Cherry Two

Part 39

Chapter 37

The police didn't say much as they went through Donna Sanford's second-floor room. The night manager stood meekly by as the pair did their thing. After nosing about for five minutes one of the uniforms snapped on his radio and spoke.

"Three-six for Chuck. Yeah, the Sanford woman's room is clean. Didn't find any notes."

The radio squawked a rapid reply. "You can leave it. Another call came in. Same hotel. Ask for Robert Nameth. Bring him over to headquarters—Captain Hollander's office. Copy that?"

"Ten-four." He turned to the hovering night clerk. "Nameth? Where'd he be at?"

The man shrugged. "I'll have to check the computer. The hotel is full."

"So let's do it." The cop held out his radio-equipped arm.

"What's this all about, officer?"

"Doing as I'm told. After you, sir."

***

Alain looked up at the sudden sound of rotor thud overhead. A helicopter appeared briefly in the dawn sky, flying a wide arc over the town.

The pair had already found the first building: a flat roof colonnade with a banner announcing a fishing tackle dealers' convention.

Alain shook his head at Calley. "This is no good. Way too big. We need to try Dave's Banquet and Pool Hall on Rainier Street. Let's see..."

Calley pointed on the street guide. "Not far. My dad showed me how to read a map." Then she looked at Alain's face. "Um, perhaps I should say our dad?"

Alain hooked her arm and smiled as they walked. "It'll take some getting used to. I don't have a real feeling for what he's like. Tell me little things. Things you take for granted."

The girl thought for a moment. "He hates getting up early. So do I. Useless on the computer, unlike me. Never drinks, not even at special times. Somewhat neat and tidy—"

"Unlike you," Alain cut in.

She elbowed his ribs. "Are you calling me a pig?"

"Brothers and sisters can call each other anything. You have one more brother... besides me."

"Peter. Brat! Used to kick me and pull my hair because he knew he could get away with it. Not any more. One day around teatime he started being the usual wretch. I gave him such a colossal smack. He went screaming to Mum thinking she'd get all protective and kissy face and then clobber me. She'd seen it through the kitchen window. We were both told off, but Peter was sent to his room without tea. That changed things."

Alain laughed at her memory. "Sibling rivalry. Not so different to Kent and myself, except now he could smack me stupid." He sighed. "I wonder how he'll take it."

"Do you think he'll come home... when he knows?"

Alain looked at her face as they walked. "Damn, I hope so, even if it's just for the time I'm away. Mom is going to find it difficult as it is. Kent doesn't hate them; he's frustrated. He thinks they both want him to be a carbon copy of me—an academic geek. When you took to me instead of him it confused the hell out of the guy. It seemed like a conspiracy."

Calley tucked closer to Alain's side. "I was drawn to you for reasons no man could compete with. Reasons I didn't properly understand myself. When he knows about Dad, Kent will see it differently. Jesus, you think Kent is a problem child? Wait till you feast your eyes on Peter from hell."

They both laughed.

***

On discovering the Nameth suite empty, the overburdened town police left instructions with the night manager to have Robert call a number at Port Angeles police headquarters immediately on his return. The manager, who was about to go off duty, assured them he would pass the message on to the day manager and mark it most urgent.

For a brief while nothing happened.

When Robert ambled back into the hotel lobby, a little out of breath from walking faster than usual, the shift had already changed. He didn't pay any attention to two men loitering near the staircase reading the framed restaurant menu. Robert leaned on the counter as the day manager looked up from alongside the female clerk.

"Have my grandchildren come back yet," he said for simplicity, then added: "You saw them yesterday. The girl is very pretty. We're in 301." He knew great legs were the kind of thing desk managers always noticed because they had to crane their necks to get a good look. This one had craned enough to erect a building.

"Oh, yes, Mister...?"

"Nameth."

"Haven't seen them, but I've only been on duty fifteen minutes. There is a message here for you. It's marked urgent." He handed the folded memo across the counter.

Robert put on his glasses and scanned it quickly. "Hmm. I have to make a phone call. When they show up would you please say I'm in the suite, not the café?"

Another touristy couple, wafting their bill in consternation, drew the manager's attention away. "I will. Checking out, sir? Can I assist you with that?"

Preoccupied, and still a little out of breath, Robert decided the elevator would be a better choice. He pressed "up" and waited, wondering why on earth the local police wanted an urgent talk. Barring the elusive Donna Sanford, no one in Port Angeles even knew he'd been staying at the Olympic Inn. When the elevator car arrived several people with luggage exited, leaving it empty.

He rode up to the third floor then walked the few feet of deserted corridor. As he stood, unlocking suite 301, a fast-moving shape lurched from the stairwell and rushed him from behind. Robert felt a massive shove and pitched forward, smacking his forehead into the unlocked door. The next second his face was half buried into musty carpet by a vicious boot pressing down on his neck and the side of his bruised head—then he heard the door slam.

***

Two blocks further into town the quest ended. Dave's Banquet and Pool Hall bore a sign in the window "Closed for renovations. Sorry for the inconvenence." Alain smirked and pointed at the spelling mistake.

"So much for this dump. Let's get back to the hotel." He turned and immediately saw a huge change wash over Calley. His brow creased as he noted the girl's obvious distress. "Wow! You okay, darlin'?"

She held her head with both hands, staring wide-eyed at the window sign. Then she clamped her eyes tight shut, as if in crucial pain. "It's her! Alain, help me. She's inside my fucking head... filling me."

Astonished, Alain grabbed her by both arms. "What are you talking about?"

"I... I don't know. She's trying to tell me something—something bad. It's never been this strong. God, I can't stand it." Calley clung to him, shaking all over. "I think I'm going to be sick." Then her head snapped up as if gripped by a revelation. "She's gone! ROBERT—we must get back to Uncle Bob!"

What is happening at the hotel? More than a premonition, this warning is immediate. Can Calley and Alain get back there in time to prevent it, or will they both be in as much danger as Robert? And where are the police when you need them?

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