Chapter Seventeen
Park let Gavin into the room a little while later. Gavin walked in and put a small box on the desk in the corner. “Where’s the letter?”
Jackson thought about making a “What, no hello?” joke, but figured that would just antagonize Gavin, so he gestured for Park to hand the letter over. Gavin pulled a pair of latex gloves from the box and put them on before he tookthe letter, and he held the paper carefully. He tipped it toward the light and read it.
“What was your first thought when you got the letter?” Gavin asked, peering at it.
“I thought Jackson sent it,” said Park.
Gavin looked up. “Doesn’t really seem like Jackson’s style.” He looked at the letter again. “I mean, you guys were pretty cozy at the apartment earlier today. Is there somethinggoing on I should know about?”
“No,” said Jackson, which felt true because he still planned to leave later today, once the dust settled, and not come back. “Not that’s relevant. Park and I have been...talking, but I’m only telling you that because you’re my friend. Whatever we had is in the past. Also, I didn’t send the letter.”
“No, I know. But this presents a new angle.”
Jacksonlooked at Park, who chewed on his lower lip. Jackson said, “What’s the new angle?”
Gavin put the letter on the desk and took what looked like a fingerprinting kit out of the little box. “One of my techs is downstairs, so I’ll have him verify these, but I suspect I’m only going to find your prints here.” He produced a little container of powder and a brush and started dusting the letter. “Italked to the front desk on the way in. The clerk verified that a guy matching Kenneth Tucker’s description did indeed drop off the letter, but he wore a polo shirt advertising a messenger service, so the clerk didn’t think much of it.”
Gavin stood back to admire his handiwork. There were a few clear fingerprints along the sides of the letter. He pulled out his phone and scrolled to a photothat Jackson quickly realized was a fingerprint. He compared the photo to some of the prints he saw on the letter. Then he swiped and compared another photo.
“I mean, I’ll have my tech check it, but from what I can tell, these prints all either belong to you, Jack, or to Park. But the existence of this letter tells me two things. First, as I said, I have to lock down the hotel, because Tuckerwas here and may still be here. The front desk clerk also said the messenger guy asked to use the men’s room, so the clerk directed him to the one on the first floor near the restaurant, but then didn’t think to look for him when he left. I told the cops in the lobby to check it out and—” Gavin’s cell phone pinged. He glanced at the screen. “Not there. Fuck. Okay. Hang on.” He dialed the phone.He told whoever answered, “We’re on lockdown. No one in or out of the hotel, including the staff. I’m going to call in backup to do a canvas of the building.” He paused, then said, “Good,” and hung up. He then made a series of phone calls, asking for more men on the scene.
Park stared at Jackson. “This isn’t happening. Is this really happening?”
“Seems that way.” Jackson tried to staycalm; Park needed someone to hold things together.
When Gavin finally got off the phone, Jackson said, “You said the letter told you two things. One was that you have to lock down the hotel. What was the other?”
“I have a solid theory of the crime now.” Gavin turned toward Park. “I think you’ve got a crazy secret admirer.”
Park’s eyes went wide. “How does that make sense?”
“Thisguy fancies himself in love with you.” Gavin pointed at the note. “He’s probably been stalking you for a while. There was Internet gossip you and Zoe Haufman dated because of that photo, so maybe he bought the gossip. I’m thinking he went to your apartment, lured Zoe there to get her out of the way, and left her as a gift for you, like a cat leaving a dead mouse on your doorstep.”
“That’sinsane,” said Park.
But Jackson thought the theory had merit. “Then he took a couple of Park’s possessions as souvenirs.”
“Exactly. He’s also snuck into the hotel a few times to be closer to Park, and he gets a little braver every time. So he left the love letter.”
Park started pacing. “I still don’t get it. He’s a man. If he thought I was dating Zoe Haufman, how could he know I’mgay?”
“Your orientation is immaterial,” said Gavin. “He’s obsessed with you. I mean, it could be that, in stalking you, he saw something that gave him hope, or he’s just projecting his own desires on you. It’s hard to say. But it’s not rational, what he’s doing, so trying to impose logic on him is a fool’s errand.”
“What am I supposed to do?” asked Park.
“Stay here for now.” Gavinput the letter into a plastic bag and packed up the rest of his kit. “Do not leave this room without authorization from me. I need to get back to the lobby to start directing this operation. Call me if anything changes.”
“Will do,” said Jackson.
Jackson saw Gavin out and checked in with Dee and Dum, both of whom were currently posted in front of Park’s room. Their presence had struck Jacksonas unnecessary when he’d first taken the case, but he was grateful for them now. When he returned to the main part of the room, Park sat on the bed.
“What if heisloose in the hotel somewhere?” Park asked.
“Gavin’s on it. The cops will find this guy. And with Dee and Dum parked at the door, you’re safe here.”
Jackson sat beside Park on the bed and put an arm around him. Park laidhis head on Jackson’s shoulder, the hair on the top of his head brushing against Jackson’s jaw.
