Author's note: Hi everyone. Thank you for all your kind comments and wishes whilst I was away. It was so great to read them when I got back. The trip was great, but I did miss writing this story so much! Hope you enjoy the new chapter!

Chapter 14

Charlie grabbed the door with both hands and pulled with all her strength. Deep down she knew her efforts were futile, but she was determined to try anything before having to resort to asking the nasty woman at the reception for a spare key card. She didn't like her at all!

"Shit!" she exclaimed, shaking her head in disbelief. "How the hell do we get down from here, Joey? We're on the top floor!" Her voice was high-pitched and full of worry.

Charlie looked over the balcony to the ground below. They were up very high and there was no way either of them could climb down. There was no outside fire escape.

Joey remained calm and amused at the whole predicament. She watched Charlie's agitation escalate. Charlie didn't like to not be in control of a situation – it was one of the characteristics that made her such a good cop. Police officers are also supposed to be good at quickly figuring out solutions to problems that arise, and so Joey was curious to see if Charlie would figure out the obvious solution to this one.

Charlie cupped her hands around her eyes and peered through the glass window. Her mobile phone was on the bedside table. The sight frustrated her even more. "We can't even call reception!" she exclaimed in defeat. "Maybe we could shout across to someone in the next room ... and hope they're in and can hear us."

Joey considered the idea – nodding her head in agreement. It wasn't a bad plan, but it seemed as though Charlie wasn't going to discover the easiest solution after all. "Or maybe we could just go up to the roof garden and use the door up there to get back into the hotel," she said, finishing her sentence with a smirk.

Charlie looked at her - her fearful expression quickly turning to one of annoyance. Joey had known what to do all along, and she had let Charlie work herself into a state of anxiety. Charlie's eyes narrowed, knowing that Joey had been playing with her during a time of crisis! Joey grinned devilishly. Charlie burst into laughter, seeing the funny side. She also felt a little relieved – but kept in mind that they still had to go to reception. Their key card was still locked inside the room.

"Shall we go, Miss Sherlock?" Joey teased.

Charlie slapped her arm, playfully. "You're wicked sometimes ... you know that?"

Joey laughed out loud. "Well I was gonna suggest we make a rope from the bed clothes for you to climb down ... naked ... but I held back on that one!" she said - grinning.

Charlie slapped her again and they giggled as they made their way up to the roof garden. "See what I mean? ... you're EVIL!"

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They slowly opened the door and peered inside and along the corridor. The coast was clear. They had each wrapped a single white sheet around themselves to cover their nakedness. The rest of the sheets and other bedding that they left on their balcony could be retrieved once they had got back inside the room. Joey spotted the elevator and grabbed Charlie by the hand. They ran towards it as fast as they could and hit the button with a downward arrow on it. Nothing. Joey looked up at the digital display. It told them that the carriage was on the first floor. It began to ascend towards them. The dial showed 2 ... then 3 ... then 4 ... then 5 ... then 6 ... then eventually 7 appeared. Ding!

The doors slid open. It was empty. Both sighed in relief. The stepped in and quickly pressed the button that said 'G' on it – for the ground floor. The doors slid shut and they began to descend, both hoping that it wouldn't have to make any stops along the way. They stared in unison at the display as it counted it's way back down again. The number six illuminated. Then five, which quickly turned to four. Three followed. Things were looking good for them and they began to relax, assuming that most guests would now be safely in their rooms. As they approached the third floor the elevator slowed suddenly.

"Oh no!" fretted Charlie. She could feel the embarrassment already. "No no no please no," she pleaded, as though her words might magically deter the waiting guest from wanting to use the elevator if she repeated them enough times.

The doors opened. In stepped a pleasant-faced old lady who stood between them. It appeared as though she didn't even notice their lack of clothing, or their dishevelled, appearance. The doors closed again and the elevator moved. Charlie and Joey stood, looking straight ahead, doing their best to act nonchalant as though it was something they did every day. They glanced across at one another briefly and as they caught each other's gaze they got the urge to burst into laughter at the surreal situation they had gotten themselves into.

The lady looked at them in the mirrors that adorned the inside of the lift. She glanced at Joey, then to Charlie – then smiled warmly and said ...

"New relationship, eh?" She winked at them.

Charlie and Joey giggled.

"Oh I remember those days," the woman began to reminisce - her eyes hazing over and wandering off as she recalled her own youth. "We couldn't take our hands off each other either."

Her attitude was such a breath of fresh air and Charlie felt like hugging her, but she resisted. Besides, if she were to put her arms around the old girl, she was sure that the white sheet she was holding up would fall to the ground – and she was of the opinion that old ladies generally did not like to be hugged by naked strangers in elevators.

