Robin rolls her eyes, but smiles. “You’re adorable. Ok, real talk.”
“Oh god, not real talk. Are we breaking up?”
“We’re not even dating?”
I let out a mock gasp. “You just go around kissing people you’re not dating? I ate your puss–” Her tiny hand smacks against my mouth and stays there.
“Do not finish that sentence. Real talk time. We need to figure out who broke into my room and left that message on the mirror. Were they looking for something or did they just want to scareme? Did they know I was in your room or had they planned to find me in there?”
I shudder at the thought of her helpless and alone, like how I’d found her pinned against Corbin’s unforgiving body Friday night.
“I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.” I say against her palm, but it doesn't ease the worry.
“Do you think they knew I was in the room?”
Taking a moment to really think about the guests and the evening, I think we reach the same conclusion because she nods along in agreement as I speak. “Pretty much everyone came upstairs when we heard Bran shouting, so I reckon it was pretty clear you came back to my room with me. They might not have known how long they’d have to do it, but I think it was to scare you. Unless they were looking for our suspect list. I know some of the guys knew about it.”
“I trust Cardinal,” she surprises me. “He shared a lot with me when he didn’t need to. I don’t think someone like him makes an effort with people, so it means a lot when they do. He reminds me a little of you.” That rosy tint graces her cheeks and I pull her in closer by the waist.
Nuzzling my nose into her hair, I inhale her scent which now smells like my body wash. “You’re special enough to let in. It’s like I had a void in my system I didn’t know existed; like a patchy channel that no one had picked up on yet. It’s just waiting for one show to fuck me up,” I chuckle, knowing she probably doesn’t understand what I’m getting at. “A space inside myself that you fit perfectly and I didn’t know it was there for you, until you stepped into it with your eye rolls, flushed cheeks, gorgeous voice and smart mind.” I gently brush my lips against her forehead. “It would kill me if you left it.” I say so low and her body sinks into me more, face resting over my heart and I just hold her.
“That was terribly romantic, but just to back peddle, do you think someone is trying to warn me about Merle? Lying about the money?”
“Christ,” I laugh, resting my cheek on top of her head. “Forget I ever tried to declare my undying ugh–” Her tiny elbow connects with my ribs.
“Do you think that's what the messages mean?”
Wheezing, I calm my heart rate and focus on this one solid lead. There's another possibility that screams for me to be honest with her, but no way am I bringing her into what no doubt would mean trouble for us both. It makes sense if the warning is about Merle, but who would have trashed her room to get the message across?
The door to the pantry is suddenly wrenched open and Robin flinches in my arms, but I make no sign of moving. Cardinal stands with one arm extended holding the door, the other holding a tea bag I assume was making its way into a mug. We were so wrapped up in each other, neither heard the kettle boiling or movements in the kitchen.
“You’re both so fucking weird. Why are you in here? Please don’t tell me you were having sex or something.” He scolds, stalking back over to the counter, looking back in disgust.
“We are obviously not having sex,” Leaving our embrace, she gestures to her clothed body. “We needed somewhere private to talk and discuss this.” Holding my makeshift murder board up in her hand, she gives it a shake before turning to face me. “Where shall we hide it?”
Looking around the contents of the pantry, I take the papers from her and tuck them behind large bags of dried food on the top shelf.
“You can remember what we wrote, right?”
She nods, crossing her arms and darting a look into the kitchen. “We should tell him.”
“Him has ears and you’re a shit whisperer.”
“Himshouldn’t eavesdrop, it's rude. If you don’t want me to play the Mamma Mia soundtrack all the way back to the train station when we leave, you better try harder at being nicer.”
He glares back at her, silently pouring hot water in his mug. I want to chuckle as we exit the pantry, but it only now dawns on me that when we leave the hotel they'll both probably go back to York together. Me? I desperately want to go wherever she goes.
“I checked some of the other rooms that were unlocked, and none of them have been touched. Starling wants everyone downstairs together, so he can pretend to be Billy big bollocks and try to reign some control.” He huffs. “The guy’s an idiot. Goldie too.”
I agree.
Robin moves around the counter to sit at the island, and I close the kitchen door quietly once I’ve checked no one is lingering in the hobby.
“We’re not sure–not for certain, but we think Merle has something to do with everything. Nothing else is adding up. He lied about where he was Friday. He’s been acting erratic and completely out of character. He's stressed, but also mean, and Wren saw him shouting with Phin, which isn't the guy I know. Yes they’ve kept their relationship quite private, but I’ve never seen him even annoyed before. Also…” she trails off, looking down at her flat palms on the counter like they can ground her. “Obviously we found his secret hidden in his office upstairs. He owed Corbin so much money for the hotel, and he wasn't paying any of the loans back. I’m sure Phin doesn't know and there's no way he'd have agreed to take anything more than necessary from his brother.”
That was true. Phin took his inheritance that was owed to him, but it was controlled by the eldest sibling. Hell would grace earthbefore he asked for a hand out from him. The guy thrived on control, and everything always came down to one thing. Power.
“He’s lying. Do you think whoever wrote it is warning you about Merle?”
