then he hit the button to return to the lobby he had just vacated. When he re-entered the dimly lit hallway the man he was greeted by earlier approached again.
"Mr. Lockwood?"
"I need access to a private lounge."
"Of course, right this way."
Win followed the man down a second hallway that lead off the circular lobby. There were nondescript wooden doors on both sides of the corridor. The man stopped in front of a door halfway down the hall, pushed it open and gestured for Win to enter ahead of him.
The room was a plush, warm study. A large, cherry wood desk took up residence in one corner, a chest-high bookshelf took up an entire wall, and a small portable bar stood on the wall across from the bookshelf. In the middle of the room, two leather couches were positioned facing each other with a large marble coffee table between them. Two club chairs were stationed in separate corners of the room, each with a reading light casting a soft glow above them.
"Does this meet your needs?"
"Yes. Please send someone here with the cognac I requested."
"Right away, Mr. Lockwood. Will you be in need of anything else?"
"Privacy."
The man quickly exited the room. Win sat at the desk and pulled his cell phone from his pocket. He then unzipped his overnight bag and pulled out two additional cell phones. He placed all three on the desk and made sure all three were powered on. He found a notepad and pen in one of the desk drawers.
There was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
The door opened and a man that could have passed as Alfred Pennyworth's brother entered the room with a tray containing one glass and the bottle of cognac Win had requested.
"Would you like me to pour for you, sir?" The man asked as he set the tray down on the bar.
"Yes, please."
A moment later a coaster appeared on the desk in front of Win followed by a snifter of cognac.
"That will be all." Win waved the man away with a flick of his wrist.
When the door clicked shut Win checked the message on the first phone. He made a few quick notes and then deleted the message. He dialed the number that had left the message.
When the man answered, Win simply said, "Tell me."
Win remained quiet for a few moments, then said, "Let me know if anything changes," and ended the call.
He picked up one of the other phones and dialed. On the second ring a man answered, obviously half asleep.
"Hart, this is Win Lockwood."
The man was suddenly wide awake. "Win! What can I do for you?"
"I need information from a case file."
"Do you have the file number?"
"No. I have the subject. Parker Graham."
On the other end of the phone there was the sound of a drawer opening and a commotion as something fell to the floor. "Parker Graham?"
"Yes."
"How soon do you need this?"
"I will call you back in," Win checked his Vacheron Constantin wristwatch, "twelve hours." Win ended the call.
Win checked the voicemail on the third phone and heard the voice of his assistant, Mee.
"Mr. Lockwood, Mr. Price called for you. He did not leave a message. He seemed agitated."
Win deleted the message and called Mee back. Despite the late hour, she picked up on the first ring just as a good assistant should.
"Mee, call Mr. Price in the morning. Give him this number. I will be available here for the next twenty-four hours." Win ended the call and, after turning each of them off he placed all three phones into his bag. He swallowed the last of his cognac and made his way back to the elevators. When he passed the eager-to-please front desk agent he requested that his bottle of Arcana be brought up to room 3118 tomorrow afternoon.
Win stepped into the elevator. This time his cell phone did not distract him during his ascent to the 31st floor.