They reached the ground floor and the doors slid open. Nobody was waiting to enter. Charlie and Joey were relieved. The old lady smiled at them in the mirror, a silent goodbye and good luck, and walked out along the corridor. Charlie and Joey waited a few moments then exited. The doors closed behind them. They could see the reception ahead – and that woman! They began walking towards her when suddenly Charlie ducked behind a pillar and grabbed at Joey's sheet for her to join her in hiding.

"What?" Joey asked, puzzled as to why Charlie had stopped.

"Wouldn't it be better if just one of us goes up there?" Charlie whispered. "I mean ... it'll be less ... suspicious."

Joey thought about it for a few seconds. "Yeah ... you're right." She felt the urge to tease again. "You go!"

Charlie's eyes widened. She hated that idea. "Err ... I think you should go. Besides ... the roof was your idea ... so YOU got us locked out."

Joey looked at her, pretending to be shocked at Charlie's suggestion. "So it's my fault, is it?" she asked with a grin.

Charlie giggled. "Yes ... totally ... so you have to get us out of this. Your fault ... your problem."

Joey laughed. Even though they were still locked out, and were about to do battle with the dragon from hell, the gatekeeper and guardian of the otherworldly land of Hilton – they were having the time of their lives. It was so much fun. Their lips drew closer and they kissed tenderly before gathering up the courage needed to make their move.

They turned towards the reception.

Joey nudged Charlie. "You go ... I'll cover you," she said, aiming a pretend gun made from her fingers at the monster ahead.

Charlie looked at her and smiled.

Joey grinned. "Well isn't that what you police officers say when there's trouble up ahead?"

Charlie pointed to her pretend weapon and said "You've still got the safety on ... amateur!"

Joey laughed. Charlie smirked at her and turned away as she began her walk toward the desk. She could feel her heart beating faster and her mouth was suddenly dry.

The woman saw her approach and lowered her head to peer over her half-spectacles.

"Can I help you?" she said condescendingly.

"I'm sorry," began Charlie, "I've locked myself out of my room. Could I have a spare key, please?"

The woman eyed her up and down, more than once – then sighed and turned around to the key rack behind her. "Room number?"

Charlie had to think. She couldn't remember it. She turned around to look at Joey who was hiding behind the same pillar, but had heard the woman had asked very impolitely. She held up seven fingers, then two, followed by five, mouthing the words at the same time.

Charlie looked back at the woman. "725 ... please." She was going to be courteous even if her nemesis wasn't.

The woman found the spare and handed it to Charlie.

"Thank you." Charlie smiled at her. The woman blanked her. Joey could see everything and she was determined to get her revenge on the unmannerly employee.

She adjusted the sheet covering her so that her backside was showing a little and began prancing swiftly towards the desk. "THERE YOU ARE" she said in a loud voice.

Charlie turned around – aghast.

"I've been looking for you all over the place," she said to Charlie. Then turning towards the woman, she leaned in towards her, put her arms on the counter and whispered loudly "Was she telling you we had sex together? Oh my god it was amazing ... she's an animal, this one!"

The woman's jaw dropped open wide – she was horrified at the mental image Joey had just forced into her mind. Charlie was almost speechless.

"ERR ... I AM NOT ... WE DID NOT ." Charlie didn't know what to say. She frowned and whispered between clenched teeth, "Joey ... what the hell?"

Charlie's face was bright red. Joey glanced at her then turned back to look at the woman. "That's my problem, you see?" she said pointing her finger discretely towards Charlie. "I'm terrible in bed ... they forget about it almost instantly." She shook her head in pretend dismay.

Charlie grabbed her around the waist, dragging her back towards the elevator as fast as she could. Joey's allowed her sheet to drop a little further, giving the nasty woman an eyeful, and making her gasp in abhorrence. Joey was not finished with her. She shouted back across to the reception "But hey thanks for being so lovely and hospitable ... I'm sure a promotion is due any day now!"

The woman scowled – sensing the sarcasm.

Charlie giggled. "JOEY! Shhhhhhhh!" She managed to drag her back to the elevator. When she pressed the button this time the doors slid open immediately. They entered and the doors closed behind them. They stared at each other for a few moments, taking in what had just happened. They burst into laughter.

Charlie was happy. She didn't care if anyone else met them on the way up again. She was beyond caring about that now. They had their key, and could get back into the comfort of their bed again. And Joey had given the woman who had annoyed Charlie so much earlier that night a proper fright, and shook her down off her pedestal a little. It really had become the perfect end to a perfect birthday.

To be continued ...