Mia took it and opened it, pulling out a photograph.
Her eyes widened.
She went pale.
Gasped.
“You know the photo?” Marcus asked.
“Where did you get this?” Mia’s voice came out low and hoarse.
“A guest found it on the floor of the dining room,” Marcus told her.
“Which guest?” Mia asked, urgency creeping into her tone.
“I’m not sure...” Marcus looked apologetic. “I’ve only just come on duty, and there was a note asking me to check with the guests...”
“Mia,” Nolan said, concern flooding through him. “What is it? What’s the problem?” He looked at her. She was holding the photo against her body so he couldn’t see it. “Can I see it?”
Mia nodded numbly and handed it to him.
“Marcus, can you find out who left this here, please?” Her voice shook slightly.
“Of course,” Marcus said, concern filling his eyes and voice.
Nolan took the picture and froze.
His gut clenched, and his throat went dry as his eyes widened.
Two children beside a pond. A boy and a girl, maybe six or seven. The boy had his arm around the girl’s shoulders.
“Mia,” Nolan looked at her, his mind racing through implications and dangers and every protocol he was about to violate. “Do you know who these people are in this photo?”
“I’m not sure about the little boy,” Mia told him, her voice still hoarse. “But I know who the little girl is.”
Nolan felt his blood starting to run cold. “Who is she to you, Mia? How do you know her?”
Her eyes held his as she answered in a soft voice. “Me. It’s me.”
Nolan felt like his world had just tilted. “This is not good,” he muttered.
“Nolan...” Mia’s eyes widened, and now she was looking at him suspiciously. “Did you leave this picture here?”
“No,” Nolan shook his head firmly and pinched the bridge of his nose.
He was about to violate every protocol. About to get himself in more trouble than he’d ever been in.
But Mia was in danger. Real danger. And that trumped everything.
He turned to Marcus. “What did that note of yours say, Marcus?”
“That I was to show guests the photo and report on who claimed it,” Marcus told him. “Well, I was just going to leave a note behind the desk on who claimed it.”
“Listen to me very carefully, Marcus,” Nolan said, fishing in his pocket. He pulled out his US Marshal badge and held it up. “You can’t tell anyone who I am or that the girl in this picture is Mia. Do you understand?”
Marcus’s eyes went wide, staring at the badge. “I... yes.”
“Don’t worry,” Nolan assured him quickly. “You’re not in trouble. But if anyone asks, tell them it was one of my photos and that I claimed it. Can you do that?”
