So if it was Ryan, how did he know Steve, or the Russian guy, or the woman from Tiffany’s? Especially as a supposed city newcomer. Beth’s thoughts swiftly switched back to Billy then, and how the very nature of his job put him in touch with people from all walks of life.
Something to consider?
Steve cleared his throat, and in an obvious effort to get the attention away from himself he pointed to the envelope. ‘Don’t you think it’s time to open that?’
Nodding, Beth mentally filed away her thoughts. She would have to mull over all the angles again later and track back through all of the clues so far. Maybe that would help her achieve some clarity.
But for now, here was another mystery. ‘Let’s see what you have for me now,’ she said softly, focusing on the envelope.
She opened it quickly. Whatever was hidden within was round and hard. Peering inside the paper envelope, she quickly discovered her latest prize.
A single red marble.
Chapter 27
Heading back towards the apartment, Danny felt as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. He wondered if Beth would be home yet. He really hoped not. Today if she was there, there would be no way to hide how he was feeling.
She wasn’t stupid. One of these days he knew that she was going to press him for answers. And he just wasn’t ready yet. He’d been waiting for the right moment just to sit her down and confess everything, but he’d really thought he’d had a bit more time. And that whole thing he’d witnessed at Carlisle’s with the guy Beth worked with had thrown everything off…
But today had changed things completely, and Danny now knew he could avoid it no longer.
As he rounded the corner of Gold Street, he saw Jodi suddenly rush out through the doors of his building. She was alone, but her bustling demeanour suggested that she was being chased by the devil himself. Danny stopped in his tracks, wondering if she’d seen him, and for a moment he considered ducking back around the corner to avoid her.
He really didn’t feel like exchanging pleasantries – actually, knowing Jodi,unpleasantries – or playing a game of twenty questions with anyone, especially not now.
But she didn’t notice him approaching at all. Instead, she was solely focused upon hailing a cab, which she did impressively quickly considering it was still rush hour.
Without further delay, she jumped into the back of the cab, and the car jolted forward a moment later as if Jodi had just thrown a directive at the driver that ended in, ‘And step on it!’ Which she probably had.
Danny wondered what her rush was. And why she’d been at his place anyway.
He closed the remaining distance between himself and the front entrance, and through the glass doors he could see Billy standing behind his desk, his head propped on his hand, looking worried. The moment the front door opened, the Scotsman jumped to attention. However, upon seeing Danny, he appeared to deflate even further.
‘Hey, Billy. You OK, man?’
Billy shook his head. ‘Forgive me for saying so, but no, it’s been a horrible day,’ he said in his drawling brogue.
Danny’s brow furrowed, wondering what was up. ‘Wasn’t that Jodi I just saw running from the building? Where’s the fire?’ He gave a small smile, trying to inject some levity into the conversation, but if anything the man appeared even more frustrated.
‘Yes, it was Jodi. And apparently the “fire” is at the Waldorf Astoria. That woman should be locked up,’ he added, his tone heavy.
‘The Waldorf?’ Danny asked, his mind working. ‘Why?’
Billy, his vow of silence already craftily broken, shook his head. ‘I wasn’t supposed to say anything but… Beth is there. Please don’t ask me what she’s doing, or why she’s avoiding Jodi or anything else, because I’ve already been involved in enough shenanigans for one day.’ He sighed tiredly.
‘OK.’ Danny considered Billy’s words and thought it all through. He had been close by the area earlier with Adele. Only a block or so away from the hotel on Park Avenue, on the same route that any cab containing Beth would have likely taken.
‘When did she go there?’ he asked, trying to look cool, even as his skin prickled and his concern grew.
‘About an hour ago. Caught a cab like it was do or die. I don’t know anything else,’ the doorman added quickly.
About an hour.Danny had left Adele round about that time. And she’d come out after him on the street when, in his agitated state, he’d left his cellphone behind.
If there was a chance that Beth had even caught a glimpse of that… it would be terrible. There would be questions. Especially when he and Adele continued what had been a rather fraught conversation right out on the street in full view.
Was it possible that Beth might have seen that…?
Danny felt palpable fear surge through his stomach, and his knees felt weak. Today had been way too much. All of this was coming to a head now – he could feel it. Everything was surging forward like a tsunami, and it was likely that it was going to knock him down, drown him, tear him apart.
