The old man chattered something to the clerk.
“He says your friend is special. Has used such weapons in the past.”
“Yeah, well… that’s true. So thanks, I guess.”
Master Anu seemed to know things a normal human wouldn’t. Like he was hyperaware of what went on in the hotel or maybe he was a clairvoyant too?
I studied the old guy again. He looked like a typical elder. One of Mediterranean descent—dark eyes, deeply tanned skin, bushy white brows. Sparse white hairs stood out against the darker skin on his head. He’d been agile enough running from our assailants, but the ordeal had tired him visibly. The man sagged and weaved where he stood.
“Please tell him I’ll get the sword to Regge, but he really should come with us. He is not safe here. Where are you going?”
Both the clerk and Anu wandered back into the hotel, conversing in the old man’s language. I watched as they ignored the uniformed cops and group of firefighters in the lobby and headed for the elevator. Strangely, no one on the fire crew stopped them.
I entered the lobby to talk to the response team. I’d given my name and particulars to the cop when the clerk emerged from the elevator, his eyes bright, his bow tie wobbling.
“Welcome to the Hotel Fulbright. How may I be of service?”
Chapter Five
Regge, blue-eyed firefighters, and con artist memories
Iused all my conman skills to reassure the firefighter that everything was a simple misunderstanding. Being a kid from the streets, I’d never really trusted constabulary. Even though some of my trusted friends were in law enforcement. I heeded Theo’s advice. Speak little, listen more.
Jimmy, the blue-eyed firefighter, used his pickax to open a couple of walls to peek inside. Assured that nothing was on fire, he insisted on giving me his number. Just in case I needed some help in quenching another fire. That was the word he’d used—quench—and his tone spoke of a different kind of fire altogether.
He was nice-looking with his ocean-colored eyes, but I hadn’t a flicker of interest. Still, I flirted back automatically, reading the man as one who would overlook a hastily constructed story if there was a chance of something else.
After a fairly thorough search and finding no fire or gun-toting bad guys, we crowded into the tiny lift. I had no intention of calling him, no quenching of fires would be necessary, but Jimmy didn’t need to know that. I was dutifully plugging his number into my phone when the elevator doors opened. I looked up to catch Hunter’s troubled gaze across the lobby.
With a quick nod and a wink, Jimmy left to join his fellow firefighters. I noted that all of them were youthful and fit. I was mildly surprised to see two females among them. The modern age had certainly expanded their viewpoint on women and what they were capable of.
I sauntered to Hunter’s side and focused on the constables. No, they were called officers now. The night clerk kept insisting he was simply the night clerk. The two uniformed cops eyed each other, eyebrows raised.
“Clark,” Hunter interjected into the conversation. “He means Clark. This is Mr. Clark, and he is the night clerk.”
“Nigel Clark,” I added, leaning more into a convincing story. Instinct told me not to divulge too much. And the revelation that the night clerk was actually a ghost would be too much. “From what I gather, he’s worked here a long time. I think he works days as well.” I dropped my voice to a conspiratorial tone and used a smattering of modern words to imply that the clerk had some sort of disability.
It was amazing to me how quickly people believed different meant incapable. I knew severaldifferent folkwho were odd, quirky, or unusual, but also incredibly talented.
The officer squinted as the radio on his shoulder squawked. With a nod to his partner, they sighed and walked away to answer the call.
Another firefighter approached us. “We’ve cleared the building. But this building has been closed to the general public. It’s unsafe. You’ll need to vacate.”
Hunter made up something about us being contractors inspecting for renovations, as I studied the large fire chief. He was handsome as well. I wondered if fire personnel were all of a certain stature and build. Because the police force came in all sizes and shapes, yet the fire brigade—at least this one—was hearty. I’d ask Hunter about it later.
“Thank you.” I spoke to the fire chief. “Sorry to call you out. We panicked.”
“Better to be safe than sorry.” With a nod, he headed outside to where a boxy vehicle with flashing lights waited.Jimmy gave a little wave before climbing in the vehicle. I waved back.
Hunter made a weird noise in the back of his throat. I turned to him, but he was speaking to the clerk. “Look, you have to be careful. You can’t be weird around these guys, or they’ll want to investigate more, okay?”
The ghostly man’s eyes widened in his sallow face, his Adam’s apple bobbing, but he nodded his understanding.
The cops returned to us. “We have another call. Fender bender down the block. A black SUV. Witnesses saw two white men running from the scene.” He gave a brief description. “Does that sound like the guys?”
Hunter nodded, escorting them to the door. He returned and spoke to our man Nigel.
“When someone official like that comes, they’re going to want details like your name and such. You can’t say night clerk over and over.”
