Hunter guided the vehicle around a corner, and sure enough, the black Toyota had pulled up to a fancy apartment building and our quarry got out.
We found a space across the street. I gazed at the machine on the sidewalk for collecting payment. Leave it to the modern world to monetize the space one occupied. We watched through the glass doors as the man waved at the front desk and strode to the elevator.
“We can’t stay here long, can we?”
“Shh.” Hunter put his hand out for me to hush as he stared out the window. I gathered he was seeing whatever future was going on in that building. Instinctively I laid a hand on his outstretched wrist. It was a way of grounding him in the present. At least, this was what I told myself as I enjoyed the feel of his pulse throbbing under my fingers.
“He’s going to apartment 1611 and raiding his refrigerator. Which has nothing but carrot sticks and cheese cubes. Ugh.” Hunter shook his head quickly and blew out a breath. “That’s all I could get. Let’s get back to the hotel.” He pulled the car into traffic and headed back the way we’d come.
“Maybe this was nothing,” I ventured hopefully.
He sped up to catch the light. “This guy looks like organized crime, same as the others. He watched us from caféwhen we walked by the hotel. The waitress said he was asking about it. He has something to do with what happened earlier. I can feel it.”
As Hunter drove, I pulled out a tiny notepad and my stub of a pencil and flicked on the overhead light. I made a quick sketch of the man in the diner. Nothing that would garner a prize, but it would be a serviceable likeness.
When we arrived, we parked in the same place in the alley and walked to the side door by the terrace. The door was locked, but I had a knack for locked doors. Modern doors were a bit more complex, but I’d been practicing and was pleased to find my skill at lock picking hadn’t faded entirely.
The lobby was empty and lit only by the faint emergency light above the door.
“Nigel?” I called. Nothing.
“Night clerk?” Hunter tried.
“Welcome to the Fulbright. How may I be of— Oh, it’s you.” Nigel’s bow tie wagged. He rolled his eyes and sighed. “You don’t want a room, do you?”
“No, but if your bar serves coffee, we could use some warming up,” Hunter said. “How is the Master? Still upstairs?”
Nigel ushered us into the darkened lounge and lit one ancient-looking lamp behind the bar. “The Master is not well. Recent events have sapped his strength. I will make a hot beverage.”
We sat at the bar and waited as Nigel turned to the coffee machine. I let my gaze drift over to where Hunter sat beside me.
“You know, when I was growing up in London, I thought life will be predictable. Boring even, if I survived to maturity. And then I met Theo and now I’m here, four hundred plus years into the future, waiting on coffee made by a reanimated spirit.”
“Yeah, life’s funny that way.” Hunter grinned at me.
The coffee machine burbled and hissed. Nigel poured coffee into actual coffee cups with saucers, waiting expectantly while we sipped.
I spoke first. “Most excellent, Nigel. Your hospitality skills are boundless.”
Nigel preened, his gray complexion coloring with an almost lifelike appearance.
“Has no one else been around? Since those guys?” Hunter drank most of his in one go and pushed his cup forward.
Nigel refilled it. “Not at all.” His pale forehead crinkled in dismay. “Unfortunately. The place is much brighter when guests are here. Though I can do a deep clean of the first floor not that it’s vacant.”
“First floor?”
“Where are special guests stay.” Nigel’s voice lowered. “Our maintenance man is always sanding and repairing the scratches and claw marks from the doors.”
“Nigel, would you have seen this man around the hotel?” I flipped pages on my notepad. Finding my most recent sketch, I slid it across the bar.
The ghostly bartender bent to peer at the drawing. “Yes. I have. He was here earlier in the year with another fellow. They looked like brothers.”
“What do you know about them? Would you have a name?”
“I am the night clerk.” His stoic expression gave us nothing. “Oh, you meanhisname? I see now. Let me check.” He disappeared.
When he popped back behind the bar, Hunter rattled his coffee cup in the saucer. “Jesus, don’t do that.”
