Speaker.

Prologue

Light flicked off his wrist as the young man turned, walking briskly through the automatic doors into the foyer of The Grand Hyatt, stopping briefly for a second to check the time and survey the reception. A long matte-black rosewood reception desk angled guests towards the grand marble staircase wh- Her. Young brunette, third counter from the door, bored expression. This would be a piece of cake.

He strode towards the desk confidently until she looked up, he made sure to straighten his jacket and fix his hair in her vision. Leaning into the desk he made eye contact with her, smiled widely for a moment. She smiled back.

“I’m hoping you can help me, a friend of mine is staying at the hotel and I’m wanting to surprise her, but I don’t know her room number” he said, his eyes darting back between the young receptionists eyes and lips.

“Do you have her name” she said, still smiling

“Yes, her name is Michelle West” he said in reply.

After a few short moments she brought up the name on the screen and sucked her lips to the side in a worried expression.

“Mrs West has asked that visitors not be allowed, I’m going to have to call up to confirm with her”

“What kind of a surprise will that be?” The young man interjected. “She’ll be expecting me. Don’t worry, she’s not my girlfriend or anything” He said winking at the receptionist.

“Oh my god. Ok, fine” she said, blushing slightly “She’s in the Victorian suite on floor 19. It’s room 197”.

“Thanks so much” he said, turning and taking a few steps, he then turned back slightly, angled between the desk and elevators, he saw the young lady smiling at her keyboard and raised his voice.

“Hey, I owe you a drink”. Smirking, he strutted to the elevator door and pressed the button while the young lady grinned at her computer screen.

What’s not to smile about in the assassination business?