“Is everyone still up?” I ask, staring down at where our hands meet and feel those tingles of electricity warming up my numb body.
“Yeah, Phin is still asleep and Merle made some dinner. Maggie hadn't gotten to work yet, so she's not allowed back on the property.”
With a reluctant huff, I swing my legs from the bed, using my Bambi-like grace to rummage for a pair of flannel trousers in my suitcase, still spilled across the floor. I also unfold a pair of fluffy bed socks and start to pat around the bed for my phone, momentarily forgetting we still don’t have them back. “We really need to get our phones back.” I mumble and his silence has me worried, so I look up, pausing to put on my socks.
“Yeah that's not going to happen.”
“Why?”
His expression is grim. “The detectives asked for them, but it turns out they’ve gone missing.”
What the actual fuck?
I’M keenly aware I still haven’t checked my appearance in a mirror and a very hot, delicious man just happens to be following my every fumbling step down the staircase. Pretty sure he's used to underwear models. Infact there are photos of him online with every woman he’s ever been in contact with—a daunting thought. I bet none of them would run around with a bird's nest for hair, swamped in an oversized t-shirt.I don’t even have a bra on, but I desperately needed to see familiar faces to know everything will be ok.
Conversation pricks my ears from the kitchen before I skid through the entrance, my bed socks slide me a little too far forward. A solid wall of man connects with my face and the annoyed grunt alerts me to who it is.
“Are you feeling better sweetheart?” Merle asks from behind Cardinal, his broad shoulders blocking him from view. Placing a mug in the sink, he moves out of my path and leans a hip against the island. Nodding at my t-shirt, his frown deepens if that's even possible. “Big fan, Drew?”
“That nickname is so dumb.” I say crossing my arms, hoping he was just looking at the t-shirt and not my nipples saying hello.I mean, I won’t assume anyone's sexuality, but I’ve caught him staring at Willow every chance he gets.
“Whatever,” Cardinal shrugs. “Has he told you about the phone situation?”
I nod, allowing Merle to wrap me up in a warm hug. I nuzzle into the soft cotton of his t-shirt, the faint scent of Phin lingering on it. “I’m better after a little sleep, thank you. Phin ok? What did the detectives say about our phones?” I ask, wanting to unload every thought fogging my mind. Wren’s large palm rubs circles on my lower back, trying to ease the obvious anxiety pouring out of me.
“At first we thought Lily just misplaced them and in her state, couldn’t really think clearly on where she’d last seen them. But we’ve looked everywhere. No phones. They’re not in my office, her room or in the main office.” He sighs, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “The detectives have said to keep looking for them and we're all to stay here tonight. They’ll be back tomorrow for more questioning and they’ll assess if we can leave. They’ve taken our work computer, Corbin’s laptop and the landline for some reason–not like it works out here.”
Worry starts to twist my gut. “Do you think someone took them on purpose?” Maybe Lil isn’t thinking straight on where she put them, or worse we’re dealing with a pair of corrupt cops who took our phones before we asked for the correct warrants. I almost scoff at myself, because that’s just a well used storyline in books and television. My mind shifts to my sudo-sister and I feel so guilty that I haven’t checked in. My entire focus fell upon Phin as always, and crawled out of the hell I’d fallen into when seeing his brother's body.
“No one’s acting suspiciously when I asked them about the phones. I even gave their rooms a little look over, until princess almighty threw a fucking shoe at my head.” Cardinal growls and yep, Willow definitely got under his skin.
Like a single thought can summon her, she strides into the kitchen and flips her dark long curls over her shoulder. Wearing a baby pink lounge set without one mark or crease on it, She waves a handful of papers in the air.
The clues.
His mood sours, but Bran follows her in adding a lighter dynamic to the air. I’m surprised his girlfriend isn't with him, nor Jay, but his brother is relieved to see him and fully lets go of me now. As I move to lean beside Wren who's been rather stoic, he pats us both on the shoulder with an enthused smile, which I find odd amongst the somber spirit that has settled in the hotel.
“We found the next clue.” She says, placing the red envelope and paper onto the counter, but doesn’t let go of the secret. Worry bounces around the room as we all look to one another, because did we plan on actually continuing the game? Already the weekend felt like it was over…
But what if it wasn't?
Placing his large hand on Wren's shoulder, he shakes it a little, sucking air in through his teeth. “We were thinking that maybe we should continue finding the clues. If we can’t leave the hotel, we might as well do something.”
“They might let us go home tomorrow.” He retorts, tilting his head so his soft curls tickle my arm. “I gave them Theo's contact information. You know if they don't let him drive through the gates, he'll just helicopter us out.” I think he's joking, but the way Bran also tilted his head and then just nods has me bewildered.
Sharp acrylic nails waves the long slip of paper in the air. “I don’t really want my secret just lying around for anyone to find. If we leave without finding them all, they could fall into anyone's hands.” She does make a good point and I bitterly agree, the guys finding the logic too. What's one more problem to add to an already stressful situation? Merle looks ready to pull out strands of his short mousey hair.
“You’re right,” Cardinal starts. “When you open the hotel to the public, a guest might find one of the secrets. It’d be hard to work out who it’s about, but they could make waves with the hotel and what's happened here. We don’t know what information is on them.”
Bran squeezes his shoulders again. “Plus some of us have a lot to lose. Wren and I can’t have a scandal, it’ll be in the press and that will lead them to the hotel. If the police share information about the murder, it’ll be a media frenzy.”
Expressions all around the room turn grim as the realisation kicks in. If the press did show up tomorrow, how would they even be able to leave without being mobbed? Nightingale House is now a hotel; everyone will be able to find it with one quick google search.
“I appreciate that guys.” Merle gives his brother a small smile, because I’m sure if this was murder, it won’t be good for business.
“Yeah, whatever. Are we going to find the clues? The sooner I find mine the sooner I can leave.” Willow snips.
“Of course you’d only think of yourself.” The words leave my lips before I can stop myself, which instantly is a mistake because the smirk she gives me is cruel.
