But there’s nothing, with the space as pristine as if room service had already prepared it for the next guest.
Apart from the large suitcase on the bed closest to the windows. Here, at least, I can see signs of habitation. “It has to be his.”
The suitcase sitting wide open, I examine the contents, being careful not to touch anything. There’s an interesting mix of clothing—both male and female—along with half-a-dozen wigs.
I instantly recognize the gray pin curls as being those of the old lady I’d seen in the carpark this morning. And if I was in any doubt, the bright purple dress next to it confirms this.
Simon uses his pen to move a brunette toupee to one side. There’s a gray one underneath. “It’s no wonder he’s been able to hide from us.”
I think about this for a moment. “Okay, I get that, but how did you work out which room he was in?”
It turns out no-one messes with our room service crew. They’d been furious to hear someone had slipped a note in with the coffee and pastries I’d ordered. This had them holding their own investigation, with the cleaning crew helping.
Because of Ralph’s distinctive handwriting, it hadn’t taken them long to narrow it down to this room.
Simon uses his pen to move a couple of other items before turning to me. “I’ll bet when he scrawled that nasty note about his room not being clean enough, he couldn’t foresee this.”
I nod, mostly to myself, all the while wondering why Ralph’s packed up. Does he know we’re onto him, or was he simply ready to leave, taking Phoebe with him?
After easing a few things out of the way, I slide a GPS tracker inside the lining of the case, because two can play at that game. Thanks to my phone being as highly spec’d out as it is, I’ll be able to track the tag to within a couple feet.
“What I want to know is where the hell he is now?”
I’ve come to no decision when I get a text that blasts my system with adrenaline.
“Crap, I know where the bastard is!”
I’m running soon after, and Simon’s right behind me. Ralph’s room being on the first floor, there’s no need to take the elevator. Instead, we fly down the one flight of stairs to the basement carpark.
Behind me, Simon says nothing, saving his breath for keeping up. Soon enough, we’re next to the metal door, and I’m punching in the entry code. I go as fast as I can without screwing up the numbers, but it’s tricky.
I have to get to Phoebe before Ralph can hurt her.
There’d been no missing the threat hidden in the note delivered with our coffee. I’ll be damned if I’ll stand back and see a woman hurt. Not if I can help it. It was a pledge I’d made to nine-year-old me, and one I’ve stuck to.
Outwardly, his note had been innocuous, and if the guy got himself a talented lawyer, they’d convince the judge it was nothing.
“Nothing but a sexy game of hide-and-seek, Your Honor.”
However, reading between the lines, he’d told her there was nowhere to hide, and the longer she kept him waiting, the angrier he’d get.
It was part of the reason I’d kept it from her. Well, that and any potential fingerprints. It might have been different with the old Chief of Police, but apparently the new guy is proficient. If I shove enough evidence in his direction, he’ll run with it.
But before it got to that, I’d wanted to try a more direct approach, with a littlefriendlywarning to back off. However, the number of exclamation marks in Phoebe’s text told me we were way past so simple a solution.
If nothing else, we can get him for the break-in at the hotel villa.
But first we have to catch him.
When we reach the door at the other end of the tunnel, there’s no missing Simon’s surprise at the images we’ve raced by.
“I’ll explain later.” I’ve kept my voice deliberately low, and I’m as quiet when I punch the numbers into the keypad.
Before swinging the door wide, I put my finger to my lips as an insurance of sorts. His expression says Simon has no intention of making any sound. All this changes after I open the door.
If Ralph is still in the villa, then we have to move fast if we want to catch him. Despite the speed of our entrance, the living room is empty, but for the remains of one of the large glass side panels.
I also come up empty handed in the bedroom and bathroom.
