Chapter 4 - Someone Inside the Hotel
The ballroom was packed.
Technology executives drank coffee beneath crystal chandeliers while speakers discussed hospital software on a large stage.
Olivia pushed her cart through the service corridor.
Victor walked ten feet behind her wearing his jacket again.
“You look suspicious,” Olivia whispered.
“I am walking.”
“You walk like you're planning someone's funeral.”
Victor slowed.
“Better?”
“No.”
“I don't know how Americans walk casually.”
“Pretend you're going to Costco.”
Victor stared at her.
“What is Costco?”
Olivia stopped.
“You really are dangerous.”
She spotted Rachel Meyers near the ballroom entrance.
Perfect blonde hair.
Black suit.
Tablet in hand.
Rachel smiled at every guest like she'd been programmed by corporate headquarters.
Then she saw Olivia.
The smile disappeared.
“What are you doing here?”
“Housekeeping.”
“This isn't your assigned floor.”
Olivia glanced at Victor.
Rachel followed her gaze.
For one fraction of a second, something changed.
Recognition.
Victor saw it too.
Rachel recovered.
“Can I help you, sir?”
Victor approached.
“Rachel Meyers?”
Her hand tightened around the tablet.
“Yes.”
“You know who I am.”
“No.”
Victor smiled without warmth.
“You are a bad liar.”
Rachel looked toward hotel security.
Olivia stepped closer.
“Where's Ethan?”
Rachel's eyes flickered.
“Who?”
“Security officer Ethan Cole.”
“I don't manage security.”
“But you used his access credentials yesterday.”
Rachel's face hardened.
“What are you talking about?”
Victor said quietly, “We found the device.”
Rachel said nothing.
“The second one too.”
Her eyes betrayed her.
Victor noticed.
“So you knew there were two.”
Rachel backed up.
“I need to return to the conference.”
Jack appeared at the far end of the corridor.
Rachel stopped.
Olivia looked at Victor.
“No violence.”
“I remember.”
Rachel whispered, “You don't understand.”
Victor replied, “Then explain.”
Her controlled exterior finally cracked.
“I didn't plant them.”
“Who did?”
“I can't say.”
Victor's eyes cooled.
Rachel shook her head.
“You think you're the dangerous person in this situation?”
“No.”
That answer surprised her.
Victor continued.
“Dangerous people rarely need to announce themselves.”
Rachel looked toward Olivia.
“They threatened my son.”
Olivia's expression changed.
Victor remained still.
Rachel continued.
“A man called three weeks ago. He knew where Dylan went to school. He knew what bus he took. He told me to give them temporary access to the penthouse.”
“Why this week?” Victor asked.
“I don't know.”
“Who is he?”
“I never saw his face.”
Olivia stepped closer.
“Rachel, where is Ethan?”
Rachel lowered her voice.
“He saw me give someone the master card.”
“And?”
“He confronted me.”
“Where is he?”
“I told him everything.”
Rachel's eyes filled with panic.
“He said he was going to call the police.”
Victor asked, “Did he?”
“I don't know.”
“When did you see him last?”
“Forty minutes ago.”
Jack's phone buzzed.
He answered.
A few seconds later he looked toward Victor.
“We found Ethan's car.”
“Where?”
“Lower garage.”
“Ethan?”
“No.”
Olivia's stomach dropped.
Rachel whispered, “Oh God.”
Victor immediately pulled out his phone.
“Lock down the exits.”
Olivia grabbed his arm.
“No.”
His gaze dropped to her hand.
“You're not locking hundreds of hotel guests inside.”
“If the people responsible are still here—”
“You'll cause panic.”
Victor looked toward the crowded ballroom.
Olivia continued.
“Use cameras.”
Rachel whispered, “Security cameras were disabled twenty minutes ago.”
Victor turned sharply.
“What?”
“Someone used my administrator account.”
Olivia stared at Rachel.
“Can you restore them?”
“Yes.”
“Then do it.”
Victor looked at Olivia.
She raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“You give orders very easily for a maid.”
“So do you for a hotel guest.”
Before he could answer, Rachel's phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
Victor held out his hand.
“Give it to me.”
Rachel did.
Victor answered in Russian.
Silence.
Then someone on the other end spoke English.
Victor's face changed.
Olivia couldn't hear everything.
Only fragments.
“Leave Chicago.”
“Midnight.”
“Or the maid pays for your stubbornness.”
Victor's eyes found Olivia.
For the first time since she'd met him, his control broke.
Not with anger.
With fear.
He ended the call.
Olivia understood from his face.
“They mentioned me again.”
Victor didn't answer.
“Victor.”
“Yes.”
She swallowed.
“What exactly did they say?”
He walked closer.
“That this stops if I leave.”
“So leave.”
“No.”
Olivia blinked.
“You're surrounded by enemies, the FBI may be watching you, the hotel is compromised, and somebody is threatening employees.”
She pointed toward the lobby.
“Get on a plane.”
Victor's expression remained unreadable.
“They will follow me.”
“Then that's your problem.”
“Yes.”
He looked at her.
“But you are now part of it.”
Olivia's voice softened.
“I don't want to be.”
“I know.”
May you like
That was the first thing he'd said all day that sounded like an apology.
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