Unshakeable Pursuit (Christian Romantic Suspense)

Chapter 5b

A couple hours went by before the Napa police felt it was safe for them to leave the station. The Napa PD had received the Sonoma police reports of both the attack in Geoffrey's office and the attack of the clinic yesterday, and so they took the matter of the Asian men tailing them very seriously. A search of the license plate number brought up a blue minivan stolen yesterday, which the men had switched with the plate on their Civic. The Napa PD promised to look into traffic cam footage and any security camera video from businesses in Napa on the route that Geoffrey took, but it would take a few days for them to get that. Also, while Geoffrey and Roy had gotten minor injuries, this sort of case was a lower priority than a murder or robbery, and police resources were limited.

By the time they were allowed to leave, Maylin had gotten antsy with her impatience to look for the hotel the girl might have been staying at. They'd used the time in the station, and the station's WiFi, to search for likely hotels in the Napa and Sonoma areas. The expensive Rolex watch made them suspect the girl would choose a higher end hotel, so they ruled out any economy hotels and any B&Bs who didn't use card key locks on their doors.

There were a great number of hotels in Napa, but only three in Sonoma. They opted to check out the three Sonoma hotels tonight, and if they struck out, they'd go to the Napa hotels the next day.

"Number three." Geoffrey pulled his car up to the valet for the Rochev Hotel, which didn't have a self-park lot. It was a mark of good service that the uniformed valet didn't even bat an eyelash at Geoffrey's eyesore Mustang, but treated them with utmost courtesy. The valets at the two other hotels they had visited had looked like they wanted to call a tow truck.

A second valet came up to Geoffrey with a smile and a ready handshake. "Dr. Whelan, nice to see you here."

"Cisco, how are you?" Geoffrey shook his hand warmly. "How's your boy doing?"

"His arm's feeling great. He's already throwing the ball around at practice, but he hasn't played in a game yet."

"Don't let him push himself too much. We want him playing for the Giants in a few years."

"Sure thing." Cisco chuckled. "Anything I can help you with?"

"Yeah, actually." Geoffrey gestured to Maylin, who had been holding back slightly. "This is Maylin Kinley, and she's a nurse at the Free Children's Clinic with me."

"Nice to meet you." Cisco's handshake was firm. "Dr. Whelan, here, set my son's broken wrist."

Maylin felt a stab of shame. She'd been so caught up in remembering how Geoffrey had been when she first knew him, and yet here again was evidence that he'd changed. The old Dr. Whelan wouldn't have remembered a patient's father, much less chatted with him about his son outside of the boy's injury.

"A young girl came to speak to me at the clinic yesterday." Geoffrey showed him a picture of the woman, taken from the clinic's video, which Monica had emailed to his phone while they were waiting at the Napa police station. "She impersonated a nurse, and Maylin and I are looking for her. We thought she might have stayed at the Rochev Hotel."

Cisco squinted at the photo. "Actually, she looks familiar."

"She does?" Maylin stepped closer. "Do you know her name?"

"No, but my manager could probably help you with that," Cisco said.

"Do you mind introducing us to him?"

"No problem." Cisco led the way into the hotel.

The entrance foyer reminded Maylin of a Grecian temple, echoing with marble columns and a marble floor, which was covered with a plush carpet in cream and forest green. Cisco took them directly to the front counter and nodded to a tall, dark-haired man. "Mr. Donner, this is Dr. Whelan and Ms. Kinley. He's the doctor I was telling you about ..."