Mystery Noir

Mawaska Part 5

After my rather short and concise statement, which included a generalized explanation of meeting Luke and Todd and stopping them from getting into a fight with someone else as a reason for them to have it out for me, I was left alone in the interview room. Whether it was because they were going over my statement and looking for inconsistencies to question me about or merely to watch me through the camera system, I didn't care. My stomach rumbled, reminding me that they had yet to make good on their promise to bring me another burger, just as I got a notification on my phone.

Pulling out my cell, I frowned at the message that told me that someone had my computer and was trying to access it. A couple quick keystrokes told me that it had moved from my room to somewhere else in town, which was a minor annoyance.

I paused, then checked my key fob, pulling it out to see that I had my keychain on me, including the five-terabyte flash drive in the shape of a 'welcome to Nevada' cowboy hat. The computer did not even have an operating system on it, everything that I did, I did through my flash drive.

So, I shoved my keys back into my pocket and scrolled through my phone for a couple more minutes, then hit the password that would cause my computer to have a meltdown. It wouldn't explode or anything dangerous, but the thing would melt internally, leaving whomever it was with a large metal brick. I also saved the location where they had taken the computer to search out tomorrow. If only to know who one of my adversaries was.

The door opened and the deputy, whose name was Veronique, stood in the doorway. "Doctor Westin? We're done. I can give you a ride back to the hotel."

So, they were holding me to give them enough time to try to break into my computer. I smiled and stood, sliding my phone into my pocket and following her through the station and out into her waiting cruiser.

"How long are you in town for?" Veronique asked, side glancing to me as she steered the car into the rain that was still pouring down.

"All depends, I suppose." I shrugged and turned to stare out the window. "Unless this is your, you better get gone, speech."

Veronique laughed musically, shaking her head and flashing me a smile. "No, not at all. You're more than welcome for as long as you'd like. I just want to know, in case we need to talk to you again."

I smiled at her, offering a nod. "A day or two maybe."

"Can I ask you what you are looking for? Looking at your list of accomplishments on google, you're usually on the hunt for things... far more nefarious than what we tend to have here." Veronique was careful, hesitant, as if she wasn't sure she should be asking me for details.

"I've seen enough of the bad places in the world to know that the moment you think a place is impervious to evil, is the moment you're in a viper's nest." I was tired, though I felt bad at the look of consternation, even offence, that my words caused. I sighed. "Who. I'm looking for people who have gone missing."

"And you think they're here?" Veronique frowned as she pulled the car into the hotel parking lot and pulled up in front of the hotel entrance.

"No clue, actually. I'm just trying to work with the information I have." I opened the door but paused before climbing out. "You all seem pretty nice here, Deputy. I'm not... gunning for anyone without evidence. But if I find something, I follow what the truth tells me."

"I hope so." Veronique offered me a blank smile, her eyes shuttering off from exposing any of her emotions. "I'd hate to think that something awful was happening here, under our noses."

I nodded and got out of the cruiser, closing the door behind me and wincing as my muscles twinged in pain as I moved. I would have a hell of a time getting out of bed the next morning. I walked through the lobby, heading down the hallway that contained the elevators, but I turned and slipped out the back down, walking to where my bike sat safely nestled in its parking spot. It was wet, and I wished idly that I had gotten around to buying a rain cover, promising myself that I would do it the next time I saw a bike shop.

Then I used my key to open one of the saddle bags, pulling out the computer case within it. Despite having all of my information on my flash drive, I didn't like being at the whim of where computer stores were in case of an emergency. I had learned a while ago to travel prepared, including having a smaller back up computer in a different location.

Slipping in the back door with the swipe of my card key, I took the stairs to my floor and sighed as I saw my door open. It wasn't surprising to me to see that they had made it look like someone had ransacked my room, though it was a little frustrating. All I wanted to do was sleep, and instead, I had to deal with the fact that my stuff was scattered all over the room and the minibar was raided.

Fighting the urge to roll my eyes, I walked to the room phone and dialed the front desk. "Reception."

"Hello. This is Nina Westin. It appears that someone has broken into my room." I sighed softly as there was a pause on the other end.

"Broken in?" The woman finally asked, though it was like talking to a robot, no surprise there. "Is the door broken?"

"No. It appears that someone unlocked the door. My computer is stolen. Not sure what else." I tensed, waiting for the snide remark, the suggestion that I had left the door open.

"The Sheriff is here right now, actually, I'll send him up. Just don't touch anything ma'am. And I'll make sure another room is prepared for you." The clerk offered.

Before I could tell her not to bother with the new room, she hung up, forcing me to glance around the room as I hung the phone up myself.

Ver and Enzo did quick work getting to the room and searching around it, allowing me to pack up my stuff and confirm that they had only taken the alcohol and my computer. Even as I answered their questions, I felt the urge to glare at them building, until I finally had to shake my head and hold up a hand. "Look. I really need to just eat something and go to sleep."

"Ok." Enzo offered gently. "We'll have room service bring you up your meal. Sorry we didn't bring it to you in the station, we just got bogged down with all the statements we had to take here."

"The two who attacked you, they're still in custody. Do they have accomplices?" Ver asked, as if he couldn't help himself, as I shouldered my bag and followed them out the door and toward my new room.

"Loosely aligned friends with similar thought processes. But I don't know them well enough to know if they bring others with them on their excursions." I could hear the sharpness in my tone, frowning as I stopped in front of the door. "I don't think it's them or theirs that broke into my room."

Both men stilled, falling silent, and I took in a deep breath, turning away from the door to face them, seeing the curiosity in their expressions. They were trying to read me, trying to figure me out. Good.

"So, you think it's random?" Enzo finally pushed, his words soft and almost hopeful.

"No." I shook my head. "I would have to presume that someone heard what I said to you two about my computer programs, someone who is concerned with what I'm pulling up. And they wanted to see what I had figured out or stop me from continuing."

Ver frowned, though it was the only change in his expression. "So now, this unknown person has access to all your files and reports?"

I shook my head and smiled at them. "Not at all. I have an extremely good security system. And a backup."

I patted the bag that was still wet from the rain. "I stopped on my way up to my room to get it from my bike. The theft of my computer is really just annoying, because I liked that computer. I dislike this small one. Oh. And I'm tired and just want to go to sleep."

There were brief looks of surprise on their faces, and before they could respond, I turned and stepped into my room. "Good night."

I closed the door behind me and locked it, before turning on the lights and searching through the room. For cameras, for hidden attackers. I don't know how long they waited outside my door, but they were gone when room service arrived ten minutes later, with my burger and a couple bottles of amber ale.

Blood free, thankfully.