Rune stepped out wearing wrinkled joggers and an oversized hoodie, unlaced sneakers, no socks. His face was bare, hair uncombed. He looked younger without the costume and makeup. Exhausted in a way that went bone-deep.
And frightened.
"Show me," I whispered.
Room 1622's door was closed but not latched—sitting in the frame without engaging the lock.
"It was open about four inches when I came back from the vending machine," he said. His voice was steady, but his hands weren't. "I was only gone ten minutes. I didn't go inside."
"Smart. Stay here. Don't let anyone approach who isn't Kang or me."
I pushed the door open with my forearm, avoiding the handle. The room was dim, with only the bathroom light on. I scanned before entering. Two beds and a desk. Clothes folded on the chair. Phone charger plugged in.
Nothing obviously disturbed.
But someone had been here.
Windows locked. Adjoining door secured. Closet and bathroom clear. The main door lock had no visible tool marks, but someone could bypass modern hotel locks with cloned credentials.
The bed was still made, but one side was rumpled, and the duvet had a faint impression. Someone had sat there. Waited. Then left.
That was worse than theft.
I returned to the hallway. Rune stood exactly where I'd left him, back against the wall, arms wrapped around himself.
"Someone was inside," I said. "Nothing taken, but there's an impression on the bed. The room isn't secure. I'm calling Kang to get you moved."
His breathing changed. Faster, shallower.
"This wasn't opportunistic," I continued. "Someone knew your room number and wanted you to know they'd been inside. It's psychological pressure."
He didn't deny that it was working.
I called Kang. Brief conversation. He'd handle the room change and pull the security footage.
"You're with me until Kang calls back," I said.
We took the stairs to the seventeenth floor. My room was southwest corner, different floor and different wing. I checked the corridor before letting us inside.
Rune stood in the center of the room as if he wasn't sure what to do with himself.
"Sit," I said, gesturing to the chair by the window.
He sat. Pulled his knees up slightly.
I took the desk chair, angling to see both him and the door. "Tell me about tonight. Everything."
He walked through it. Couldn't sleep. Went for water. Vending machines on the twelfth floor. Bought water, returned. Saw the door ajar. Didn't enter. Called Kang from the stairwell.
"How long were you gone?"
"Fifteen, maybe twenty minutes."
"See anyone? Either leaving or returning?"
"No. Empty both times."
Whoever accessed his room had been watching or got impossibly lucky with timing. My instincts said watching.
